Hands up who remembers the first Ford Fiesta XR2? As a passport to performance for the penniless petrolhead this was in many ways unsurpassed. Ventilated front disc brakes, uprated suspension, spoiler kit, body graphics, wheelarch extensions, fog lights, sports instruments and alloys. Oh, and 84bhp. Therefore, before we sniff at this 1.6-litre Fiesta's 99bhp power output, let's enjoy a little historical perspective.

These days you'll need a hand blender with at least 84bhp to pull the skin from a rice pudding. We've become accustomed to cars loaded with air-conditioning, plush stereos, airbags, sophisticated electronics and more than enough heavyweight quality to sink the Scharnhorst. The current Fiesta 1.6 is a beneficiary of our demand for increased sophistication in a small car. Perhaps that's why the manual version is offered only in plushest Ghia trim at £12,795 as a five-door or in sporty three-door Zetec S trim for £11,795. There's also a Durashift automatic gearbox available on the Ghia at a £1,000 premium.

With the facelift that dominates the front end of the current Fiesta, Ford haven't gone too overboard. The grille is now of a diamond mesh design, the headlamps are pointier and the side mouldings grow thicker as they progress rearwards. The rear lights have been reshaped as have the bumpers and the overall effect is a slight move away from the Fiesta's inherent chunkiness in a sleeker, more dynamic direction.

Over the years, our definition of what a small car ought to be has evolved too. Believe it or not, there's not a great deal of difference between the interior dimensions of the latest Fiesta and the range-topping Ford of the XR2's era, the Granada. This MkVI Fiesta is resolutely larger than its predecessor inside, yet is a mere 87mm longer, 50mm wider and 100mm taller in five-door guise. The interior is a vastly different proposition. Whereas the old car's rear seats were only really suitable for small kids and pensioned off ex-employees of Rimfire Landmine Clearance, the current version feels positively capacious. Were there a cat handy, you'd feel the temptation to swing it.

"Where the Fiesta really scores is in the handling stakes?"

The 16-valve 1.6-litre engine is certainly no ball of fire but it's enough to render the Fiesta a warm hatchling. Ford claims a sprint to 60mph in 10.4 seconds and a top speed of 114mph and we wouldn't argue with such figures. Still, it's usefully more flexible than the rather poor 1.4-litre version, if lacking in the elastic torque of the TDCi diesel models. The engine note is rather uninspiring, but the actual feel is willing and reasonably smooth. A combined fuel consumption figure of 42.8mpg is some recompense for this otherwise somewhat undistinguished showing.

Where the Fiesta really scores is in the handling stakes. Its road manners have been elevated to a position above and beyond any existing supermini whilst its ride and refinement is comparable with the class best - cars like the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia. The steering was obviously engineered by somebody who understands the needs of keen drivers, being nicely weighted and rich in feedback without becoming a wearing distraction. The seats are a different matter altogether, lacking lateral support at the sort of cornering speeds the excellent chassis routinely coaxes you into. The Fiesta shrugs off mid-corner bumps well and has a genuine big car feel. If there's one complaint about the Fiesta's handling it's that it may almost be too clever for its own good. The verve and pizzazz of the old car has been smoothed out. In making the car more competent, a little of the fun factor has been excised. Despite this, it's a mouthwatering proposition to imagine coupling a chassis this good with an engine of, say, 150bhp. In fact, a 150bhp engine like the one you can now buy in the range-topping Fiesta ST model.

Get comfortable in the narrow driver's seat and you'll be greeted with a dashboard that adopts many of the quality conventions of the Mondeo range, and that's good news. For those who enjoy tracing the lineage of the design, the Mondeo's interior designer was poached from Volkswagen - and it shows. It's easy to see where cost has been excised from the Fiesta, competing as it does in a class where margins are utterly cut throat. Some of the fascia plastics feel somewhat hard and nasty and side airbags cost extra even on this plushest model. Ford have appreciated that the bits of the cars we physically touch most often lend the strongest impression of quality, and to this end have fitted leather-trimmed steering wheels and tactile gear shifters. Another example of intelligent design comes in the shape of rear head restraints that are deliberately uncomfortable when not slid up into their deployed position. This encourages rear seat occupants to utilise them properly but gets around the issue of encumbered rear vision when rear head restraints are traditionally fitted. Ghia equipment includes air conditioning, alloy wheels, a remote control CD stereo, electric windows, a Quickclear front windscreen and ABS.

The driving position is fairly good, with light pedals and a height adjustable driver's seat. The way that Ford have raised the gearlever onto a pedestal places it quickly to hand. On a practical note, the seats are easy to fold down, those integrated rear headrests making the operation simplicity itself. Where the Fiesta falls down is in the lack of clever cubbyholes and the singular lack of any cup holders. Grab a takeout from KFC and you'd better get used to the Colonel's Hot Wings tasting of Fanta.

The Fiesta 1.6 is a car that doesn't endear itself straight away. There's none of the puppyish infectiousness of a Fiat Punto or the innovation of a Honda Jazz. It's very ordinary, albeit in a very well engineered, easy to use manner. The inherent excellence of its chassis isn't exploited by the humdrum engine, though keen drivers who know their stuff will turn to it before any supermini rival. Super sharp handling is rarely a priority in this sector, and despite our predilection for fun, this must make the Fiesta 1.6 something of a minor disappointment. The potential is there to make it something special but you may have to upgrade to the ST model to realise it.

TOP 5 FIESTA DEALS

The results below show the top FIESTA deals on buyacar

	Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Zetec S 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £161	Saving £3,153	Price £9,892
	Ford Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £148	Saving £2,859	Price £9,136
	Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Zetec 5dr [Climate] Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £163	Saving £3,115	Price £9,780
	Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Ghia 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £180	Saving £3,343	Price £10,452
	Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Zetec 3dr [Climate] Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £154	Saving £2,963	Price £9,332

typical 11.21% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000