As most manufacturers are leaving the supermini segment, and the number of small sporty hatches available dwindling by the day, this Ford Fiesta is really  refreshing. If you can’t afford the 200bhp 1.5 ST, this alternative should appeal to you. Fitted with a 155 HP 1.0 litre 3-cylinder engine, the 3-door Fiesta offers a lot of fun for tight budgets. What a shame it is currently not available in Belgium !

Ford recently facelifted the Fiesta and Focus and gave us the opportunity to test drive a rather interesting version of the small Ford. Our test car in ST-Line trim proved to be a lot of fun to drive, reminding us that reduced weight combined with a low driving position make for a refreshing experience after several weeks behind the wheel of various SUVs.

I like it

We have always been big fans of the little three pots made in Germany. This Fiesta is quick, eager to move about and a real pleasure to drive. The 6-speed manual gearbox adds to the fun, never sapping engine power or slowing down things like autos can do. This 155 hp makes full use of all the vigour of its turbo and takes us quickly to illegal speeds. Admittedly, the suspension is softer and the steering is less precise than on the ST, this version being overtly more comfortable than sporty. However, this proves to be a nice compromise for drivers who like to have fun behind the wheel without sacrificing too much. This Fiesta is easy on the driver’s back as well as on his wallet.

Quite clever

The 2022 Fiesta facelift includes a customizable 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster as well as an 8-inch touchscreen sitting atop the centre console. It controls the SYNC3 infotainment system. The number of driving aids is on the up, enough to ensure healthy sales up to the end of this model’s life. Among these features are the Wrong Way Alert, the Active Park Assist, the Rear Occupant Alert as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

I don’t like it

Even if we fell in love with this 2022 Fiesta, there are a few things we don’t like with it. First of them is  obviously access to the rear seat. Selecting the 5 door version should make things easier. The boot could be bigger, true, but it is probably down to its age.

Why I buy it

The 2022 Ford Fiesta’s outstanding chassis and exciting engine remain its strong points. The outside changes enhance dynamism, especially in the ST-Line version, not to mention the new colours on offer. Unfortunately we can’t give you a price, as the car is currently unavailable in Belgium :  you’ll have to make do with a 125 HP lump and a 5-door body.

Why I don’t buy it

The cabin is a bit cramped… it betrays this design’s age, compared to what’s available elsewhere. Mind you, compact multipurpose cars are rare. The Fiesta plays the hybridization game moderately. Its mild-Hybrid 48v makes the start and stop action a bit smoother. Not a real problem for us as we don’t really care about all these hybrid systems that add unwanted weight and inflate car prices. At the end of our 520 km test drive, average fuel consumption was just 6.7 l/100 km, a really commendable result as we never tried hard to drive this Fiesta with an egg under the accelerator. (Translation: Dimitri Urbain)