Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

New Fiesta ECOnetic is the most efficient Ford ever built. But is it worth the premium?

Find your Ford Fiesta
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Fiesta ECOnetic has always been one of our favourite green superminis as it’s great fun to drive, looks good and feels upmarket. The latest tweaks make it cleaner than ever, but it’s still trumped by the cheaper and cleaner Hyundai i20 Blue. The Fiesta is an excellent choice, but you need to decide whether you’re looking for the best to drive or the best value.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Ford has updated its ultra-efficient Fiesta ECOnetic, bringing CO2 emissions down to 87g/km and pushing fuel economy up to an incredible 85.6mpg in the process.

Those figures leave the old ECOnetic looking way off the pace with its 95g/km and 78.5mpg, but still fall short of the cleanest combustion-engined car on sale – the 84g/km Hyundai i20 Blue.

The improved eco performance is mainly due to the introduction of a stop-start system, although longer gear ratios also play their part, as does Ford’s focus on ensuring the components, like the cooling fan, sap less energy.

From behind the wheel, you won’t notice these tweaks at all. The 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engine takes the ECOnetic from 0-62mph in 12.9 seconds – in real world driving, there aren’t too many situations where you need to travel much faster than this.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

A1 Sportback

2024 Audi

A1 Sportback

4,574 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £21,900
View A1 Sportback
iX3

2024 BMW

iX3

38,588 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £28,300
View iX3
T-Cross

2023 Volkswagen

T-Cross

25,256 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £18,800
View T-Cross
A1 Sportback

2024 Audi

A1 Sportback

26,286 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £17,450
View A1 Sportback

It’s still not the last word in refinement, though, and the whole car tends to rattle when accelerating hard. But drive normally – as we did on our 100-mile test route of A-roads, motorways and city streets – and it will return just over 60mpg, so you can put up with these flaws. Plus, the stop-start system cuts in seamlessly, so you won’t be immediately reaching for the button on the dash to turn it off.

Advertisement - Article continues below

As we now expect from the Fiesta, the handling is pin-sharp, with the ECOnetic feeling agile even on its standard low-rolling-resistance tyres. The steering is well weighted and responsive, and more engaging than in the Fiesta’s supermini rivals.

The green Ford rides 10mm lower than the standard at the front and 8mm lower at the rear. This should hamper ride quality, but it feels incredibly supple. The standard fit 14-inch alloys have generous side walls that ensure rough roads don’t send large vibrations through the interior.

Inside, the ECOnetic feels as solidly built and well equipped as any other Fiesta. The dashboard is finished in a pleasing soft-touch plastic and our Zetec model had electric windows, a Quickclear windscreen and air-conditioning. Titanium versions of the ECOnetic are also offered, and come with DAB radio, tinted glass and automatic air-con.

But the Fiesta is already an expensive choice and if you start adding optional extras, a Titanium ECOnetic can cost over £18,000 – way too much for a car this size. Our model starts at a much more reasonable £15,595, but even this looks pricey when you consider that the Hyundai i20 Blue costs from £11,795 – and it’s almost as capable.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,158 off RRP*
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,232 off RRP*Used from £17,100
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,713 off RRP*Used from £8,995
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £10,450 off RRP*Used from £11,850
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

New DS No.4 2025 review: forget sporty, this hatch is pure comfort
DS No4 E-Tense - front

New DS No.4 2025 review: forget sporty, this hatch is pure comfort

Road tests
9 Oct 2025
Volkswagen Golf review
Volkswagen Golf - main image

Volkswagen Golf review

In-depth reviews
18 Sep 2025
Used DS 4 (Mk2, 2021-date) buyer's guide: a great blend of value and style
Used DS4 Mk2 - front

Used DS 4 (Mk2, 2021-date) buyer's guide: a great blend of value and style

Used car tests
13 Sep 2025

Most Popular

New Land Rover Defender Sport: electric Freelander successor has the BMW iX3 in its crosshairs
New baby Land Rover Defender render - watermarked

New Land Rover Defender Sport: electric Freelander successor has the BMW iX3 in its crosshairs

The new Land Rover Defender Sport is set to sit below the existing Defender in the Land Rover range, with our exclusive images previewing how it could…
News
12 Oct 2025
New Leapmotor B10 2025 review: budget brand's best EV yet
Leapmotor B10 - front action

New Leapmotor B10 2025 review: budget brand's best EV yet

The new Leapmotor B10 is a serious player in the small electric SUV sector, boasting good range, plenty of kit and a tempting price tag
Road tests
14 Oct 2025
Car Deal of the Day: fully-loaded VW Passat PHEV for £235 a month seems like crazy value
Volkswagen Passat Estate UK - front action

Car Deal of the Day: fully-loaded VW Passat PHEV for £235 a month seems like crazy value

The Passat has been a family favourite for decades – and the latest model is no different. It’s our Deal of the Day for October 13.
News
13 Oct 2025