Fiesta comes with the kudos of being a European car, not an Asian one, and is Ford's smallest car on the Australian market.
It began slowly in the sales race, being relatively expensive, but nowadays is much more reasonably priced.
Numerous changes in the sporting model, the Zetec, have made it more of a genuine performance model than in the past, especially in the suspension department.
However, the Zetec still runs the same powerplant as the rest of the range so isn't really a hot shot in the true sense.
The engine is pretty busy thanks to a low top gear and is humming along at 3600 rpm in motorway driving.
Keep in mind that European cars at this price point are often a size down on the Asians, which can be reflected in the interior space.
The Ford Fiesta range sports a striking exterior with a spacious and sophisticated interior. Adults can fit in the back and won't be overly uncomfortable, though the rear seats really are better suited to children. There's not a huge amount of volume in the boot, but a folding backrest lets you compromise if not all seats are required.
Build quality on the Fiesta is pretty good, perhaps not quite up to the standards of its Japanese competitors, but generally very adequate and acceptable.
The next Ford FIESTA update is expected around February 2009. The Fiesta is based on the Mazda 2 platform, but with different styling. The Ford Verve concept car gives an indication of how the Fiesta will look.
