Ford: Fiesta offers bang for buyers' bucks

Kiwis will appreciate the Ford Fiesta's 1.6-litre well-balanced power-to-weight ratio and economical price. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Fords 1.4 litre auto Focus was a little stumped by my hilly commute, so I booked the more powerful and lighter 1.6-litre. It even costs less - what's not to like?

A lot, if you're the average Kiwi new-car buyer, for it's available in manual only while autos are our usual transmission choice.

Ask buyers and they'll usually cite heavy traffic as an excuse. Which is amusing when you consider how lightly congested our roads are, even in Auckland, when compared to Europe.

In the UK, 80 per cent of all cars sold are manuals. In Fiesta's segment, it's 92.5 per cent - and the same figure for Fiesta autos. Yet take it from me, traffic density is far worse in most of the UK than it is in New Zealand.

Yet, here, only 16.3 per cent of sales are manuals, though it's higher for the small cars - perhaps because manuals form the entry level, and small-car buyers are often price conscious. Maybe buyers are simply aware that autos and small engines still don't mix that well.

However, Kiwi car-lovers appreciate the benefits of power to weight, not to mention bang for buck.

Fiesta's 1.6-litre is 47kg lighter than the 1.4-litre. It has 17kW more power and 24Nm more torque, plus a five-speed manual better matched to the bigger engine than the four-speed auto of the smaller unit. And the 1.6-litre is $1500 cheaper.

Otherwise, both cars come in Zetec format with identical specification. If you want voice-controlled radio, Bluetooth phone or cruise control, either car will do. Ditto if you're seeking five airbags, stability control and a five-star crash test rating.

If you want a nimble-handling package with edgy looks, either Fiesta will make you happy.

But if you want to make the most of that nimble handling - or, like me, your commute is a hilly one - only the 1.6-litre will do. It's not so much the power, as how the car works with it. Quite apart from the lower weight, the extra cog means the gears are better matched to the engine. There's pull when you want it, but the engine isn't working as hard under light loads either. That makes for perky performance - and more frugal fuel use.

The 1.4-litre has a claimed 6.5 litres/100km thirst but during my drive it gulped down 8.5 litres/100km, according to the multi-function trip. Given the same driving conditions, the 1.6-litre returned a 7.7 litres/100km average.

Clearly New Zealanders understand the appeal of a larger motor in a smaller vehicle, for the Fiesta is bucking the segment's trend, with 44.1 per cent of sales for the manual. No surprise, given the 1.6-litre Fiesta is the best value and the better car.

FORD FIESTA

We like
1.6 motor with five-speed manual in clever-handling chassis; cheaper than smaller-engined stablemate

We don't like
What's not to like?

Powertrain
1596cc four, 88kW at 6000rpm and 152Nm at 4050rpm, five-speed manual drives front wheels

Performance
0-100km/h not available, 5.9l/100km claimed

Safety
Five airbags, stability control, ABS with EBD and BA

What it's got
Air con, CD player with USB and aux, Bluetooth, cruise control, and more

Vital stats
3950mm long, 281-litre boot, 42-litre tank