Ford Fiesta WS (2009)

A surprisingly brilliant car! – I picked up this German-manufactured WS Fiesta CL with 190,000km in 2021 as a daily for the humble sum of $2200. It was desperately in need of new brakes and tyres, and didn't come with a logbook (usually a big no no for me, however, based on assessment of the oil and fluids, it had been serviced in the past 10,000km and had no sludging.) It was… Read more

in excellent condition with only signs of a minor side-swipe repair on the driver's door, made up for by a smart set of wide aftermarket rims thrown in with the car.

I expected very little, especially given the reputation fiestas gained after the spate of gearbox issues with the introduction of the DuraShift dual clutch 'box so maligned in latter versions of the model. This Fiesta however has the venerable 1.6L ti-vct engine paired with a manual gearbox so none such issues plague it.

MECHANICAL So far the car has been incredibly strong, as is typical of these "sigma" engines from Ford. It is quite torquey, and has consistenly returned sub-7.0 litres per 100 kilometres. It's also easy to work on for those who service cars themselves, with most components being readily accessible. Parts are also quite cheap and accessible, with things like expansion tanks (a common weakness) selling for $40 and being easy to replace without tools. Serpentine belt was $20. Brake disks and pads were less than $100 for the front set.

It pays to run it on 98 octane, as lower fuel qualities has produced rattling/pinging noted in many reviews of the car from new. Further, it is common for these engines to get valvetrain rattle. As this engine has solid tappets, adjustment is a royal pain, though it won't cause major issues if left to be indefinitely. It also has a pesky timing belt, though the factory belt is noted as quite strong and has large change intervals.

DRIVING One of the highlights of the fiesta platform is its ability to provide sportscar-rivalling handling, thanks to excellent chassis stiffness, suspension calibration and weighty steering with excellent feel. My previous car was an Alfa Guilietta QV and it didn't feel half as agile as this fiesta. If you like a sporty feel, then this car is worth every cent. The gearshift is also delightful, with a short throw and excellent engagement.

INTERIOR

An an owner of the previous generation of Fiesta, here is where I feel ford's money went. The difference in this case is night-and-day, with this interior feeling better put together and even a touch upmarket. Even after 200,000km, it remains tights and rattle-free. Switchgear, aside from the indicator stalk, feels solid and the dash is soft-touch. Even the stereo easily surpasses various factory BOSE units I've had in previous cars, a common praise on this model.

The driving position is also spot-on, with extensive adjustment in the seat and steering wheel and above-average leg and pedal room. Seats are well bolstered and have more padding than expected, making it a comfortable place to be on longer journeys.

Overall cabin space is as expected, although the car has comfortably accommodated four circa-6ft adults despite its diminutive dimensions. Boot is also surprisingly accommodating, at around 250 litres total space. It is a shame it doesn't have the fold-flat seats of the Jazz.

CONCLUSION So if you have a budget of less than $5000, the fiesta is definitely worth a look. Due to the reputation gained by later models, prices of all fiestas are deflated so now is the time to grab one of these excellent, reliable cars.

Cheapest way to have so much fun – Bought a 2009 WS Fiesta LX with the 1.6 Duratec pared up to the 5 Speed manual transmission. It's an absolute cracking car to drive, awesome handling car, easy to learn manual in and the 1.6 has a lot of poke. The 1.6 has a decent amount of power (88kw) and super torquey (152Nm) for a small hatch. Like mentioned before the Fiesta's party piece is… Read more

