Based on the superb hatchback, the Fiesta van is one of the best compact commercial vehicles on the market – and this Sportvan version is even better. It’s great to look at, a strong performer and lots of fun to drive. For the money, we think it should come far better equipped as standard. But apart from that, it’s an excellent little load-lugger.

Style counts for everything at Ford these days – and as well as the new Focus, that stretches to commercial vehicles. Following in the footsteps of the Transit Sportvan we drove in Issue 990, the company has now unleashed the new Fiesta Sportvan.

As with the hatchback on which it’s based, the Fiesta van will be replaced next year by an all-new model. So the blue oval has launched this racy-looking version, which is every bit as aggressive as the hot hatch ST model.

Featuring body-coloured front and rear splitters, 16-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels, side mouldings and a neat roof spoiler, the newcomer is guaranteed to stand out. It’s available in a range of vibrant colours, including Colorado Red, Panther Black, Moondust Silver and Diamond White.

Inside, the cabin gets pewter and gunmetal trim, along with sports seats and a leather-covered steering wheel and gearknob. But air-con, Bluetooth, MP3 connectivity and a heated windscreen are pricey options.

What’s more, you’ll have to spend an extra £100 if you want an upper mesh grille to separate the load space from the cabin. Still, there’s plenty of room, with a 1,013-litre cargo capacity and a decent 543kg payload, too.

Under the bonnet, the Sportvan is the only Fiesta light commercial to get a 1.6-litre TDCi engine – all others have a 1.4-litre. Delivering 88bhp, it doesn’t live up to the power figure the car’s badges suggest. But with 240Nm of torque, there’s plenty of punch.

The 0-60mph sprint takes around 11 seconds, and a 110mph top speed means that the Ford holds its own on the motorway. The snappy five-speed gearbox allows you to make the most of the performance available, and the result is a little van that’s not only very nippy, but also extremely economical.

On twisty roads, it’s as much fun as the Fiesta hatchback, with a firm but well controlled ride, direct steering and plenty of grip. But the interior is still drab. And with the Technology Pack fitted – which includes air-con, Bluetooth and heated front windows, and is worth specifying – the Sportvan is pricey at £12,344. Plus there’s quite a lot of road noise from the rear.

But despite these shortcomings, it’s still a strong package when compared to its rivals, and one that will make sense for small business owners looking for something a bit different.

Rival: Corsavan Sportive
With its body-coloured bumpers and smart alloys, the Vauxhall looks the part. But it’s still not as stylish or as fun to drive as the feisty Fiesta. The main benefit is its price: it undercuts the Ford by around £650. Yet while it features air-con, other handy kit such as Bluetooth hands-free is lacking, and cabin quality isn’t as good.