Contents Show
The new Ford Fiesta will be available from FORD dealers from July 8, 2017. But before that he had to face the press pack from all over Europe and Habby from mein-auto-blog was already “on the road” with the new Fiesta. A real “Kölsche Jung” by the way. Fact. Ironically, the global group FORD builds all Ford Fiesta in Cologne-Niehl. There must be reasons to have a small car produced in the high-price country of Germany. Good reasons. And that not only the reasons are good, but also the result according to the Cologne saying: “It would still have jot jejange” can be seen from two figures: 17 million Ford Fiesta since 1976 and 8.5 million of them from the plant in Cologne ! Ford will produce the new model in a two-shift operation with 1.400 units per day. Big numbers. The right time to now "All brand new FIESTA" to dedicate!
Driving Report: FORD FIESTA
Stop the story of women!
I admit it, when it comes to the Fiesta, the thought immediately occurs to me: “Typical women's car”. Which he is too. 60% of all private Fiesta buyers are women. Does that say something about the values and qualities of the little Cologne native? Rather not. So, clear your mind and unencumber the youngest generation.
Space & feeling
After FORD has used a “cheap” small car as a competitor for FIESTA in-house, the Ford KA +, the new Fiesta was now allowed to grow a bit in length (+ 7 cm), but this only partially benefits the interior. By the way, FORD has located the target group of the small car a little higher. Premium? Although the upcoming Vignale variant of the Fiesta was not ready for testing, the new quality of the Cologne was already noticeable in the driven Titanium model.
Outstanding in the literal sense of the word: The new cockpit with the up to 8-inch touchscreen, which is excellently installed in the driver's field of vision. Yes, one can discuss this fashion of “attached” monitors - but I think there is no getting around it. If, on the one hand, you want to create a good sense of space, then the cockpit has to stop below the shoulder line and, on the other hand, the display should be properly visible, then that's how it should be. And FORD understood that too and, thanks to Sync3, an extremely clever voice control, and the large touchscreen, eliminated the button Armageddon of the predecessor - without putting the driver in front of the lack of alternatives in the digital world. Primary functions can also be set at the touch of a button or a rotary knob.
Certainly you could wipe out a bit of the black plastic here and there, but in the end you are sitting in a small car and even Polo and the like rarely overturn with the last bit of styling and material quality. However, tangible - and even more visible - the leap in feel and processing.
What has also left an impression on a component whose importance is not so high, but documents the attention to detail: the floor covering of the trunk. At such points, the orientations decide: Is it just about the margin, or is it about a good car? Difficult to explain, even harder to understand? Then go to the Ford dealer and look in the trunk first! Formal Habby praise from our side!
Ride & enjoyment
Three-cylinder only. No natural gas, no hybrid - a diesel engine. The range of engines can be described as “manageable”. We drove the Ecoboost with 100 hp and automatic and the 120 hp diesel engine. Diesel engine? Yes. Why, of all things, the diesel engine still makes perfect sense. More on that in this paragraph.
Suspension comfort and a well-tuned chassis are things that one expects to be “given” at Ford. In comparison with the competition, the FORD models are always handy and comfortable. However, the leap in driving comfort that the new Fiesta has made is extraordinary!
Neither frost breaks nor nasty faults on level crossings interested the Fiesta. He springs and dampens common road surfaces heroically out of the driving experience. In this discipline, the Fiesta of the small car class has clearly escaped. Feels like the Fiesta is now in the compact car class at home. Unobtrusive driving noise completes the impression of successful work.
The sensibly graduated six-speed gearbox supports the 120 hp diesel, allows lazy mile scrubbing and suddenly the women's car “Fiesta” is also recommended for the big tour. Just once again - for breakfast - to Paris? Why not.
Drive & quality
It is understandable that Ford relies on the three-cylinder. The small turbo engine has already won the important “Engine of the Year Award” six times. And so even the “small” 100 PS Turbo fits together with a 6-speed automatic transmission. No, it is then no longer nimble, the classic automatic robs it too much of the lively spontaneity of the turbo three-cylinder.
The right combination then appears the 100 PS Turbo three-cylinder in conjunction with the six-speed manual transmission. In the NEDC standard fuel consumption, FORD specifies this variant with 4.3 liters on 100 kilometers and thus also remains under 100 grams CO2 per km. The three-cylinder Ford also offers without turbocharger and in two power levels. Whether you have to do the 70 PS base engine? Possibly to buy no annual ticket for public transport. But otherwise 110 Nm and an elderly 5 gearbox seem to be really only a solution for people who do not care so much about driving comfort and up-to-date technology.
Price-performance
FORD has shown itself to be self-confident when it comes to the price. The driven Titanium Ford with a powerful TDCi engine has a list price of over € 26.000. That was, of course, once again a “full hut” with all the goodies that FORD had hidden in the surcharge list. Including B&O sound system, the large touchscreen, Apple Car Play, City Emergency Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, cruise control with radar and also a heated steering wheel. Yes. A heated steering wheel in the Ford Fiesta!
In contrast, there is the basic Fiesta for 12.950 €. A viable alternative is again a 100 PS EcoBoost engine in the Titanium version for € 18.150, which, when expanded to include the Cool & Sound Package with Ford Sync3, Safety Package II and Winter Package, remains below € 20.000, but then all of it Advantages of the new interior. Because - at this point the touch display has to be mentioned again - together with the Sync3 system it is a fantastic solution to integrate your own smartphone into the vehicle via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. You can then confidently save yourself the Ford navigation solution, which is also subject to a surcharge!
Safety & Assist
With up to 15 assistance and safety systems, the new Fiesta is one of the smartest cars in the small car segment. So, you were not stingy, two cameras, three radar and 12 ultrasonic sensors actively involved in protecting the driver and his fiesta. In addition, an active parking assistant and a fatigue sensor are now also in the small car segment, which advises meaningful breaks as soon as the driver's concentration wears off.
And otherwise
If the Fiesta on 8. July starts, this is just the starting signal for a big attack in the small car segment. To compete for the premium titles, FORD will release a VIGNALE version of the Fiesta at the end of the year. You will recognize them from the outside already on the changed radiator grille, in the interior is then a further plus in material quality and features convince. In addition, there will of course be an ST variant. Grinning, we think of ours Fiesta ST test back. Here comes a new 1.5 liter three-cylinder turbo with 200 hp and - stopped - cylinder deactivation.
In order to serve the trendy market of crossover models, Ford is also launching a variant called “Active” with more ground clearance and martial designs. But also this variant only in the new year.
What is missing until the Vignale, is a decent light. Because even though the Fiesta got trendy LED daytime running lights, out of the two lamp versions, once with DE lens, once as a classic H4 burner, only halogen bulbs seem. The full-LED alternative will then move in with the Vignale. Its price list also starts at 20.600 € for the 100 PS EcoBoost.
The Fiesta is also available as a three- and five-door, the five-door always costs 800 € surcharge.