just how damn good they drive. Steering is spot on, suspension handles the bends with absolute ease. In fact the suspension is that good I'd say it's better than some of the warm hatchbacks out there. Combining the awesome handling with the good engine it makes for such a fun car to drive. Could possibly argue it's more fun to drive than some hot hatches. Gear shifts are pretty good as well apart from reverse which I'll explain in the cons. Looks are subjective, I personally like the looks of them compared to the later WZ Fiesta and previous Wp/Wq Fiesta. However the three door Zetec is definitely the best looker. Interior wise it's surprisingly decent compared to its rivals of the time such as the Barina, Getz and Yaris. Design of the dash is pretty good and the infotainment screen provides a good amount of information and customizability to suit your stereo base, treble and much more levels. You can also store up to 10 phones in the bluetooth system, change some of the cars settings and even got voice activation. The dash is straight from 2009 with a lot of buttons mimicking a Nokia phone. These are just some of the many features in the Fiesta however be aware in the base Cl model for the Ws Fiesta you don't get the bigger screen and as many features. My two biggest complaints about the interior is mainly the seats. Not very supportive in any model below the Zetec and have some pretty ugly patterns on them (especially the LX). Second is the fact while there is bluetooth, Ford has stopped supporting "Ford Audio" in 2018 so you can't play music through your phone bluetooth any more. If your tall and worried about head room theres no need to worry, I'm 6,6 and fit perfectly inside grant there is no leg room for the seat behind the drivers seat. Living with a Fiesta is very cheap and easy and again super fun. Costs very little to run, parts are pretty cheap and my Fiesta has done 167,000km and not one single problem yet.

Cons with owning a WS Fiesta - With manual Fiesta's, reverse doesn't always engage fully or just doesn't want to go into reverse and cause a grinding noise. Pops straight in after however its annoying, pretty bad for your transmission and can be very embarrassing. There has been times when I've needed to leave a place quickly and the transmission play's up and is very frustrating - Paint fade is problem with all euro Fords and other brands but Fiesta bears the brunt of it the most. My Fiesta hasn't got paint fade but thats because of me constantly washing it and protecting it. My car lives outside as well so if you care about the paint and leaving it outside and not wanting to deal with the effort to maintain the paint best to buy a white Fiesta - As much as I love Fords and don't really like people commenting about it I do have to say build quality isn't the best. They aren't horrendous like some make you to believe but my Fiesta has it's fair of issues. The only main issue is the passenger window switch won't go back up but the driver can control that so isn't a massive issue however there are a few small issues that are cheap and easy to fix.

Overall these cons shouldn't put you off cause Fiesta's are great cars especially to drive and also to daily drive/learn to drive in like I am doing. Would highly recommend them to everyone. Here are some things to consider when buying a Fiesta to help you choose the right one for you. - Wp/Wq/Ws Fiesta's are built in Germany, Wt/Wz Fiesta's (excluding the Wz St and Wg St) are made in Thailand - With the WS Fiesta all the manuals are paired with the 88kw 1.6 4 Cylinder Engine where all the autos are paired up with 71kw 1.4 4 Cylinder Engine. Obviously if you can't drive manual go with the Auto they are still decent units but I'd highly recommend the manual just cause you get the powerful engine, more fuel efficient, much more fun to drive and stronger - If fuel efficiency is your main concern Ford does do a Diesel version called the ECOnetic with a 1.6 Turbo Diesel engine. It gets a claimed 3.7L/100KM where as my 1.6 petrol gets 6.1L/100KM. It only comes with a manual transmission and only available as the 5 Door (same with the LX) - AVOID THE POWERSHIFT 6 SPEED AUTO AT ALL COSTS. These dual clutch auto boxes are just full of trouble and the definition of not smooth. They were available in the later Wt and Wz Fiesta and while you could justify buying one of its the Wz for the updated looks, interior and the absolute gem of an engine the 1.0 Ecoboost there is no point of getting it in the Wt where they look the same as the Ws, with the same interior. If your getting an auto Wt Fiesta you may as well just go and buy a Wb Festiva from 1991.

Hope this helps some people out there. Once again I'll mention it but these Fiesta's are some of the most fun cars you can buy for the money. They just handle so well that you can't put it into words. Don't believe me just read all the reviews, magazines and if you want to have a laugh watch Top Gear test one in Season 12 Ep 6

Good on fuel, handles well, cruise control but their cost saving design really annoys me! – Bought the 5spd manual Fiesta urgently after selling the Subaru WRX with little time to research. The car did well in a few department, but let down on a few. Pros: Good fuel economy - 5.6L/100km (mainly 80kph suburbian driving) to 6.8L/100km (110kph cross country) Good handling - For a FWD, the fiesta's corner with precision. I can confidently… Read more

corner on narrow country roads at freeway speed (Can't compare with the AWD WRX). I won't be able to corner with this much confidence in other small cars in its segment.

