Having had the chance to sample numerous 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines over the years, I was rather excited to get behind the wheel of the Ford Fiesta Ecoboost which on paper had the power to match much larger-engined counterparts.
Ford Fiesta 1.0 Trend review by David Taylor
After a facelift, Fords Fiesta adopted an all-new gaping grille on the front end. Many have suggested it looks like an Aston Martin and I applaud Ford for being so bold with a radical design. The Ford Fiesta has always been a bit of an eye-catching car and now its even more so. In the crowded B-segment where competition is tight, I believe looks and value for money play a huge role. The Fiesta is off to a great start as it gets thumbs up in the design stakes.
International Engine of the Year
The main change with the facelift can be found under the hood where a rather special engine can be found. Voted as International Engine of the Year Fords 1.0-litre three-cylinder is hands-down the best engine of its kind. The amount of power it makes is simply astounding. Theres 92kW and 170Nm produced by this tiny engine. Read that again. To put that in context, many 1.6-litre motors have about 75kW on tap.
When you put your foot flat, the Ford Fiesta Ecoboost responds well and the power comes almost right away, which I find rather useful if you want to overtake. Being a three cylinder, it also has a pleasant sound which is exaggerated if you drive it hard.
Fuel consumption surprise
This little motor is marketed as being incredibly light on fuel, with Ford claiming an eyebrow-raising figure of 4.3L/100km. Despite the tiny size of the engine, I struggled to get anywhere near that figure. You should still see around 7L/100km on the combined cycle which isnt too bad given the level of performance. The big plus with this engine is you have the option of driving it really gently, or you can pretend youre Ken Block and race everywhere the fuel economy difference between the two styles is hardly noticeable. Anyone with a performance car will be well-aware that the moment you start driving aggressively, fuel consumption skyrockets. In the Fiesta Ecoboost, the figure went from 7.0L/100km to 7.3L/100km during the week I had the vehicle. Brilliant.
Well-kitted out interior
Inside the Fiesta, you receive plenty of bells and whistles, and everything is laid out in one of the more visually appealing and better designed cabins. From the legendary Ford SYNC which is a voice-controlled Bluetooth phone pairing system, to the steering wheel-mounted controls, it doesnt feel like theres anything major missing. There are seven airbags, a stability control program, air conditioning, daytime running lights, hill start assist and automatic stop/start.
Ford Fiesta 1.0 conclusion
To date this is the best application of a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine I have evaluated. While marketed as an economical and sensible choice, the Ford Fiesta Ecoboost is actually fun to drive without the drawback of the fuel economy taking a hit when you drive enthusiastically. It looks good, drives well and has the lovely SYNC tech to boot.
However all hopes of this vehicle receiving a top rating evaporate when you see the price tag. The price as tested for the Trend derivative sits at the R213k mark a figure that will send a budget-conscious consumer running for miles. Whats more alarming is the higher-specced Trend model retails at R233 900! That figure puts you squarely in Volkswagen Golf 7 and Ford Focus territory, which isnt a good place to be. For the same price as the top-of-the-range Ecoboost, you could have a Golf 7 1.2 Bluemotion which is a bigger car and lighter on fuel.
Id recommend going for the 1.6 TDCi Ford Fiesta instead and save yourself around R30 000. It will be lighter on fuel, have similar levels of specification and is a lot cheaper. Its a real shame that such brilliant technology costs so much. Hopefully well see this Ecoboost technology come down in price in the near future.
Ford Fiesta – Price
Ford Fiesta 1.0 Trend – R213 700
- Why you should: Big performance from a small motor, funky looks, sporty drive
- Why you shouldnt: R210k sounds like a lot of money for a Fiesta, not as economical as it should be.
- It would be better if: Lower that price and youd have a best seller.
- View the vehicle: New Ford Fiesta / Used Ford Fiesta
- Competitors worth checking out: Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion, Renault Clio 4 TCE, Toyota Yaris hybrid
