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Road test report -- February 2009
by Kevin Fenix.
Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi
Everybody of a younger generation, who saw the new Fiesta, liked what they saw. The view expressed was, that this put the Fiesta into a whole new light for them and placed it on their desirable list. While I have no objections to the styling, I have severe reservations about other aspects of the car.
From the first Fiesta back in 1977 to the previous model, I have always liked the Fiesta for its comfort, reliability, economy, adequate performance and versatility. It was easy to drive, had good roadholding and was adequately equipped, for its roll as a reasonably priced small car. From that first Fiesta to the last model, the Fiesta was built at Valencia in Spain and the workmanship was always very good.
When this new model was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008, I noticed that Valencia was not mentioned as the home of the Fiesta. Instead, what I gathered from the press release, was that this new model was to be built in Cologne, Germany, although subsequent press releases have mentioned, that it would also be built in Valencia, as time progressed. I have no idea where my two test cars were built, but both examples have suffered from a very poor build quality. In fact they reminded me of the worst days of British Leyland ! While the panel fit on this example was far better than that on the petrol model I drove a few weeks ago, it was still nothing to enthuse about. Surely on a mass produced car, properly assembled on jigs, panel fit should be the same on every body. Then there was the rust on the front wheel hub carriers and the rear hubs. If this is the level of rust on an 08 registered car, what will it be like in 2012 when the car is due for its NCT ? Will these items have to be expensively replaced to pass the NCT test ? On this car when I went to fold the rear seat backrest, the plastic surround on the nearside release button came away in my hands. Yet again when I needed the windscreen washers, they were not working ! This may have been due to lack of water in the reservoir, but following my unsuccessful attempts with the last model, I didn’t even bother to look into the cause this time.
Above and below : RUST !
Above : Loose surround on seatback release button
This car was fitted with the 1.4 diesel engine. When it is cold it is NOISY and gutless, but thankfully once it has warmed up it becomes far more smooth, silent and willing in its performance. Look at the specific output and you will see it is tuned to a very low level.
Finally I checked the spare wheel securing bolt. On this car it was loose and after a few completely frustrating attempts to tighten it, I gave up. Obviously, whoever had been there before me, had given up in despair too. Do some of these designers ever have to look at these things once they have left their drawing board ? Of course, my problem is that I am of a bygone era, when things were expected to be useful, practical, functional and work properly, not just look funky and serve as a fashion accessory. How naive can anyone be, expecting the owner/driver to mess with a spare wheel: that is the recovery man’s job !!!
On the road, once the engine has warmed up, the diesel Fiesta drives like any other new Fiesta. The seats are comfortable, the steering light yet precise and the controls easy to use. The electric power assisted steering is geared to give a sporty 2.6 turns from lock to lock. The gearchange is precise and works smoothly. The car is geared to deliver a potential top speed of 162 kph (101 mph), but needless to say I never even attempted to go anywhere near the motorway legal maximum of 125 kph, in the frosty, icy weather conditions we experienced during the test period. Acceleration is very modest with 0-100 kph taking all of 14.9 seconds. Obviously, if performance in terms of velocity is what you are after, the 1.25 litre petrol model is a better choice. It is marginally faster in top speed and a fair bit quicker in acceleration. However, when it comes to fuel consumption, the diesel wins hands down with an urban cycle recording of 53 mpg (5.3 lt/100 km) and an excellent extra urban recording of 79 mpg (3.5 lt/100 km. These give a combined cycle average of 66 mpg (4.2 lt/100 km). The 1.25 petrol model’s figures are 37 mpg - 61 mpg and 49 mpg respectively. Ride and roadholding are identical, as is the braking and this is hardly surprising, as both versions have exactly the same suspension design and braking systems. While both cars were fitted with wheels of the same size and design, the petrol model was fitted with European made Continental tyres, while the diesel had Hankook tyres from South Korea. The spare wheel and tyre was identical in both cars.
The two main instruments in the hooded binnacle behind the steering wheel are easy to see. The fuel gauge between them is also easy to see and it was a pleasure to notice how slowly it moved from full towards empty. This amply made up for a lot of the other annoyances. The three round dials, just ahead of the gearlever, for the heating/ventilating controls, are likewise easy to see and use, by both the driver and the front passenger. Fortunately I am not one who likes noise blaring at me when I am driving, so I never bothered to try to sort out the complexity of the highly ornate audio panel between the heating/ventilating controls and the digital information screen at the top centre of the facia. Once you have it all set to your requirements, there are additional controls on the left hand side of the steering wheel, which look a whole lot simpler to operate.
Switches for the lights are on the lower section of the facia, on the right hand side, below the circular air vent. There are two separate panels. The inner most has the headlamp levelling control and the button for the front fog lamps, while the outer panel as the rotary switch for the main lighting and the the button for the rear fog lamp. The steering wheel itself adjusts for both reach and height.
