Ford Fiesta Centura 1.25

It's Britain’s best-selling car and our favourite supermini, but the Fiesta isn’t resting on its laurels. To celebrate Ford’s UK centenary, a new special edition called the Centura has been introduced. It allows customers to join the festivities with an additional £1,800 worth of kit for a £1,200 premium over the equivalent Zetec model.

Although that makes the Ford the most expensive car in the test, it’s also the most eye-catching. Smart 16-inch alloy wheels and chrome mirror caps set off the standard Panther Black metallic paint. Buyers can even opt to have a set of sleek LED running lights fitted beneath the headlamps.

This is all merely window dressing, though, as we think the standard car has plenty of visual appeal without the extras. Inside, the modern cabin design feels far more welcoming than the Toyota’s bland interior. The smart dash places the audio controls high up on the centre console, while the chunky air-con dials couldn’t be simpler.

In contrast, the rest of the button-heavy layout is a little busy. However, material quality is good enough to rival any of the cars in this test, and the Centura’s generous kit list includes a heated windscreen, leather-trimmed steering wheel, ambient lighting, a knee airbag and reversing camera. Although this all helps to justify the Ford’s price premium, the Suzuki is almost as well specified and cheaper to buy.

The Fiesta is practical, too. Despite having a shorter wheelbase than the Yaris, it provides nearly as much rear legroom as its fresh-faced rival, and more headroom than both the Mazda and Suzuki. Its practical 295-litre boot is also the largest on test.

But the Ford is really at its best from behind the wheel. A perfectly judged driving position, excellent visibility and superbly weighted controls make driving a real pleasure.

Negotiating busy city streets is a breeze. The accomplished chassis comes into its own at higher speeds, where the precise steering responds quickly and accurately to inputs. A snappy gearshift and progressive brakes round off a polished package.

This sector of the market is full of highly capable machines, but even in this company the Ford corners with the sort of composure and confidence that’s missing from its rivals.

The real genius of the Fiesta is that its razor-sharp handling doesn’t come at the expense of comfort – the beautifully judged suspension delivers a supple ride. This makes it’s a relaxing long- distance car for driving.

On paper, the 1.25-litre Duratec engine has the smallest power output in this test, but the eager unit punches above its weight. It left the Mazda trailing in our in-gear tests and is more refined than the Toyota at higher revs. And while performance is modest, the Ford never feels outclassed on the road.

The new Centura isn’t cheap, but the appeal of the Fiesta’s smart looks, spacious cabin and dynamic handling is undimmed by the additional equipment.

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WHY: We’re not giving the Yaris an easy ride – if it’s going to establish itself as the class leader it has to beat the best in the business. And that car is the brilliant Ford Fiesta.