Comfortable for long distance travel (Suprisingly, the seat is comfortable, road noise is reasonable but plastic rattle do occur.)

Cruise control. - Can't live without one for me

Bluetooth - It dials with voice control, it receives calls

Cons: Their cost saving measure really gets me.

Lugnuts/ wheel nuts cover - These poor quality chromium covers STRIPS!! They have no reason to stay. They turn the 18mm nuts into 19mm, they don't fit a 19mm wheel brace properly and they strip easily! Most city user with phone coverage can easily call RAC for a flat tire, but imagine you are driving cross country with no phone coverage and you strip those crappy lugnuts cover! Dumbest cut-cost measure I've ever seen. I am getting these useless pieces of craps replaced with actual nuts in case I have a flat!!!

No spare wheel - They have the recess in the boots big enough for full-size wheel, yet they fill it with styrofoam and have a puncture repair kit and air compressor in the middle. It doesn't work for sidewall puncture, and it doesn't work if you can't even take the wheel off with 1 stripped nuts cover!! I bought a 175/65/R14 space saver and took the craps out.

Grinding noise in Reverse gear - As said by other manual owners, the intermittent grinding noise when shifting to Reverse makes an embarrassing scene when reversing. A let down for a 2010 production car.

Interior and interior lighting - Visor feels like it is going to break, interior is poorly lit, bad at the backseat

Bluetooth - It can't play music even though it is connected to the phone.

Stalling when idle - For unknown reason, it stalls at red light or when turn the ignition key, I saw it's rpm drop in neutral gear when I press the brake hard at stationary. Clutch cable issue???

Overall -

Will I keep it for long? No, I will stick with Japanese or Korean that uses real wheel nuts. These fake nuts are not fit for purpose, it only takes 1 flat at an inconvenient location to get me into deep crap.

A reliable, great looking car – I purchased this car from the original owner when it was about 3 years old, and with approx 50k on the clock. I was looking for a car with a higher safety rating, as well as being cheap on fuel, with a modern body and interior features. I found this little guy. It really does have a sexy body to it, bold curves with a rear spoiler and alloy… Read more

wheels. The interior looks surprisingly modern with its clean dash layout and function screen, accommodating Bluetooth phone and AUX. I have had a few arguments with the voice control lady though, she isn't of much use...

My car is the last round to be made in Germany before they moved to Asia, and I love having the light switch on the dash, easy to find!

The driver seat is pretty comfy with side support; not sure about the other seats. I have one child in the back and have used the ISOFIX points and anchor points, the boot is quite big being able to fit the pram flat with just one wheel removed.

Mechanically the car has given me no hassles since the day I took ownership 3 years ago. I am currently sitting on 97xxx km. Ford is still offering capped price servicing for me, but it sometimes works out cheaper to do it yourself if it's a simple oil/filter change etc. I haven't had any issues with Ford customer service down at Pakenham.

It is a 5 speed manual, I chose the manual as the auto seemed quite clunky and delayed in gear changes. The manual is smooth and easy to shift, however, every now and then when shifting into reverse, it makes an awful grinding noise. And sometimes requires some encouragement from the clutch to shift completely into reverse.

It is surprisingly great on cornering, I don't feel any slip or slide when I power through a traffic circle and the steering wheel is easy to keep control over.

The only downfall I can note is its lack of power, its quite pathetic really during take off. And I can completely floor the accelerator and I feel the years passing by before it even feels as though it's increased speed. Quite depressing when I like my ride to include a little oomph. If speed and power isn't anything you're interested in then this car would be perfect for you.

An utterly convincing car to drive and live with – Hooley dooley there are some mixed reviews on WS/WT Fiesta. Without wanting to cause a stir, it seems there are some themes emerging with Thai (build quality/omitting features) and particularly auto spec cars (failing transmission seals, shuddering) That's a real shame, as I cannot speak highly enough of our 2009 Zetec manual petrol. It just… Read more

fulfills its brief as a daily runabout light car with proper versatility and dependability so well.

