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Green cars aren’t renowned for top performance, but, while the Fiesta isn’t a ridiculously fast car, it’s pretty torquey and more than competent on the road, be in town or on a winding B-road. The longer gearing also means that it’s more capable than most hatches on the motorway – the final drive ratio has been changed from 3.37 to 3.05 to help fuel economy and emissions. 150lb ft of torque from the 1.6-litre TDCi unit gives it plenty of grunt, though it does struggle a tad beneath 1500rpm and doesn’t respond too well to hard revving. Leave in the mid-range for the best responsiveness. 0-62mph is dealt with in 12.3 seconds and it will top out at 111mph. Not fast, but it copes well with all round driving.

The Fiesta blows rivals away with its utterly fantastic handling and sweet ride – and the ECOnetic is no different. In fact, it’s easily the most entertaining eco-hatch on sale today, so you can save money, keep a clean green conscience and have fun behind the wheel – all at the same time. The ECOnetic features 20mm lower suspension than the standard Fiesta to reduce the work for the engine and aid the fuel-saving aerodynamics, but it’s not low enough to upset the ride and, if anything, tightens the little Ford up even more. Responsive steering, minimal body roll and a taught, communicative chassis all add to the brilliant mix.

The current car’s interior is much improved over Fiesta’s of old. Dash plastics are robust and soft to the touch and seats are comfy and supportive. Ford’s human interface centre console is attractive, robust and easy to use and the dials are well styled and feel much tougher than most. It hasn’t been around for long, but there have been no common complaints yet, so the Fiesta is a sound bet. Add the excellent and widely available dealer service to the package and you’re on to a winner.

NCAP security ratings are top notch. The Fiesta scores five stars for occupants safety, four for child occupants and three for pedestrian impact. Central locking, immobiliser, Isofix child seat fittings, driver, passenger and side airbags are all standard and structural rigidity is superb, so the Fiesta is extremely safe for a car of its size. The only let down is the lack of ESP as a standard feature. Ford asks for an extra £300 for the privilage, whereas some rivals offer it for less or even for free.

The cabin boasts plenty of space for driver and passengers alike, and the boot is a healthy 295 litres – no van, but generous for its segment. Visibility is good so parking isn’t an issue, but rear parking sensors are available for an extra £200 should you want them. The Fiesta is fun to drive, but at the same time, it’s easy to get to grips with, so it will no doubt prove attractive to new drivers.

The Fiesta range starts at £9,195 for the entry-level 1.25 Studio model, so £12,445 – a premium of £3,250 – for the three-door 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic is pretty hefty. Don’t turn your nose up, though, as the ECOnetic has a heck of a lot going for it. Not only is it competent in most driving environments, but it will save you so much money day-to-day. It emits just 98g/km of CO2, which means that you will pay absolutely nothing in road tax. According to Ford, average fuel economy is 76.3mpg, which is well worth it even if diesel does cost a few pence per litre more than petrol. Zip around town and you’re looking at 61.4mpg and settle into a steady motorway cruise and you can expect 88.3mpg – truly amazing. It might cost more to buy, but any car with these wallet-friendly credentials will no doubt hang onto its value better than your average hatchback.

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