Above and below : Interior, front and rear
Luggage space is average for a small car, with 0.281 cubic metres between the boot floor and the rear shelf, when all seats are in place. The rear seat backrest is divided 60/40 and drops onto the rear seat cushions. When this is done and the rear shelf is removed, you have 0.965 cubic metres when loading to roof level. However, as the rear seat is at a higher level, you do not have the convenience of a flat and level load floor. If you need more space you can carry up to 50 kg on the roof and tow a braked trailer of up to 750 kg in weight. Remember that 50 kg roof load includes the weight of the roof container and its necessary mountings.
Above left : Normal luggage space ------------------ Above right : Maximum luggage space
Standard equipment includes electric mirrors, four electric windows, front fog lamps, height adjustable driver’s seat and ISOfix fittings on the two outer rear seats. The rear seat itself will take two adults in comfort. The centre section is hard and uncomfortable, in both its cushion and backrest, so is not an ideal place for a third adult passenger. It is suitable for children, but remember its hard surfaces are not ideal from a comfort point of view. All five places are fitted with adjustable head restraints.
Technical data
Dimensions
Overall length ------------------ 3950 mm
Overall width ------------------- 1722 mm (excluding mirrors) ------- 1973 mm (including mirrors)
Overall height ------------------ 1481 mm
Wheelbase ---------------------- 2489 mm
Front track ---------------------- 1483 mm
Rear track ----------------------- 1470 mm
Turning circle ------------------ 10.2 M (kerbs)
Unladen weight ---------------- 1030 kg
Gross vehicle weight ---------- 1540 kg
Max. towing weight ----------- 750 kg (unbraked)
Max. roof load ----------------- 50 kg
Power/weight ratio ------------ 30.8 kg/kW
Luggage capacity --------------- 0.281 cu.M (5 seats) ------------------ 0.965 cu.M (2 seats/roof)
Tank capacity ------------------ 45 lts
Engine
Type ------------------------------ 4 cyl. DOHC 16v, turbocharged, intercooled, direct injection
Capacity ------------------------- 1399 cc
Compression ratio ------------- 18 : 1
Injection pressure ------------- 1500 bar
Max. Boost pressure ---------- Not available
Bore x stroke ------------------- 73.7 mm x 82 mm
Power ---------------------------- 50 kW @ 4,000 rpm ------------------- Specific output -------- 35.739 kW/lt
Torque --------------------------- 160 Nm @ 1,750 rpm ------------------ Specific torque ------ 114.367 Nm/lt
CO2 emissions ----------------- 110 gm/km ----------------------------- Specific CO2 ------ 78.627 gm/km/lt
Transmission
Type ------------------------------ 5 speed manual
Ratios ---------------------------- Gearbox ---------------------------------Overall
1st -------------------------------- 3.58 : 1 ----------------------------------- 12.064 : 1
2nd ------------------------------- 1.93 : 1 ------------------------------------ 6.504 : 1
3rd ------------------------------- 1.28 : 1 ------------------------------------ 4.313 : 1
4th ------------------------------- 0.95 : 1 ------------------------------------ 3.201 : 1
5th ------------------------------- 0.76 : 1 ------------------------------------ 2.561 : 1
Reverse -------------------------- 3.62 : 1 ----------------------------------- 12.199 : 1
Final drive ----------------------- 3.37 : 1 ----------------------------------- ***********
Suspension
Front ----------------------------- MacPherson strut, trailing L-shaped lower transverse arm, 22 mm anti-roll bar
Rear ------------------------------ Tubular trailing arms, inverted U-shaped beam, coil springs, telescopic dampers
Steering
Type ----------------------------- Electric, power assisted, rack and pinion
Turns lock to lock ------------- 2.6
Wheel diameter ---------------- 370 mm
Brakes
Type ------------------------------ Servo assisted, dual circuit, with anti-lock, electronic force distribution and emergency brake assist
Front ----------------------------- Ventilated disc -------------------------- 258 mm x 23 mm
Rear ------------------------------ Drum (intl. dia. x shoe width) ------- 200 mm x 30 mm
Wheels
Type ------------------------------ 5 spoke, cast alloy, 4 stud
Size ------------------------------- 6J x 15 H2
Spare ----------------------------- Pressed steel ventilated --------------- 5.5J X 14
Tyres
Type ------------------------------ Hankook Ventos S1 Evo
Size ------------------------------- 195/50 R 15 ---- 82H
Spare ----------------------------- Goodyear Duragrip -------------------- 175/65 R 14 ---- 82T
Performance
Top speed ----------------------- 162 kph ---------------------------------- 101 mph
0-100 kph ----------------------- 14.9 secs
Fuel consumption
Urban ---------------------------- 5.3 lt/100 km --------------------------- 53 mpg
Extra urban --------------------- 3.5 lt/100 km --------------------------- 79 mpg
Combined ----------------------- 4.2 lt/100 km --------------------------- 66 mpg
Warranty/servicing
Coverage ------------------------ 2 years unlimited, 2 years assistance, 2 years paint, 12 years perforation
Service interval ---------------- 20,000 km (12,000 miles)/1 year
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Recommended retail price (excluding delivery and associated charges)
Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi 5 dr. ------------------------------------- Euro 16,475
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