3 things stand out after 70,000 faultless kms 1) Refinement 2) Driver involvement 3)Reliability

Compared with the previous gen WP we owned, it feels like a Lexus in terms of NVH, fit and finish/features. What I find most striking is that it would have been so easy for Ford Europe to build a Yaris equivalent, but they have gone so much further. It has so clearly been developed by people who care about the driving experience.

The pedals are perfectly spaced for heel and towing, the 5 speed 'box is buttery with a well-weighted shift-action. The steering is beautifully weighted, with a quickish rack and genuine feel. Height and reach adjustment help get the driving position spot-on. The ride/handling calibration is superior to that of a 2013 C-class and 2012 BMW 1 series in the family and by far the best I've experienced on a cheap mass produced car.

The engine seems to be getting more responsive after 80k on the clock, a zingy, keen little thing that likes revs, it's character more than making up for a lack of outright grunt. We have recently fitted Bridgestone Potenza RE003s which, combined with the 17inch factory wheels and inherently well sorted out chassis, provide high levels of grip, and incisive, pinpoint handling. The chassis is a peach. Hard to believe there's a torsion beam and drum brake setup out back.

Fuel consumption is good (7.0L/100k real world majority urban), servicing is inexpensive, its handsome, comfortable, loaded with kit and all the electronic safety goodies plus knee airbag (my wife's a dancer so she's a fan)

It has a spare wheel, height adjustable rear headrests, soft-touch dash, gorgeous alloys (although I'd take the 16s next time for improved ride quality), projector head lamps, home safe lighting. Clever design means sleek looks but surprising interior space too. (although can't match Jazz there) With roof racks, it's properly versatile.

Negatives

Reverse - Engaging is not intuitive, or that easy. It requires a bit of a technique, but once you know this, no problem I've found the stick requires a slight squeeze across towards me as I pull it down. If I do that, it engages correctly, without the sound of steel shearing steel.

Ford Dealership experiences - we went once, it was an appalling, so we left and returned to a local mechanic from uni days. Sorted.

Centre Console dials stopped working, and I wonder if anyone has had this problem. Hoping it's just a fuse or wire or a reflash job. Mmmm.

The electric window switches on driver's door are set back too far. I have to twist my torso and wedge my elbow between side of seat and B pillar to get my arm back enough so my fingers can work the switches, or use my left had instead.

In Summary

I'd not hesitate in recommending a German built Fiesta manual as a dependable, well-packaged, daily driver with a bit of flair and driving nous as well as economy and budget-happy.

Footnote - went to Ford dealer who did a diagnosis which found centre console fascia wiring fault (the wiring loom no longer sending comms out). They generously supplied me the Part Number, and I sourced a centre console fascia from wrecker and had it delivered for $110. (Ford quoted $500!) and fitted it in 10mins. Done.

125,000km UPDATE

-Have recently replaced all 4 wheels which were buckled. Next time I would avoid the 17inch Zetec wheels and go with 16 or 15 available from later Zetecs and lower spec cars.

-2nd set of front rotors.

-It's still a delight to drive. Everything still works on it.

-I drove a new Yaris yesterday, which only highlighted how well executed the Fiesta is. The Yaris's driving position was pogo stick high, the accelerator spring rate was too light so I had to hold my foot in position, the gearbox didn't feel tight, the action notchy, brake pedal overly sensitive, the steering well weighted but very little sense of connection with the front wheels, and the steering wheel didn't self-centre. It highlighted the thought that has gone into the Fiesta's tactility, control weighting, and general driver engagement. An 8 year old Fiesta is still a more pleasant car to drive than a spanking new Yaris, full stop.

-We've recently purchased a BMW and as difficult as it is to admit this, there are some important things that the Fiesta simply does better than the BMW. That's for another day.

What a brilliant little all rounder – Bought 2009 manual 1.6 in 2014 with 66,000km on clock for $8,700 and sold it for $6,000 five years and 50,000km later. A brilliant little driver's car with a torquey engine and great steering / suspension for a "standard" model. Had prerty much same performance as the 2007 Suzuki Swift Sport we had earlier. General quality is not that great… Read more

compared to a Japanese car but it was super cheap to run parts / service wise. If I had a child looking for a first car this would be my first choice.

