Driven: Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost 140 ST-Line

Just another mass-produced Ford. Just another five-star car

Ford may have a long record of selling cars that top the sales charts, but it can hardly be accused of complacency. The latest Fiesta model is a highly contemporary hot hatch, and this is the hottest version so far, this ST-Line model.

As the sportiest model, it gets some aerodynamic improvements, along with nifty 17in alloys, lowered suspension, sports seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. We’re trying it here with the three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine, which will come in three outputs, plus there is the 1.5-litre diesel engine.

The standard Fiesta is a fabulously fine-handling car, and there’s obviously a concern that sportier suspension and bigger alloys will compromise that. You can put the concern somewhere it needn’t concern you. All is well. Handling and ride remain superb, while the upgrades mean that you get an even more fluid and communicative handling package than before.

Steering and turn-in are impressive, and you’re left in no doubt about what the front end is up to. You could argue that it should be so, since such a fine package is only being pushed by a small engine. In this turbocharged form the three-pot has 138bhp which is perfectly adequate for some vim and vigour, but there are limits. There’s reasonable torque but really this is about revving it up and revving it out, and then you’re rewarded with a vigorous and strong response that even seems quite characterful as well.

While the exterior looks fairly similar to the outgoing model – because that was deemed a timeless design even after eight years – the interior has had a major makeover, and is all the better for it since the last one was looking dated. It also feels pretty classy, and you can’t always say that about Ford cabins.

There are some fun sporty bits like the aluminium pedals and kick plates, but the Fiesta lacks the low-slung seating position you’d really want in a sporty car. Instead you sit surprisingly high – good for the view, less good for the feeling of being in rather than on.

The cabin in this ST-Line also gains quite a bit of useful kit including Bluetooth, keyless start, heated windscreen, air con and more. That helps balance the asking price of £17,595, which isn’t cheap, but then this latest Fiesta certainly doesn’t feel cheap. And claimed economy of 63mpg, along with 102g/km of CO2, is also a decent bonus.

Ford hasn’t sat on its laurels here, it’s gone all out to make a really sharp and modern successor to a best seller. We’re sure it will continue that sales success, as it deserves to.

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Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost 140 ST-Line 5dr

Price	£18,045
Engine	1.0-litre petrol
Power	138bhp
Torque	133 lb ft
Gearbox	6-spdmanual
0-62mph	9.0sec
Top speed	125mph
Official economy	63.0mpg
CO2, tax band	102g/km, 19%