2006 Ford Fiesta Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the first and second generation Ford Fiesta between 2004 and 2015 as a used buy.

Styling of the latest couple of generations of Ford Fiestas is bold and their stunning, almost futuristic, looks appeal to many, particularly those moving down from larger cars.The Ford Fiesta is sold as a three-door or five-door hatchback. The three-door has a sporty appearance, but the five-door certainly isn’t on the staid side. Getting into the back seat of the three-door Fiesta isn’t too difficult for the kids, but large adults will find it a hassle.Once in the back seat, occupants will find it reasonably spacious. The front seats are larger than average for a car in this class and are reasonably comfortable, though some may find them on the firm side in the German manner.Ford Australia is keen to please drivers looking for more than mere transport so imports its small cars from Europe. This makes them slightly more expensive than products from Holden, which are often made in South Korean factories, but Ford Oz has managed to keep prices down.The Fiesta comes in plenty of different variants. Most use a 1.4- or 1.6-litre petrol engine and offer a couple of drivetrain options. The WZ series Fiesta, introduced in August 2013, has an interesting pair of turbocharged power units, in particular a willing little three-cylinder 1.0-litre with plenty of spark in its response. Even better is the 1.6 turbo-petrol in the Fiesta ST, it has strong torque over a wide spread of revs and can be regarded as a low cost alternative to full-on hot hatches.The Ford Fiesta XR4, introduced in June 2007, is a genuine hot hatch, not just a dressed up standard model.  Inside, there are sporting seats with leather bolsters. Fiesta XR4 has lowered suspension and rides on Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Ride comfort is surprisingly good for the hot-hatch class.The XR4's big Duratec 2.0-litre engine gives plenty of performance in a light car such as this. Some will be disappointed that only a five-speed gearbox is used. However, it has nicely chosen ratios and the change action is slick and positive.A fascinating new model was launched in November 2009. The Ford Fiesta Econetic is a super-economy model that's powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine tuned specifically for low consumption. It has good torque, uses higher than normal gearing and runs on special low-rolling resistance tyres. The result is fuel consumption below four litres per hundred kilometres during easy motorway running and only five to seven litres per hundred kilometres in day-to-day suburban driving.A good home mechanic can do a fair bit of their own work on a Fiesta, but the underbonnet area is cramped. Leave the safety items to the experts. There are plenty of Ford dealers Australia wide. While uncommon parts for Fiestas may not be held in all country dealerships it usually only takes a couple of business days to have parts freighted out there. We seldom hear any real complaints about prices of parts or servicing. Plenty of mechanics running their own independent businesses will have had formal training while employed by Ford dealers in the past.Insurance premiums for the standard Ford Fiesta models are about average for its class. Some companies may charge more for the XR4 hot-hatch and the hot-ish Fiesta ST, though not outrageously so.WHAT TO LOOK FOREuropean cars aren't built to the high standards of Japanese ones, so be sure to arrange for a full professional inspection. Carefully check the interior for signs of damage due to poor assembly, also for damage done by rough or bored kids.Listen for squeaks or rattles when driving on rough roads, not necessarily outback tracks, just suburban surfaces that have seen better days. The Fiesta engine should start easily and idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over. Listen and feel for a manual gearbox that hesitates or crunches during fast changes.Try the steering on full lock at low speeds both all the way to the right and the left. Listen for the clicking sounds that indicate worn universal joints. A Fiesta XR4 that has been driven hard can often be identified by uneven tyre wear. Also look for lowered suspension, big-diameter wheels and additional instruments.Rust isn't going to be a problem unless a car has been poorly repaired after a crash. Look for paint finish that doesn’t match from panel to panel and for overspray on non-painted areas.CAR BUYING TIPA simple way to check for rust repairs is to hold a magnet against a suspect area. It will stick to metal under the paint, but not to plastic fillers.

