FORD needed the latest Fiesta to work, and the good news is – after a few weeks of living with three variants – this German light-car delivers a knockout blow to everything in its class. In almost every area of the little Ford is a big advance on its respected predecessor, although people familiar with the old car will notice a few drawbacks too. But not to worry, because the latest Fiesta shows that Ford is willing to fight its way out of debt with style as well as substance. You simply won’t find a better baby anywhere in the world right now.

Ford WQ Fiesta LX
Released: Jan 2006
Ended: Dec 2008
Family Tree: FiestaWHY more old-shape Fiestas weren’t sold in Australia is a mystery, since it is still a better light-car contender than most of its rivals today, despite being based on a six-year-old design, thanks to beautifully weighted and responsive steering, excellent handling and a lusty (if noisy) 74kW/146Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Furthermore, the Fiesta is one of the few light cars around that has a suitable automatic (four-speed) gearbox, as a viable alternative to the excellent five-speed manual. Equipment levels on the base LX are competitive rather than generous, with ABS only standard on auto versions. Solid, practical and fun to drive, you can do much worse than pick the WQ Fiesta, which – for driver appeal, rear-seat and boot space and practicality, and rear vision – beats even its WS successor in several key areas.
Facebook Twitter Instagram