Often referred to as ‘The Backbone of Britain’, in transport terms at least, Ford is in the invidious position of being the nation’s most-favoured motorcar marque. While the usual task, not merely of critics, is to topple top performers, partly by way of testing their integrity, or mettle, but also to give the others a chance, Ford has managed to cling onto its No.1 status, despite a downturn in the new car market.
Even though its Active offerings are essentially late to the crossover scene, the Fiesta variant being box-fresh, while the Ka+, itself a major replacement for the previous generation, Fiat 500-based model, launched earlier this year, there is an understandable air of confidence within Ford. After all, it knows that almost anything with wheels, bearing even a hint of ‘off-roaderness’, is almost guaranteed success in a market that seems fit to consume SUVs for breakfast.
Be under no illusion, neither Fiesta nor Ka+ models can be used in an off-road environment, despite the customary raised ride height, body cladding and other crossover clues, unless you want to have a short-dial to the local vehicle recovery firm. However, as buyers perform back-flips for crossover models of any denomination, Ford’s bullish sales projection of 15% of all Fiesta/Ka+ sales falling into the classification seems entirely realistic.
Naturally, it helps that the Ka+ is a vastly superior hatchback to its predecessor, although beating the dynamic envelope of the original Ford Ka (which was Fiesta-based) would be a monster undertaking. Fiesta, of course, has never endured a bad repute. Since its debut in the late-1970s, to date, it has been the default car-of-choice for both private and business customers alike, hence its consistent Top Ten sales performance for more years than are memorable.
As you will read in a separate Fiesta test report on the FCD website, the donor car (to the Active model) consists not just of sound engineering, fine build quality and excellent styling but also presents a slightly larger footprint but markedly greater interior space than ever before. In fact, the Fiesta is now so grown-up that Ka+ might even be described as its forebear’s replacement. Factor in the Active aspects of the model, which Ford insists will be joined by a Focus Active come the New Year, and the ride height has been increased by 18mm but the other addenda, including roof-rails, ensure that the car looks altogether chunkier and more in crossover character, which is a means by which to justify a list price for the car that starts at £17,795, rising to £22,085, before adding extra-cost items and then discounting in the usual Forces Cars Direct manner.
When you consider that a regular 5-door Fiesta starts at more than £3,000 less, you can expect that the new model carries a worthy premium. All Fiesta Actives are five-doors. However, there is only positive news on the ride and handling fronts. The extra ride height gifts the car an enhanced level of ride comfort and new hydraulic top mounts for the front suspension ensure that progress is not only more refined than the standard car, through being even more compliant, but that body roll is also exceptionally well-controlled, with virtually zero dive under braking, but the car also feels even more wieldy, composed and genuine fun to drive. It is a real surprise but a welcome one.
The cabin layout mirrors that of the rest of the Fiesta line-up, complete with the 8.0-inch touch-screen and Ford’s excellent SYNC3 infotainment system. First-class seating, with a jazzier pattern for the Active designation, and a superb range of adjustability means that the driving position is uncorrupted and one of the best in the compact sector.
There are three trim levels to consider: Active 1, Active B&O Play and Active X. A lot of the larger size car companies are allying with stereo system manufacturers to bolster their range appeal and Bang & Olufsen is hardly one from which to shy away. All of them offer both 97 and 117bhp versions of the one-litre capacity ‘triple’ petrol engines, while Active 1 also includes an entry-level 82bhp petrol and a lesser-powered 1.5-litre turbo-diesel variant, although they are dropped in favour of greater punch from both a 137bhp petrol and 117bhp diesel in the higher pair of trim levels.
Despite the current antipathy being directed at DERV, I opted for the 117bhp TDCi version in Active X trim, driving through a 6-speed manual transmission that is a delight to flick through the gears. The engine is smooth and only sounds noisy, when extended, although it is a pleasant offbeat growl that comes from behind the dashboard and its silky spread of power is impressive enough to record a top speed of around 120mph, despatching the 0-60mph benchmark in a moderate 9.7s. Emitting just 112g/km of CO2 and returning 64.2mpg on the Official Combined test cycle highlights that running costs will be maintained at an affordable level.
Once again, to justify the pricing, the Active 1 equates to just below Titanium specification of the regular Fiesta and it does ride on larger diameter alloy wheels. The B&O version receives yellow exterior trim detailing, a contrasting black roof and the cracking stereo system. The test (X) example boasts a full suite of driver assist technology and benefits from part-hide covered seating. Ford is keen to highlight that stronger residual values than the normal Fiesta mean that even on company under-written PCPs, the monthly payment rate differs by less than a fiver.
Fiesta Active is immensely likeable, just as the Ka+ Active is a preferable option to the standard model. It is a confident step in the right direction for Ford and is sure to engender strong consumer interest.