Great little car – We bought a used, low kms, 2010 5 door 1.6 Zetec as a first car for our son. My wife used the car as a daily drive until he had passed his test. The car is well equipped, economical, nippy and roomy. I previously owned a 2010 Focus XR5 and think that this fiesta is almost as much fun to drive. We have added after market gator parking sensors. Great car, can't fault it so far. The dealer we bought it through was also fantastic...  Show details

ECOnetic great commuter – had econetic for 7 years from near new. used for commuting long ks. never skipped a beat. always serviced with ford also without issue. over 130,000 ks from original tyres, brakes & clutch. changed all at once, clutch still had a heap on it, brakes still maybe 20,000. fuel economy is as quoted. regularly does better than 3.8l/100k. cheapest car… Read more

ever! also good fun to drive, not a lot of power but good handling. nothing impressive with body or interior quality. panel fit is everywhere. comfort is bog standard, but thats what its designed for! stereo and bluetooth is good. AC struggles in high summer. heater takes ages to get warm. i've also been surprised with what i can fit in the back

Not a smooth drive – Bought this new for $22k (runout sale) in 2013. Hindsight is 20/20 - I significantly overpaid for this car. I was so excited for a new car, I was still a provisional driver at the time. It's an o.k runaround car, but it has put me in sticky situations when I needed to accelerate quickly i.e a busy roundabout or merging onto the motorway, it's a… Read more

nightmare to drive! It jitters, shakes and is delayed. This problem has caused a lot of near-misses.

I've tried to explain the problem to Ford customer service when I went in for my service, but thy've downplayed the problem. Excusing the behaviour as "the computer inside the car is learning how you drive" I've had it for a couple of years and it's STILL learning how I drive? Unlikely.

Traded it in and only for $5000 for it.

Trouble with transmission – Purchased this car brand new. Good enough drive/easy to maneuver, but the transmission they use has a fault that Ford do not seem able to fix. Quite often when accelerating, the car will shudder a bit. First few times I mentioned to the service dept, they said they updated the software. Eventually had to get replaced and still had issues.  Show details

Terrible – I have a fiesta zetec. It's the most unsafe car l have ever had. Would never recommend a ford to anyone. They are friendly at first when you purchase the car and then they are rude and not helpful with all the problems the car has had. The car is a LEMON. There needs to be lemon laws to protect the consumer. Will never purchase a ford again.  Show details

Awesome car!! Absolutely loving it!! – I have had this car for about a month now. With 140xxx on the clock, she still drives like new! Previously I had owned a 2006 Kia Rio and my Ford is so much better. I have had no transmission issues (which is claimed to be a massive problem in these cars). Good fuel consumption. The engine can get a bit noisy but that’s barely a problem. There… Read more

is also surprisingly a good amount of leg room, I can fit 4 people in this car (squishy of course because it’s a hatchback).

I as of yet have no regrets!!

Perfectly designed Hatchback – Green 5speed. They should've left the design process and stopped when they reached the WS. It's sleek, looks awesome in the metallic green with low profile wheels. Amazingly zippy with excellent pickup off the go and smooth change through the gears. Parts and components are easy to get and cheap, not that we've had to replace anything on it,… Read more

but at least if we need to, we know we're covered.

It fits 3 kids in the back comfortably and plenty of room in the front for a 6ft adult.

Brakes can get a lil spongy at times, but nothing a small bleed doesn't fix. Great on fuel economy and they just last.

Excellent little car – Had car for 8yrs..GOOD::No problems..Handles well..Cheap to run..love the boot..gets my shopping in..Amazing..BAD::No guts for overtaking..Few blindspots..Air con not cold enough..my car is one of the last made in Germany before all the faults started..I drove through floods..Water just above door level..Watch Top Gears Test Drive..Done 115,000kms No signs of  Show details

Good small compact car but POOR TRANSMISSION – Powershift transmission is terrible. It often shudders and have issues with shifting on lower gears (especially on road humps). Sent it to Ford to fix the issue, but after a few days issue was back. Every time I bring it in for it's annual service, issue is fixed but after a few days it always comes back. I've had the car close to 5 years now and… Read more

it's getting worse. Although its fuel efficient and easy to park, the transmission is very bad. If I had known that it's a common issue with Ford Fiesta cars, we probably wouldn't have purchased the car.

