Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Ford Fiesta (2017-2023) review - Engines, performance and drive

Great engines and entertaining handling mean the Fiesta is still fantastic to drive

Engines, performance and drive rating

4.0

How we review cars
RRP
£20,205 £22,575
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

With the Fiesta, Ford has proved yet again that small, cheap cars can be brilliant fun. The Fiesta might be new, but it will retain its reputation for being fun to drive as it’s better than ever through a series of bends.

Lighter steering in this new model means it’s easier to drive, especially in town, but that doesn’t take away from the driving experience on faster roads. There’s enough weight that you can feel the resistance coming through as you turn into a corner, and the feedback through the wheel means you can place the car on the road with ease. The grippy front-end helps too, as you can throw it in to corners even at high speed without fear of pushing wide.

A throttle lift or touch of braking will tighten the Fiesta’s line, and it’s rewarding to play with the little Ford’s chassis. Body control is very good, and bumps mid-corner don’t upset the balance - but what’s really amazing is that the car combines this agility with an impressively comfortable and composed ride. ST-Line models make things even more composed and fun with only a slight impact on ride quality. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The ride is good even on rutted roads here in Britain, partly because the Fiesta is so light - even the heaviest version is only a touch over 1,200kg. That helps it in so many areas: handling, ride, performance and even economy. Ford’s engineering magic means that even though the Fiesta is around 200kg heavier than the new Suzuki Swift, it feels almost as light on its feet.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Range Rover Sport

2022 Land Rover

Range Rover Sport

19,523 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £47,600
View Range Rover Sport
Golf GTI

2020 Volkswagen

Golf GTI

54,386 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £19,435
View Golf GTI
ZS

2023 MG

ZS

34,598 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,335
View ZS
2 Series Gran Tourer

2020 BMW

2 Series Gran Tourer

52,882 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £12,648
View 2 Series Gran Tourer

The driving position is fantastic, as it feels sporty without being hard to get in and out of, and the steering wheel is just the right size to feel natural as well. The six-speed manual gear change isn’t quite as slick as the one in a Mazda 2, nor as light as the one in the new SEAT Ibiza, but it’s still really easy and fun to switch gears. These things also mean the Fiesta will be enjoyable to drive every day, not just when you find a great road.

Ford has also introduced mild-hybrid tech to the Fiesta range. The 48V system is available on the 1.0-litre 123bhp and (now discontinued) 153bhp petrol engines and helps to increase fuel economy, reduce emissions, while also providing a useful boost in torque.

Advertisement - Article continues below

A six-speed manual transmission is standard for all cars, with the exception of the 1.1L Ti-VCT five-speed manual, and the 123bhp petrol version which is offered with a seven-speed PowerShift auto 'box.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

Our pick of the engine range is the 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder petrol engine. It’s been around for a little while now, but remains a top choice because it mixes so many great attributes: it’s punchy, economical and really fun to use all at the same time. It’s quiet as well, matching its rivals for refinement on the move - but without losing the characterful thrum of the three-cylinder engine.

It’s available with 99bhp or 123bhp and all are great options, but make sure you don’t overlook the lowest-powered version in the hunt for more performance. The turbocharger means it’s strong enough in the mid-range, and the 1.0-litre triple’s willingness to rev means it’s great fun to hustle along as well. More powerful versions are - unsurprisingly - more expensive, but the mid-spec variants offer enough pace for most needs.

The 99bhp EcoBoost takes 10.8s to go from 0-62mph, which goes down to 9.4s for the 123bhp engine, while if you track down a used 153bhp version (which is no longer available on the price list) you'll see a 8.9s sprint time. The 1.5T EcoBoost powers the ST-badged cars from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds, with a 143mph maximum.

The base 1.1-litre three-cylinder petrol with 74bhp and a five-speed manual transmission is considerably slower at 14.7 seconds and doesn’t really offer much in the way of economy savings or improved emissions over the EcoBoost units. It would certainly be a peculiar choice when buyers could look towards the more modern alternatives in the range.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,448
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

New Citroen e-C4 2025 review: updated EV is more appealing than ever
Citroen e-C4 Max - front

New Citroen e-C4 2025 review: updated EV is more appealing than ever

Road tests
1 Apr 2025
Cupra Leon review
Cupra Leon - front action

Cupra Leon review

In-depth reviews
10 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025