Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.0T Ecoboost 100PS Start/Stop (five-door)

Last month it registered sales of over 2,000 more than in its nearest rival, the Ford Focus.

Previous models had racked up sales of nearly four million, but it was the 2008 version that set new standards for drive qualities and cabin ambience.

Now, five years on, Ford is moving the game on again, with a clear “catch me if you can”

message to those manufacturers that might aspire to steal the Fiesta’s crown.

The revised car sports a wide, dominant grille, in line with the change to its sibling Focus hatchback, and I suspect this new look will divide opinion. The cabin has been upgraded, too, but these are cosmetic changes that one might expect to refresh the image.

The important changes are out of sight, under the bonnet and behind the dashboard, and it is this raft of new technologies that will secure Fiesta’s reign for years to come.

When Ford took the plunge and installed a small capacity threecylinder petrol engine in the larger Focus, it showed that a small engine-big car combination could work without significant compromise.

Now that 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – available with either 100 or 125 bhp – has found its way into the Fiesta. Predictably the more powerful unit delivers a useful slug of power and proves refined at speed, but after testing both versions in a variety of road environments, I have to conclude that the smaller offering lacks for little in terms of the driving experience, and my advice would be to pocket the price difference and look to spend the saving on better specification.

The lightweight turbo-charged EcoBoost engine lightens the front end of the car, giving it an even keener turn-in and letting it hang onto corners even more tenaciously.

Brisk acceleration is easily achieved without any major effort from the driver or engine, while the latter’s characterful three-pot thrum only really becomes audibly vocal when the car is pushed hard.

The turbo takes only a moment to respond and then delivers really enjoyable acceleration through the excellent five-speed gearbox.

Whichever EcoBoost power option you choose, both register 99g/km CO2 emissions and identical average fuel economy of 65.7mpg. The 125PS version obviously offers quicker acceleration at 0 to 62mph in 9.4 seconds, compared with 11.2 seconds, and a higher top speed (122mph versus 112mph).

This new Fiesta is now available with six powertrains with sub- 100g/km CO2 emissions, including a new 1.0-litre 80PS petrol unit and 1.5-litre 75PS diesel offering, but the EcoBoost offerings are certain to steal the limelight.

Away from the engine line-up, safety kit from the Focus has trickled down to the Fiesta, with Ford’s low-speed auto brake function helping drivers react quicker to, say, a pedestrian or car pulling out in front or stopping suddenly.

Creature comforts that you’d find on larger cars – parking sensors, heated mirrors – are also available depending on the trim level. An improved multimedia package is also offered, which boasts a tighter integration with your mobile phone and a more intuitive user interface. Dubbed ‘Sync’, it has an SOS function which is activated after an accident and alerts the local authorities and even reads text messages.

Another innovation, MyKey, offers parents and other concerned owners some control over how someone uses the car.

Three vibrant new colours have made an appearance, too: a classy Copper Pulse, vibrant Hot Mustard and Candy Blue for the young at heart.

The trend to downsizing from bigger, more expensive cars has resulted in more people than ever choosing the highest trim levels.

As a result there is a new, even higher grade over and above Titanium. Titanium X is the rangetopper elsewhere in Ford’s range, and now it comes to the Fiesta with partial leather upholstery and heated front seats. Keyless entry is also new for the X only, although Zetec S and Titanium buyers can add certain Xstandard kit as options.

The range starts with Style and moves through to Zetec, Zetec S, Titanium and Titanium X, and it is only on the top two specifications that the likes of LED day running lights and SYNC come as standard. Zetec models are certain to sell in the highest number.

With its new engines, suite of technologies and improved cabin, this Fiesta remains the car of choice in its class, but even more so now.

Fact file

Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.0T Ecoboost 100PS Start/Stop (five-door)

PRICE: £14,245 (Fiesta range from £9,795 to £17,545)

ENGINE: 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol producing 100bhp

TRANSMISSION: five-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels

PERFORMANCE: top speed 112mph, 0-62mph in 11.2 seconds

ECONOMY: 65.7mpg

CO2 RATING: 99g/km