Worst car ever – Iv had trouble with this car from day one transmission shudders and jerks feels like the gear box is going to fall out. Have taken it back to dealers 11 times and still no better . Dealing with ford and head office is total waste of time they are as hopeless as the car . Dont ever buy a ford  Show details

great car – Awesome little car, I had Holdens which always expensively break down, Mitsubishi which are great, and Hyundais which are fantastic if you are unfortunately in a smash, but this is my first Ford. I brought it because they are one of them cars that never break down, 3 years old only 20000ks had it for six months, love it! When refilling they take… Read more

hardly any fuel, the gear box takes a while to get used to as its only semi auto but once you know how to drive it and get used to it. It wont handle like an auto because it isn't. But the braking power is just mind-boggling, never driven a car that can brake like that. Also putting up with a weird gear box is what saves money on fuel it is just the design of my car is a sedan not the hatch it gives more room if you don't like wasting money on cars get one.

What a lemon – Our 2009 Fiesta CL has gone through 2 sets of brake pads and rotors. Now at 90,000 km our timing belt has failed. It was due to be changed at 150,000. The warranty for Ford is nowhere near any of the other car brands. We will never buy another Ford again - EVER.  Show details

After 3 and a half year, still hard to fault my WS 2010 – I bought my Fiesta in April 2011 as a 2010 build run-out. At 6'3" of 191cm and 115 kg I fit in it really well. I have the Zetec manual which is a really nice to operate gearbox. It is a small car, but well spaced out. I have taken it on holidays with the kids and while it was full, it carried everything we needed. I have fitted a Hayman Reece… Read more

towbar which was supposed not to fit the Zetec, but it bolted straight on and wiring was a snap. I also upgraded the headlight globes with proper HID units bought for $35 on eBay. The old ones were good, but not this good. Unfortunately the WT Zetec no longer has the projector headlamps and this cannot be done with the Thai built models.

Downsides: not many, I had to replace a wheel which from Ford was going to cost nearly $1,000 for one??? So I bought a set of new aftermarket wheels for less than $700. The original wheels are a little lightweight and prone to buckles if you hit a good sized pothole on a country road. The air conditioning could be stronger for Australian conditions, once over 35 it struggles to keep the car cool.

Best car ever owned – I purchased a brand new CL in 2009 and it was the best car I had ever owned. Never had any trouble with it nor spent any money on it apart from regular servicing. I sold the car this year as I moved country. I regretfully purchased a different car 2 months ago, and deeply regret it. I'm about to trade that car in for another Fiesta, everything else pales in comparison. Style, convenience, reliable, fun to drive  Show details

Ford Fiesta Zetec WS series 2010 – I purchased my Zetec Fiesta brand new in 2010. It has a manual transmission. I have driven 36,000 km without any problems. I am very pleased with how the car drives. It has a great ride, light accurate steering, zippy performance, cruise control buttons on the steering wheel and easy gear box to use. The bluetooth and audio system work well. My… Read more ·  1

daughter loves the bluetooth media streaming feature as she can stream her songs from her ipod when she is in the car. The back seat and luggage area are adequate for this size of car. I think it is still the best car in the super mini class. Performance, ride and ease of use. Good bluetooth features.

This car shouldn't be in the market – Before I bought the car, I did a lot of research & compare to different cars with similar rank. Fiesta seems to be the best amount all. It was wrong!!! I bought the car in June 2010, the airconditioning wasn't working, the car would run smoothly but suddenly slow down, feels like something stuck there & need a big push on the accelar to get going.… Read more

Took it back, temp from the airconditioner was not up the the standard, had it fix, but you can only call it cool, not cold. The answer from the mechanic was it is a small car, all this can happen, Honda Jazz is a similar small car, but none of those happen. Fuel consumption was not as cheap as I expected. The biggest shock I've got was the repair cost of $3700 for buckle wheels, not one, but three buckle wheels, if I had bumped onto something that causing the damage, I am sure I would have known & remember, there were no obvious damage from the bottom of the car, this time the answer I've got was the design of the car could be the problem, the tyres from the manufactory are thin tyres, not enough cushioning, so even driving on normal city road & speed hump can result in buckle the wheels, I had to have it fixed, but it may happen again in 2 yrs time. I don't believe it !!!! Am I supposed to leave the car in the garage and not to use it. I will not recommend Fiesta to anyone unless you are willing to put up with all the little issues & risk of high repairing cost. But one thing I must say, the service department from the Ford dealer in Doncaster East are excellent, that would be the only reason that I may consider to buy another Ford. The look Multiple small & big issues

