Insurance companies have a great deal to answer for. Back in the day, the apple of any spotty youth's eye was a Fiesta XR2, 84bhp worth of the hottest wildest Fiesta money could buy. As insurance costs rose ever higher and cars became a good deal more powerful, teenagers were priced out of the market. Or have they been? The Zetec-S represents the first rung on the Fiesta performance ladder these days and is a good deal more powerful than the original XR2. What's more it's even reasonably affordable. Who said youth was wasted on the young?

The Zetec-S is in many ways the spiritual successor to the Fiesta S, a car that those with long memories or huge magazine collections will recall was available in either 1.3 or 1.6-litre guise and while mechanically similar to more regular models in the range, offered ritzier styling. Trouble was, back then ritzier styling encompassed side stripes, some gaudy seats, a rev counter and a rear anti roll bar. These days, things are a good deal more sophisticated. The Zetec S wears 16-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler and features a trick sports suspension set up.

Sporty small Fords have always been greeted with great enthusiasm in the UK. Some of them have turned out to be lemons but others have gone down as minor classics. The Escort RS1600i, the early XR2 and the Escort Cosworth are all well worth a pedal. The Fiesta RS Turbo also proved a hit with aftermarket tuners, many of whom could extract over 200bhp by turning up the wick on the engine software! While the Fiesta Zetec-S can't promise that sort of thrust, it shares its predecessors' enthusiasm for a decent set of well cambered bends where it can really show its stuff.

Two models are being offered. There's a petrol version with the 99bhp 1.6-litre engine that will be familiar to Fiesta Ghia and Zetec buyers and then there's a 1.6-litre TDCi diesel-engined version that will appeal to those who prefer a lazier slug of torque and who savour the excellent economy of a diesel engine. With 90bhp on tap, the Zetec S TDCi may not be quite so quick off the mark as the petrol-engined version but it will feel quicker and more muscular when out on the open road, thanks in no small part to its 200Nm of torque.

"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 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 114mph and we wouldn't argue with such figures. The engine note is rather uninspiring, but the exhaust sounds a little fruitier in Zetec S guise and a combined fuel consumption figure of 41.5mpg coupled with manageable insurance ratings means it'll doubtless appeal to younger buyers.

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's handling has been smoothed out. In making the car more competent, a little of the fun factor has been excised.

With the current facelifted 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. Dramatic the changes are not. If you liked the look of the sixth generation Fiesta, and the sales charts suggest that plenty of people did, you'll like today's version of it.

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. On the current model there are more of the in vogue soft-touch surfaces but, happily, the uncomplicated layout and the durable feel remain. Nice touches include a digital display in the instrument cluster which gives the radio station name and other handy titbits that you'd otherwise have to divert your eyes from the road obtain. The volume on the stereo is speed sensitive so as wind, road and engine noise increase with your velocity so does the volume of your favourite song.

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.

This car helped Ford to re-establish itself as the first choice for keen younger drivers and now the ST is also on hand to deliver a little more oomph. Some might accuse the Fiesta Zetec S of being a sheep in wolf's clothing. Chances are they won't have driven it.

TOP 2 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

typical 11.34% APR

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