Ford Fiesta Ambiente 2013 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $17,825
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Metallic Paint $385
Crash rating: Five-star ANCAP
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.8 (combined)
CO2 emissions (g/km): 137 (combined)
Also consider: Holden Barina (from $15,990); Kia Rio (from $15,290); Mazda Mazda2 (from $15,790); Suzuki Swift (from $15,990)

With its spunky silhouette and feature packed interior, the new Fiesta will impress those after a zippy urban runabout. It’s a nifty city car, but one that’s equally happy weekend road tripping, managing either scenario with a blend of comfort and style.

From a value standpoint, the Fiesta is a winner. The base-spec Ambiente (as tested) boasts many of the features you would expect from a pricier model. As standard, it offers cruise control, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, Bluetooth connectivity, air-conditioning, and a zippy 82kW/140Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

With so many bells and whistles in such a small package it is certainly impressive that you can drive home in an Ambiente from only $15,825 (plus on-road costs) for a manual variant. The automatic on test adds $2000 more.

What’s even better is the Fiesta’s fuel economy. Ford says the Fiesta will consume 5.8L/100km on the combined cycle, though on test we managed 7.5 in mostly urban conditions.

However, it isn’t until you take a good look around the new Fiesta that you can really appreciate how competitive the model is. The revamped styling makes for a great looking hatch, which will surely appeal to younger buyers chasing something fresh and fun. We especially like the new front-end for its slightly mean edge.

It’s a similar story inside. The centre dash features a brightly lit display screen and a myriad of buttons and controls. If you’re into technology, and insist that ease of connectivity be a priority in your car, then you will not be disappointed.

Overall the controls were relatively easy to get the hang of, with the added bonus of USB connectivity for those devices that may not be Bluetooth compatible.

Comfort has not been forgotten, and it was great to find that the front seats held you snugly in place while also offering an optimum position for support on longer trips. The seats and steering column are also easily adjustable.

The eyes have plenty to enjoy as well with Ford ensuring that the sleek exterior of the Fiesta is complimented with a sophisticated black and grey interior. If you’re rather discerning, your expectations will be well and truly looked after.

On the road the Fiesta provides just the right amount of acceleration. It cruises along comfortably without that awful engine strain that comes with some cars in the segment. Shifting between gears was quite smooth, and even steep hills showed the Fiesta was capable of picking the right gear for the job.

The handling was quite good, too. The Fiesta’s smooth steering and decent cornering stability was matched only by its fantastic manoeuvrability. Parking was an absolute dream and three-point turns a cinch.

It’s also easy to get out of tight spots with outward visibility proving to be quite good. In fact the only outstanding issue I found was in regard to road noise, which was noticeable at highway speeds.

The Fiesta boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating which is especially important to those shopping the Light car segment. Six airbags come standard across all Fiesta variants as does stability control, anti-lock brakes and electronic brake-force distribution.

Despite being one of the smaller vehicles on the road, an overall feeling of confidence is ever-present. The Fiesta feels solid and stable on the road and has all the tech and good looks those shopping the segment have a right to expect -- you could say it has the substance to match its spunk!

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