Launch of the Fiesta ECOnetic proved Ford is considerably further down the road towards a sustainable automotive future than many other manufacturers.
Sure there will hybrid and electric vehicles galore in the future, but right here, right now – and for a few years to come - maximum economy diesel and petrol engines are what every day new car buyers are demanding…many of these motorists will ultimately switch to hybrid or electric - but not yet.
With rated fuel economy as low as 3.7l/100kms, the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel Fiesta ECOnetic is Australia’s lowest consumption vehicle – better than Toyota’s Prius Hybrid – and is the new benchmark for small hatchbacks.
What You Get
Fiesta, like the Mondeo, originates from Ford Europe, headquartered in Cologne, Germany. It’s a great looker, superbly built and nice to drive.
Fiesta is also very sharply priced – entry to the Fiesta family is the CL three-door priced at $16,090. The ECOnetic model, as tested is Fiesta’s only diesel and, stickered at $24,990 is actually the most expensive model.
For driving dynamics, ride and handling, the Fiesta has assumed the top rung in the compact hatchback field…considering the caliber of some of the opposition, this achievement should not be underestimated.
The Engine
Not surprisingly for a German car, Fiesta ECOnetic’s 1.6-litre turbo-diesel is absolutely state-of-the-art – you don’t get 3.7l/100kms from any old clunker. It’s a single overhead camshaft design with common rail high-pressure direct injection and a coated Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
Maximum power is 66kW at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 200Nm is delivered at 1,750 rpm – those figures are more than ample for a vehicle that weighs only 1088kgs. Here are the really impressive stats: combined cycle fuel consumption is 3.7l/100kms and C02 emissions are just 98g/km.
The official highway fuel consumption is 3.2l/100kms and we have driven a Fiesta ECOnetic on country roads and returned 3.0l/100kms.
Drive is to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.
The Interior
Interiors for both the Fiesta and Mondeo highlight the competency of Ford’s German stylists – both are contemporary, stylish and practical. In the Fiesta’s case, the excellent interior defies its small car categorization.
In fact, the combination of Fiesta’s nicely shaped and adjustable front seat and the tilt/telescopic adjustment of the three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel delivered one of the best driving positions we have experienced. The steering wheel also has Ford’s high quality and simple-to-use cruise control buttons (much better than stalks).
If you haven’t shopped a small car for some time, you will notice the deep dashboard of the Fiesta – this is common with other contemporary designs like the Honda Jazz, City and Toyota Yaris and is a result of the steep rake of the windscreens (required for aerodynamic efficiency), interior packaging and the latest passenger cell crash protection technology.
Fiesta’s instruments are conventional two dials housed in nicely engineered binnacles which extend from the dashboard in a contemporary design. ECOnetic models have a green shift arrow on the rev counter which illuminates to inform the driver of the most fuel-efficient time to shift up a gear (diesels don’t need high revs for maximum performance).
Audio is on the center console (designed to look a mobile telephone keypad) and is a single CD/Bluetooth/USB/MP3 system. Also center console mounted are controls for the standard air-conditioning.
Luggage capacity is segment-competitive at 296 litres with the 60/40 split rear seat in place. The rear seat itself provides legroom similar to other small hatchbacks.
Exterior & Styling
Curves are everywhere on the Fiesta; its chic ultra-modern design jettisons old thinking about boxy hatchbacks and is another feather in the cap of Ford’s German styling team. Naturally aerodynamics count for a lot (crucial for fuel economy) and the front end with its narrow air intakes and wraparound modern headlights is certainly slippery.
Compared to other Fiesta models, ECOnetic highlights slightly lower ride-height, underbody air deflectors and Michelin low rolling resistance tyres in its quest to maximize fuel efficiency.
The ECOnetic is only sold as a five-door and - in the modern way - the rear doors open very wide to provide handy access for rear seat passengers and luggage.
On the Road
Fiesta ECOnetic runs 14-inch wheels and low rolling resistance tyres, but they don’t alter the driving dynamics – this is without doubt one of the best drives in the small car segment. Nicely refined, precise handling and pin-sharp steering clearly demonstrate the German origins of this impressive Ford.
And the 1.6l turbo-diesel is a beauty. For example, over our high-speed mountain roads loop, using that gearshift change light on the dashboard often had us one gear higher than we would have expected, but the Fiesta shone with its acceleration and responsiveness…performance and fuel economy.
Not surprisingly, with its 10.2-metre turning circle and just 2.6 turns lock-to-lock in the steering, Fiesta ECOnetic is a breeze to drive and park around the CBD.
Challenges
Some have mentioned Fiesta ECOnetic’s lack of a spare wheel as a ‘challenge’ – you get a tyre mobility kit. Get over it! Modern tyre technology means punctures are rare and spare wheels are heavy – lugging them around drains precious fuel consumption.
Verdict
Brilliant fuel economy, nice looks, German quality and driving dynamics make the Fiesta ECOnetic a winner. Our new small car champion.
The Competition
The all new Volkswagen Polo is worth a look, but you need to compare specifications carefully to ensure you’re getting the true value-for-money picture.
Citroen’s C3 and the Fiat Punto are both easy on the eye.
Likes:
The new small car benchmark…in all areas
Dislikes:
A tad more lumbar support is needed for the front seats.