Good Little car – First of all, it has to be Manual, because Ford's new Powershift Automatic gear box just don't work, so you may as well get the ECOnetic model, it's slightly more expensive but with it crazy little fuel consumption, it's worth it. My wife and I, we've had 7+ cars in the last 10 years (well this is the man thing I guess, man and their toys is just… Read more ·  1

like women with their shoes, no explanations) I have to say this is one of my favorite... There is only a few other cars in its range can compare to this one. It's comfortable, light, safe, stylish, smooth, fun to drive, economical and not bad performance, which is pretty much all you need... However, for this price, you don't expect it can fly at the start, but the way it handles... I have to say... is like a dolphin, smooth and free. And it looks as cute as a dolphin too I reckon. I just love this thing inside out. Cheap in Price, but built with quality, No sunroof, back sits won't fold flat and can't drag race at the lights.

ECOnetic just brilliant! – 1.6 turbo intercooled diesel manual the way to go. Designed to help the environment. So economical approximately 900kms on full tank of fuel (38L). Has everything you need with heaps of get up & go. Comfortable & easy to drive, handles the road really well & looks fantastic! We had the windows tinted to help reduce heat in summer. Economical,… Read more

comfortable, reliable, zippy, safety options & energy efficiency is a bonus. Heaters take longer to warm than other cars we've had.

Excellent – This is a car for drivers! Designed and produced in Germany, how could it go wrong. Don't wait till next year when they start coming out from Korea! 1.6l Zetec 2010. The best handling car in this price range. 5 Star safety rating. Voice control. Bluetooth. Full electrics. European Accesories. Continental Tyres & 16" Rims Supercharger Kit cost… Read more ·  1

$4,000. The Autos only come in 1.4l (why would you?). The space where the ash tray should be is covered by a fake panel?

German Quality – Bought the car in Feb 2010, have done 70,000km+ already and its not missed a beat. Economical at around 5.5 - 6.0l/100km in Sydney traffic, chews a bit more on the highway. Great to drive, handles well and you feel safe, even in wet conditions. Bluetooth, MP3 handy to have. ABS pulls you up real quick when you need it. Can even fit the push bike… Read more

in the back with the rear seats down. The Zetec's fog lights come in handy in Western Sydney winters. Economical, reliable, decent boot space

I LOVE this car! – After buying my brand new Ford Fiesta from the Ford dealership in Jan 2010, I was very excited - even though I had a 4 week wait. When I got the call to say my car had arrived off the boat from Germany I was ecstatic. When I got to the dealership to pick my car up. I was even more impressed. EXCELLENT value for money. This car comes with all… Read more

the mod cons. Bluetooth hands free, which is SUPER simple to use, voice control (barely use it but still a cool feature), funky design, zippy, fuel efficient and easy to drive.

The look of the car is what initially drew me to it, and then seeing the inside and the features made me realise just how much I wanted it.

To add to that, the price was excellent... I bought it when they were a bit more expensive than they are now, I paid $19,990 and added on a tint and reversing sensors.

I cannot believe how much these cars are dropping in value because they are way better than the Mazda 2's. If you are deciding between the two, defiantly pick the fiesta - you won't be disappointed!! Cute design, zippy, fuel efficient, reliable, suits my needs

Excellent – Great car, lots of compliments on how it looks. Lots of power for such a small car and love the phone & USB features. I would definitely get this car again and highly recommend it to a small car buyer. Excellent car all round. Small yet roomy, handles well, good power and excellent features. Being able to answer the phone hands free even when the… Read more

phone is in the boot is a huge bonus. Not much to dislike. Voice activated control sometimes has trouble picking up on what you say to it. An interior light in the rear passenger area would be a bonus.

