These changes, of course, come with the improvements added to the new Fiesta range. Compared with its predecessor, it has a vastly improved interior complete with a less cluttered dashboard and a higher-quality finish overall. The car itself is 71mm longer and 13mm wider, aiding interior space, and knee room in the back has grown by a modest 16mm.
Ford has pushed hard to boost the safety of the new Fiesta, so its B-pillars and doors have been bolstered for better side-impact protection, while a new Pedestrian Detection system that can work in the dark is offered. The ST-Line X gets additional driver assistance features such as a 4.2in TFT instrument cluster screen that displays traffic signs, as well as driver fatigue alert technology and rain-sensing wipers.
What's it like?
Ford has nailed the placement of the ST-Line within the Fiesta range, giving the model just enough sporting prowess to justify its badge but not to the detriment of its overall usability. Such is its flexibility that if you were to only glide about at urban pace, you’d be forgiven for thinking the ST-Line’s changes are only skin-deep.
Truth is, Ford has adjusted the damping to offer a slightly firmer ride than the regular car, but the impact is only really noticeable on cracked surfaces, when the wheels patter along with more enthusiasm. The car still soaks up bumps and ruts well, but it’s slightly more composed during quick direction changes with fewer degrees of lean through corners.
Our ST-Line X, equipped with the 123bhp version of Ford’s effervescent three-cylinder Ecoboost engine, feels gutsier than the numbers suggest. Admittedly, this is partly because of the sharp throttle it’s controlled by, but it's also due to genuinely solid mid-range grunt. It doesn’t rev quite as freely to the redline as the more potent 138bhp three-cylinder, preferring to be rotated a few hundred rpm lower, but it’s by no means strangled if you do explore the upper realms of the rev counter.
The six-speed manual gearbox is rewarding to use, with a quick throw and tight gate making it especially enjoyable to keep the engine turning over in its most energetic rev range. That the engine responds sharply to heel-and-toe inputs makes the process even more pleasurable.
With a humble 123bhp, progress along a road is respectable rather than rapid in the ST-Line X. The car rewards a smooth, flowing driving style that keeps up momentum rather than the more frenetic style spicier hatchbacks can encourage, although the rear can still be mobilised if the car is hustled into a corner on the brakes. Ford claims brake-activated torque vectoring boosts the car’s agility, although – and this is a compliment - you aren’t conscious of it working from behind the wheel and instead the car feels naturally nimble. Standard-fit Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres do a fine job of maximising the bite onto Tarmac.
Join the debate
xxxx
New clothes
Could be 10 years old on the outside (even the engine is knocking on a bit) and it's still a mess on the inside.
Option: For a little bit extra (£1,000) get the 1.8 192ps 4 cylinder POLO GTI. Or for more still wait for the 2.0 POLO GTI.
FORD are getting greedy with their prices.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
230SL
VW charged £665 extra for
VW charged £665 extra for curtain airbags on the Polo, which have been standard on most other cars for years. They are not even offered on their smaller Up models.
Andrew1
xxxx wrote:
But the Polo is ugly as hell, has a ridiculous outdated and bland interiour and probably comes with software to optimize emissions.
xxxx
Opinion
Or you could say "The Fiesta is ugly as hell, has a ridiculous outdated and bland interiour", it's just opinion.
However statistics show it's slower compared to the GTI and won't hold it's value as well, according to Parkers.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
abkq
xxxx wrote:
+1
Polo is the model of restrained elegance whereas Ford cannot leave any panel alone - a scoop here, a bulge - this is a small car not an urban sculpture. The Ford interior continues to be disastrous.
si73
xxxx wrote:
I agree, it doesnt look box fresh but neither does the polo you are championing. I really like the mazda 2, which in 89bhp guise out performs this but that too looks very similar to the previous model, is that a bad thing? I'm not sure it is as they are all quite good looking cars, though I prefer the mazda for its looks and na engine. As for price, well you can get a lower powered polo in a high spec, like this fiesta, for similar money, never seems like the best buy really, so why they use them as press cars when they appear so expensive seems crazy, the st line starts at 12ish £k, so look nearer the lower specs for the value. Obvious really.
xxxx
"championing"
Not 'championing' as you put it just giving an example. As to spec's the T... X isn't that high, unlike the price.
"why they use them as press cars when they appear so expensive seems crazy" the answer, because it so expensive.
Obvious really.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
xxxx
"ST line start at 12ish £k"
Just wondering where you got that figure from as Ford reckon on £16,595, that's a pretty big 'ish.
Research, obvious really
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
si73
Very snidy
AddyT
xxxx wrote:
You remind me of Will from The Inbetweeners. Not that you are very intelligent like the character, but just a bit too argumentative and a little bit obnoxious with it and lacking some social skills. Still waiting to hear on the car you drive, as always...
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