2009 Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta has a very strong heritage when it comes to affordable small hatchbacks.

First launched in 1976, the Fiesta has been hugely popular in its native Europe, selling by the bucketload. It’s become pretty ubiquitous, so the arrival of a new model is big news.

Fords of late, specifically the ones hailing from Europe rather than the US, have been mightily impressive. Sharp looks, great interior quality and sporty handling have set them ahead of the immediate competition.

The looks of the Fiesta suggest little change. Compared to any of its value hatchback rivals, it’s a looker, with dynamic lines and an aggressive, sporty front end inspired by the latest generation focus. It’s also pretty good value, with prices in the UAE starting at 49,500AED for the entry-level Ambiente model, with its 1.25-litre engine.

We tried the mid-range Trend model, which is powered by a 90bhp 1.4-litre unit and mated to a four-speed automatic. More on that powertrain in a moment.

Specification-wise, the Trend comes with a rather strange mixtures of features. Several specs we’d take for granted as being standard in this day and age are missing – no remote locking being the most obvious. If you want a plipper rather than physically putting the key in the lock, you need to shell out extra cash or buy the top of the line Titanium model. This seems odd on anything other than a base-spec car, especially when you consider that the Trend does feature other extras like electric windows and electric, heated mirrors. Our test car had optional parking sensors too, which aren’t really needed on a car this small.

Alloy wheels are also optional – the Trend comes with 15-inch steelies as standard.

Electronic stability control is extra on all models, apart from the Ambiente where it’s not available at all. We think safety features like this should be standard on all cars as we head into the second decade of the 21st century – this should be considered one of the most basic safety features. Shame on you, Ford.

Other features that are standard include ABS, a capless fuel-filler system called EasyFuel, ISOFIX child seat attachments, air conditioning and pockets on the back of the front passenger seat. You also get a safety pack, with a  fire extinguisher and first aid kit, which could be useful.

Hop inside the Fiesta and you should be fairly impressed. The design is modern, funky and stands out from the bland plasticky interiors of some of its rivals. The build quality is good, and the materials used, while not fantastic to the touch, are far from poor. There’s a stereo with an auxiliary in feature too, which is good for those that want to plug their MP3 players in.

The chassis is very good, as it was on the previous generation Fiesta. The car can nip in and out of traffic with ease, and is genuinely fun to drive. However, the steering doesn’t feel quite a sharp as we were expecting. The power steering feels everso slightly numb and artificial, which is disappointing.

More of a problem is the engine and gearbox. A 1.4 engine today should be able to conjure up a lot more than 90bhp, and the Fiesta feels sluggish. It needs a good deal of revving to get it going, not helped by a pretty ropey four-speed gearbox. More powerful engines are available in other markets, and we’d like to see them brought over, as a bit more grunt would make a world of difference. And we know Ford can do better with gearboxes – the manual version, we suspect, will be a lot better.

So, a mixed verdict for the new Fiesta, at least in the form that it’s available here. It’s good looking, well made and built on a very good platform, but its let down by some fairly miserly specifications and wimpy powertrains. There’s more potential here than we’re seeing. That said, it compares well to its rivals and is certainly the best-looking of the small hatchbacks available today.

Ford Fiesta

Price: From AED 49,500

Engine size: 1.25, 1.4

Engine type: Four-cylinder

Driven wheels: Front wheel drive

Max power (bhp): 90

Max torque (Nm): 125

Trim levels: Ambiente, Trend, Titanium

Standard safety features: ABS, driver and passenger airbags, emergency brake lighting, safety pack (fire extinguisher and first aid kit)

* Prices are indicative and may vary at the time of purchase. All prices are ex-Dubai showrooms. Please check with your local dealer for current prices and offers.