HomeCar ReviewsNew Ford Fiesta facelift review

New Ford Fiesta facelift review

Currently in its sixth generation, Ford Fiesta was first introduced in 1976 as a hatchback. Launched in India as a sedan back in July 2011 to compete with cars like Honda City and Hyundai Verna, sales did not meet expectations, mostly due to its high price tag. Ford did revise the price, but buyers still didn’t find the Fiesta impressive enough. Now, with the 2014 Fiesta, Ford India is trying once again, to make a mark in the segment.

2014 Fiesta offers a slightly improved exterior design and upmarket interiors, it also offers a refined driving experience. Speaking about the exterior design, Ford now offers new Fiesta with their trademark grille – the trapezoidal design which is now part of their One Ford global program. Headlight design too has been refreshed which now feature a more chiselled look, thanks to laser cut technology. Masculine looking front bumper and aggressive lines on the bonnet, complete the front look of 2014 Ford Fiesta.

Moving on to the side, you will notice new alloys, which are in the form of 5 (twin) spoke star-shaped design. Other prominent feature on the side is the bolder wheel arches on front and rear, along with sleek line flowing all the through the door handles, before merging into the tail lamp.

The rear design of Ford Fiesta does not carry much change. The clever mix of concave and conclave curves, do complementing the overall design.

Moving on to the inside of New Fiesta, you will find a revised central console, which is inspired from Ford EcoSport. The one we got to drive is the top end Titanium variant which will feature a two tone interiors with black and beige combination. Steering wheel has a nice premium feel as it it is wrapped with leather.

Inside the instrument panel, there is analogue display for speed, engine rpm and fuel. Apart from that, you also have a digital display which will show you real time information like temperature outside, distance to empty, trip meter, speed, mileage, time etc.

With steering mounted controls, and technologies like SYNC and AppLink, Ford has managed to move a step ahead of the competition. Developed on the philosophy of ‘Eyes on the Road, Hands on Steering Wheel’, the new Fiesta is the first Ford car in India to come with AppLink. With AppLink, you can use the apps on your phone via voice commands. All you have to do is press the voice activation button on the centre console or on the steering wheel, and speak the name of the app you want to access in your phone. The system will then access the app and ask for further instructions. You can also design your own apps, but before implying them, they need to be verified from Ford. More information here.

Speaking about seat comfort of Ford Fiesta, for the front passengers, Fiesta has comfortable seats with enough thigh and lumbar support. It is the rear seats which are a little disappointing. Just like the previous variant, the facelift too comes with less thigh support and legroom for rear seat passengers. The seats are only offered in beige, and no leather seats are on offer, even in the topend Titanium variant.

Powered by 1.5l diesel engine generating the same power output of 91 PS and 204 Nm torque, 2014 Fiesta now delivers one of the best mileage figures in India. Claiming to offer 25.01 kmpl, which is second to India’s most fuel efficient car – Honda City diesel’s 26 kmpl. This has been achieved due to changes in exterior design, which are now more aerodynamic, helping in reduction of drag by 3% as compared to older variant. During our drive, we received mileage of 20 kmpl.

Coming to the driving part of New Ford Fiesta, compared to the previous Fiesta, there is not much change in the drivability. Though there are no mechanical changes made to the engine, there is an improvement in performance, thanks to the change in design and making the suspension settings softer.

Speaking about the performance of its diesel engine, it does not have a good low-range performance. But, once you are above 2,000 rpm, the engine feels responsive. It redlines at about 4,900 rpm. Inside the city, the third gear is good enough for speeds from 30 till above 100 kmph, while on the highway the car easily cruise at 160 kmph. Braking is decent.

Steering is light and gives a decent feedback. At high speeds or while taking on corners, the steering behaves well, making the driver feel safe. NVH levels have been improved and this has resulted in a quieter cabin space. During normal driving, you will not hear the diesel clitter, road noise etc.

With no petrol on offer at launch, Fiesta might fail to impress enthusiasts. As far as safety is concerned, Ford India has revealed that they will offer Airbags as standard on all three trims – Ambiente, Trend and Titanium. Other standard safety features on offer across all three trims include ABS with EBD, central locking, door reinforcements, child lock and engine immobilizer.

With attractive front and more features on offer, the Fiesta is expected to be priced in the Rs 7.5 lakhs range. Ford does not expect to match City and Verna in sales with new Fiesta, but they do aim for improved sales with the introduction of new Fiesta.

Exterior changes made to the new Fiesta

Old Fiesta vs New Fiesta

Tech Specs of Ford Fiesta

Accessories on offer the new Fiesta

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