ROAD TEST: It's the Ghia factor. Ford's latest Fiesta has more power, more space and more whatever it takes to move upmarket. Andrew Hamilton reports
It's time for another Fiesta. We have just stepped back into Ford's supermini range after a four-month absence. Back then we were reviewing the 1.4LX, a modest enough offering which will account for a big lump of the Fiesta's sales here.
Now there's the opportunity to go upmarket, into the slightly more opulent 1.6 litre Ghia. Both cars we drove came with five doors: the three-door, which has a sportier profile, has yet to make its debut.
Yet another version of the Fiesta, the Fusion, is also coming our way soon. Ford calls it a UAV or urban activity vehicle. There's a hint of 4x4 muscularity about it but probably the biggest driving appeal is the higher elevation on the road.
Back to the Fiesta Ghia. So much of what we have already written about the 1.4LX is still applicable to the Ghia model. The old Fiesta's biggest drawback was probably its lack of rear space and that has been hugely addressed in the new range.
Ford says that the car was designed from the outset to have enough room for five adults and their luggage. The claim is just a bit ambitious. Three very modestly proportioned adults tried the rear of our test car and all said they felt squeezed.
With two in the rear, though, it's a different story. Knee room has been increased by 60 mm while headroom is said to be the same as in the back of the Galaxy MPV.
Ford also realised that the rear doors needed to be big enough to load not only adults but items - such as child seats and luggage - with the bench folded. The result is squarer rear openings that negate the need to stoop when getting in.
With an extra 41 mm in the wheelbase, the cabin offers far more room in every direction than before. The driver and front seat passenger sit 45 mm higher for improved visibility.
The 1.6 litre 16-valve Duratorq unit in the Ghia gives it the sort of extra urge and vitality that was missing in the more junior sibling. Writing of the latter in June, we said we expected livelier performance and downshifting was necessary to maintain progress. Fact is that there's a significant power differential between the two models - 100 bhp as against 80 bhp, a top speed of 114 mph compared with 104 mph and a 0-62 mph (100 kph) time that's 13.2 seconds against 10.6 seconds. But the real awareness of the extra zest comes when gears are dropped to enhance acceleration.
The nature and character of the performance is close to faultless. The engine revs smoothly, quietly and cleanly from idle to cut-out, and the gearchange, clutch and accelerator actions are delightful.
As with the 1.4 litre version, we found the new Fiesta rides more comfortably than the old car and is therefore a more convincing long-distance proposition. The suspension is also quieter, the steering less prone to kickback and the body control over rough roads in a different league.
Our 1.4 litre Fiesta yielded 32 mpg overall which wasn't hugely impressive. The 1.6 Ghia was better, giving us 35 mpg. There was less town driving and less gearchanging, something that was necessary in the 1.4 in the quest for more stimulating performance.
Official mpg figures for the 1.6 are 30.1 urban; 52.3 extra urban and 40.9 combined.
Packaging has to be one of the new Fiesta's major virtues. There is now genuine space for four six-footers to travel in comfort, and Ford hasn't skimped on seat quality either.
The boot has also grown to 284 litres, making it at least competitive with its Czech competitor, the Skoda Fabia, which offered probably the biggest boot in the class.
The cabin, in spite of the Ghia badge, doesn't ooze opulence but it feels like a solid piece of German workmanship. However, there's not a lot of wit or visual titillation.
Compared with most other superminis, even those without an upmarket spec badge, it's rather dour and straight-thinking. Only the customers will dictate whether this is what they want.
Even if they aren't taken by the cabin styling, they'll like the driving position. They will probably also approve of the way the car is equipped and how safe it is. There are advanced dual-stage twin airbags as standard up front, with the option of side bags and side curtains: the car recently obtained a four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating which is as good as it gets among superminis.
Goodies that are standard on the Ghia include air conditioning, a stereo radio and CD system with remote controls.
Finally, the most important detail of all - price. The 1.6 Ghia comes in here at €17,795 ex-works, a hefty €2,400 more than the humbler 1.4LX. But surprisingly there are upmarket versions of familiar superminis that cost more: the 1.4 litre Fabia Elegance with 100 bhp is €19,210, for instance.
The Fiesta, with its lookalike Focus styling, is sharp and grown-up compared with the predecessor. It's a hugely competent car too, especially with its refined drivetrain. Compared with all the other Fiestas that there have been since 1976 - around 10 million - it's something they weren't, a small car masquerading as a big one. We applaud it even though it isn't as much fun as a Focus or as brilliant overall.