Excellent – Manual is the way to go with this car. I fell in love with the car at first look. This is the best car I have ever bought. After 2 years, the car is running strong and there's no problem with it. I drove the car to Sydney and back from Adelaide. It has extremely good road manner. For long trip, the seat is comfortable. The car is stable at high… Read more

speed. 5th gear is strong. It can climb South Eastern Freeway hill in Adelaide at 110km/h in 5th gear at ease. To be fair, the Fiesta Zetec outclass all of its rivals including its sister car Mazda 2 at every aspects. Congratulation if you have one in your garage. You've made a perfect buying decision. The design is a little feminine but otherwise very stylish and sexy. Strong and responsive 1.6L engine. Smooth manual transmission and fun to drive. The Zetec model ticks all the boxes for safety. It has all the gadgets in a small car package including bluetooth, USB, cruise, fog light, etc. No center arm rest (I know it's a small car but it would be nicer if there is one). Seat height adjustment lever is too close to the seat surface. Everytime I get into the car, my leg would depress the lever. After a while, I have adjust it again.

Excellent – This car is drop dead gorgeous, what other car under $30,000 has a lovely chrome decoration piece on the door frame along with halogen headlights. I fell over myself to order take delivery of this car. It is simply the best small car I have ever ever drive. The car is very sporty to drive and corners very flatly. It has a very sporty engine note… Read more

and is very quiet at freeway speeds. The paint job (Vision Blue) is very nice with great gloss and shine. The car has fantastic features including blue tooth, ipod connectivity and voice control, the interior looks very funky, very much like a mobile phone. The real icing on the cake is at night when it lights up with a strip of LEDs above the glovebox and two little LEDs above the mirror. These light up the inside of the car like on my Dad's Audi A8. The first time I saw them I was blown away. So was everyone of my friends. I have had the car for two months and it has been totally reliable. The fuel consumption has average 6.1 litres/100km with me being a a bit of a leadfoot this is very good. I recommend this car over any other small car out there. Don't buy a Mini or a Fiat 500 or a BMW 1 series until you have driven this car. You will thank me for it. Zetec model is very very sexy, lovely interior lighting at night time, great quality of materials, bluetooth, voice control, 5 star safety, Halogen headlights, lovely flip key, great dealer service, Nothing at all

Excellent – Comparing the Fiesta to the Mazda 2, the Suzuki Swift, Holden Barina, Hyundai Getz, etc, the Fiesta comes with more features (we have Zetec model) and soooo much better looks, very happy with this car, much better than the previous model. Everything, Looks, economy, comfort, ride, features Zetec model is lower therefore the front spoiler scrapes on some driveways, didn't come out with a XR5 model and can't get the RS model in Australia Show details

Slow for corners.. Why? – I bought a WS Zetec as a run out in April 2011 and have put just under 10,000km on it now. What a fabulous little car. The handling is great with almost no torque steer and great cornering. Build quality is great and for a small car with a small price it has loads in it. The engine is eager and the manual gearbox is light and easy. As the WS… Read more

Zetec has adjustable projector headlamps I have upgraded the bulbs to HID globes. It was quite easy and the slimline ballasts are easily hidden.

USB input is great too and the 6 speaker sound system is great. Great looking car with plenty of space for me (191cm [6'3"] and 110kg) and fun to throw around. Really cheap to run and a full sized spare wheel. I have found that the air conditioning struggles a bit on really hot days. Really rough bitumen leads to a bit of cabin noise with the low profile tyres, so turn the music up. Needs a light in the rear seating area as this is unlit.

Excellent – Having just down graded from a luxury 4wd I was a bit sceptical of the Fiesta. Wow, was I wrong. What a pleasure to drive. Great perforamnce and handling and the most comfortable seats I have sat in. I have the Zetec which has all the good bits. This has to be the best car under $30K. Rarely have I been this impressed by a car and for under $23K… Read more

on the road I cannot believe how good it is. Ford is on a winner. Looks, handling, performance from the 1.6 motor, comfortable seats, bluetooth and voice control

Falling apart – I have a 2009 automatic Ford Fiesta and it is falling apart. Also is now underivable as it will not select a gear. Just want to burn it!!  Show details