BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A FORD FIESTA FROM OSV: https://bit.ly/2RPzJZS

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.

Market and Model

As before, there's a choice of either three or five-door bodystyles, plus an estate. Pricing starts at just over £16,500 for entry-level 'Trend' models; from there, the range progresses through 'Titanium', 'Titanium X' and 'Vignale Edition' models. If you want a lifestyle-orientated Fiersta, there are the 'Active Edition' and 'Active X Edition' variants. And if you want something sporty, things kick off with the 'ST-Line Edition' and 'ST-Line X Edition' variants with the standard engines. The line-up then progresses to full-fat hot hatch 'ST-2', 'ST-3' and 'ST Ford Performance Edition' variants.

Whatever your choice, you'll be offered some up-scale equipment options, examples including an openable panoramic glass roof. There's sophisticated safety too, including a Pedestrian Detection system that can even prevent collisions at night. And 'Active Park Assist' with brake interventions to prevent low-speed collisions when parking hands-free. As for standard equipment, even base models get features like air conditioning, Bluetooth, an 'Emergency Assistance' system and a 6-speaker stereo.

Cost of Ownership

The Ford Fiesta has garnered a reputation for being one of the cheapest superminis to run and this continues. In fact what's remarkable about this improved range is how so many models go below 100g/km. It's now the exception where you find a variant in this line-up that puts out more than the ton.

Take the volume 95PS 1.0 EcoBoost petrol unit, which puts out 116g/km of WLTP-rated CO2 and manages a WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel return of 55.4mpg. That's actually better than the entry-level 1.1-litre Ti-VCT petrol unit (which manages 121g/km and 53.3mpg). In mHEV mild hybrid form, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost unit gets a lower compression ratio and a larger turbo and can be had in 125 and 155PS electrified guises. Plus the mHEV version has been embellished by a beefed-up starter/generator driven by a belt at the front of the engine that stores the energy harvested when you brake or decelerate in a tiny 48-volt lithium-ion battery secreted at the back of the car. The 125PS EcoBoost Hybrid variant manages up to 58.9mpg and 109g/km.

For the 1.5 TDCi diesel, the figures are 112g/km and 65.7mpg. An Eco button for manual transmissions adjusts engine and throttle settings to help drivers save even more fuel when desired. Underbody aero shielding further reduces aero drag.

As for the warranty, well like all Fords, this one comes with a 36-month 60,000-mile package that also includes one year of Europe-wide breakdown assistance. On top of that, there's an anti-corrosion guarantee for 12 years. Ford also offers the chance to extend this cover - to either four years and 80,000 miles or five years and 100,000 miles.

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.

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