Hills Ford's video: FORD FIESTA 2017 IN-DEPTH REVIEW HILLS FORD

Ford's Fiesta has always been affordable and great to drive. But state of the art? It's that too in its current seventh generation form. Beneath the smart styling lies some clever user-friendly technology - and cabin quality that'll make down-sizing into one of these less of a chore. This is how you right a best seller. Background This Fiesta may still be a small car but these days, it thinks big in almost every way, starting with styling designed to make more of a statement in the supermini segment. Under the bonnet lies an impressively clean and frugal range of petrol and diesel units, which includes the brand's latest mild hybrid EcoBoost Hybrid tech. Plus there's a more up-market cabin than you might be used to from a Fiesta, plus safety technology that can automatically brake the car for you, even at night. Ford has also broadened the appeal of the range with an 'Active' Crossover bodystyle, plus variants more specifically aimed at customers wanting luxury and sportiness. And as well as all that, the brand reckon that it'll be even more fun to drive than its predecessor. This is, in short, on paper at least, a thoroughly well thought out piece of supermini design. But will it be enough to keep Ford at the top of the sales charts? Let's find out. Driving Experience Variations on the Fiesta theme may come and go but before driving any version of Ford's definitive supermini, there's one thing you almost always know for certain: that it'll be a great steer. This current generation model is 15% stiffer than its predecessor and both front and rear track measurements are wider. The engineers tell us that the chassis offers 10% more cornering grip, supported by Electronic Torque Vectoring Control, which enhances the driving experience by applying a small amount of braking to inside wheels to assist traction and stability when cornering. Braking distances at 62mph are reduced by more than 8%. There are freshly developed five and six-speed manual gearboxes. And rear disc brakes feature on models with engines developing more than 100PS. Ah yes, engines: you'll want to know about those. Ford is gradually introducing its mild hybrid 48-volt tech into this car but for the time being, the conventional engine choices also remain, which means that the range kicks off with the brand's 1.1-litre Ti-VCT 75PS unit which comes only with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Nearly all Fiesta buyers though, opt for the three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine though, usually in base 95PS form (it's 100PS if you specify the optional auto gearbox). There's also an uprated 125PS version of this same engine. The 1.0T EcoBoost powerplant can also be had in mild hybrid mHEV 'EcoBoost Hybrid' form in 125 and 155PS forms, complete with Ford's latest 48V electrified technology. The minority-interest 1.5-litre TDCi 85PS diesel unit continues too. The SUV-style 'Active' Fiesta variants share all the usual mainstream engines, but the top Fiesta ST hot hatch model gets its own 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol unit developing 200PS. Summary The Ford Fiesta has always been a vehicle the British public has warmed to but the truth is that before this seventh generation model arrived, supermini buyers chose this car either because it was great to drive or because they'd been offered a deal too good to turn down: there wasn't really another reason to buy one. This MK7 version has changed all that, smarter to look at, smarter to sit in, smarter to operate and smarter under the bonnet. A smarter choice all round then? Many will think so. This still may not be the largest or the plushest car in the supermini sector but on just about every other main criteria, it's either up there or class-leading. There's an unpretentious quality to it and a focus on providing the things that really matter to small car buyers - the fun handling and affordable technology Ford has long delivered to them in this segment but also the low running costs, strong safety provision and low emissions they now need too. And it's all been done with a polish and self belief that we've never seen from a Fiesta before. In short, this is, more than ever, a small car that supermini buyers simply can't ignore. Book a FREE Test Drive @Hills Ford ▶ NEW FORD FIESTA: https://bit.ly/2T8TdpA ▶ VIEW OUR LATEST FORD FIESTA OFFERS: https://bit.ly/2T7xb6M ▶ Subscribe to get more videos like this one: https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsFordWM?sub_confirmation=1 ▶ Share this video: https://youtu.be/EJqfY8XOqB8 ▶ Visit our Ford Dealership: http://bit.ly/2RHK5r8 FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/Hillsford TWITTER: https://twitter.com/hills_ford/ INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/hillsford/ WEBSITE: https://www.hillsford.co.uk