Previous experience of the current-generation Fiesta has led me to believe that the cheaper models make more sense than the ones at the top of the range. The 1.3 LX proves the point. It is the second humblest Fiesta you can buy, and so far it's the nicest one I've driven.
In Ford's trim-level naming system, LX is one step up from the entry-level Finesse. Normally it suggests a reasonable amount of extra equipment, but some of this is not available on the 1.3. All you get here is electric front windows and door mirrors, a radio/CD (without the remote controls available on other LXs), a courtesy light with theatre-style dimming (no less), remote central locking and a heated windscreen.
Apart from that it's all fairly basic, although one thing about Fiestas these days is that they all look pretty much the same on the inside, so the LX doesn't appear significantly different from the more expensive Zetec or Ghia (neither of which, incidentally, is available in 1.3 form). In the past there have been various mutterings in CARkeys about the Fiesta's interior layout, so I'll just briefly touch on the complete lack of useful horizontal space on the dashboard, and the incredibly cramped rear seats which disqualify the car from any pretensions as transport for four grown-ups.
The 1297cc engine has the same power as the turbo diesel, but nothing like the torque. As a result, this is not a quick car, though it can actually cover the ground quite well on country roads. The handling is really quite sporty, and while this in turn means that the ride is a little on the firm side it also lets you maintain decent speed through corners.
Where the lack of power really shows is in overtaking (you have to plan well ahead) and on steep hills. There is one of those near where I live, and most cars can normally manage it with a drop of one gear at most. With the Fiesta I usually had to drop two - it was a case of either screaming up the hill in third to maintain speed or chugging up in fourth and losing 20mph before I got to the top.
Still, these are fairly unusual conditions. On level ground the 1.3 is the most nicely balanced Fiesta of the ones I've tried. It's also surprisingly effective on long trips, though I'd have been more comfortable if the steering wheel was adjustable for reach as well as height (on which subject, full marks for making the driver's seat height-adjustable). And it's a fine town car thanks to the light controls and wheel-at-each-corner layout, and perhaps also to the limited power output.
The official fuel economy figures are very respectable, though they don't take into account the possibility of having to drive up steep hills in third gear. They're also only slightly better than those achieved by the larger petrol-engined models, while the turbo diesel (which in each of its forms has combined mpg figures in the 60s) is on a different scale altogether. On the other hand, the 1.3 is nicer to drive than any of them, and a great deal quieter than the diesel.
Like all Fiestas, this one gives the impression of having been built down to a price. It's far from being the best car in its class, but the usual Ford benefits of low running costs and a huge dealer network compensate for this to a large extent. As long as you don't need to carry other people on a regular basis, the Fiesta is a decent enough piece of simple, no-nonsense transport, and if that's the kind of thing you're looking for the 1.3 is probably the best bet in the range. By all means choose the diesel if fuel economy is an over-riding consideration, but the 1.3 is a better car.
Second opinion: Yes, it is rather curious that this mild performer is so pleasant to drive. And the thing about the three-door body style is that it's more attractive than the £500-extra five-door. There's a sportier appearance about the rear roofline and the revised tailgate angle. I'd really like the Fiesta to have a better-looking interior, and I can't believe the one we've got was as far as the styling ideas could go. Altogether, though, there's always something quite appealing about a car whose power output is well below what the chassis can handle. Ross Finlay.