Ford took a long time to find a proper replacement for the Korean-built Festiva, but it finally struck gold in 2004 when it unearthed the European Fiesta.The Kia-built Festiva had been a winner for the blue oval, as had the Laser before that, but the company stumbled at the first attempt to find a suitable Festiva replacement when the quirky Ka proved a dismal failure in this market. When small car buyers went looking for a car to replace their Festivas what they found was the odd looking Ka and they quickly realised it wasn't for them.In effect Ford abandoned the traditional small car market when it pitched the Ka at funky young females hoping they would think it cute. Traditional small car buyers also baulked when they found the Ka was only available as a three-door hatch and they couldn't get it with an auto transmission.The arrival of the Fiesta was a relief to all concerned, probably including Ford's management who must have been relieved to see the end of the Ka experiment.MODEL WATCHThe Fiesta was a return to the mainstream for Ford after the Ka experiment. Whereas the Ka only came as a funky three-door hatch the Fiesta was a more conventionally styled model and buyers could choose between three-door and five-door hatch body styles. They also had the choice of three models, in the form of the LX, Zetec and Ghia.The LX was the price leader, which missed out on air-conditioning. For that you needed to spend an extra couple of grand. What you did get was remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, immobiliser, leather steering wheel and a four-speaker CD sound system.In the middle of the range was the Zetec, a three-door hatch with the promise of a more sporty drive. Those who chose to spend the extra for the Zetec got air, alloy wheels, and fog lamps in addition to the gear that came with the LX.Perched atop the range was the luxury Ghia five-door hatch, which came with a six-stacker CD sound system and the option of extra safety gear. There was just the single engine available and that was a 1.6-litre four-cylinder with double overhead camshafts and sequential fuel injection. At its twin peaks it was outputting 74 kW at 6000 revs and 146 Nm at 4000 revs, enough to endow the Fiesta with quite a bit of zip.The transmission choices consisted of a five-speed manual and four-speed auto, and the final drive was through the front wheels. The brakes were disc front and rear, the suspension was independent with a typically Ford of Europe sporty feel, and the steering was by power-assisted rack-and-pinion.IN THE SHOPOwners of the Fiesta appear to be generally satisfied with their cars; very few complaints have been received here at CarsGuide. If there's a consistent complaint it's about brake wear, but that's a common grizzle with most European cars, not something peculiar to the small Ford. Make the usual checks for dodgy crash repairs and a service record.ON THE ROADThe Fiesta was a revelation after the Ka; it was great to drive with a punchy engine, nippy performance, and very good ride and handling. On top of that it looked good, had a bright and breezy interior, and was easy on the pocket when it came to those compulsory stops for fuel. If there was a criticism it was that the seats lacked support, but that was about it.IN A CRASHAll models were equipped with dual-stage airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as seat belt pretensioners. ABS and EBD braking was standard on all models, except the base LX manual hatch. ANCAP rated the WP Fiesta at four stars.AT THE PUMPRoad testers at the time reported 7.5-8.0 L/100 km on average. Ford's official claim was 6.6 L/100 km.LOOK FORAttractive looksPunchy engineGood economyNippy handing.THE BOTTOM LINEA great little car that was a delight to drive.RATING80/100

There is no need to hand in your driving gloves and Sparko boots just because the fuel prices are driving you into a "light car".This segment of the market includes a host of choices such as the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Getz, Suzuki Swift, Holden Barina and Toyota Yaris.All quite capable cars, but hardly a rewarding driving experience.But for a little bit more, you can still have some driving fun.Swift will soon release a "GTI" version, called the Sport, while Fiesta already has the Zetec squirting around.We recently tested several light cars and found the Fiesta one of the best to punt around vigorously.It comes with a sweet little chassis, precise and light steering, high grip and sporty road manners.But the Zetec ups the ante further with substantial suspension changes that make this car even more precise and true on the road.Ford has stiffened the damper settings, springs and rear torsion beam, and bolted on a thicker anti-roll bar.And it is now shod with the previously optional 16-inch alloy wheels and 195/45 R16 ContiSports rubber, instead of the 195/50 R15 Bridgestone Turanzas.It won't jar your spine, but it certainly rides a little harder.While the engine retains the same output (74kW at 6000rpm and 146Nm at 4000rpm), the five-speed manual gearbox now has closer ratios for more around-town go. First is 8.6 per cent lower than the previous Zetec for greater launch away from traffic lights, while fifth is higher for easier highway cruising.Apart from mechanical changes, the European-designed Zetec gets some style updates inside and out.The new seat trim has a bit more zesty colour, the centre entertainment stack gets a stylish Focus-like update and an MP3 auxiliary jack, and the various switches and controls are higher quality that you can feel.It is one of the smallest of the light cars and interior room is understandably "cosy".Yet the surprising little package has big boot space with the back seats in position and a big flat cargo area with the 60-40-split rear seats folded down and the seats tumbled forward out of the way.The exterior has a slightly restyled front, with the ubiquitous sporty honeycomb grille, big-eyed headlights and a fatter bumper.It still looks cute and overall it is the same "sexy" shape that turns on that white-coated female engineer in the ad that sends up the potting scene from Ghost.It now comes in three new colours (green, blue and grey) and still comes in under $20,000.The European design means it suffers from right-hand conversion with the bonnet release in the passenger foot well and the indicator stalk on the left.But one Euro feature I love, which is now in many European cars and is standard in the new VE Commodore, is the handy passing indicator that flashes three times at just a nudge. It flashes just long enough for most drivers of this spirited little car to merge or change lanes.Ford Fiesta ZetecEngine: 1.6litre, 16-valve, 4-cylindersPower: 74kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 146Nm @ 4000rpmTransmissions: 5-speed manual; 4-speed autoPrice: $18,490 (man); $19,990 (auto)

Fiesta's latest addition is the Zetec model. Released in March, it is the top three-door model in the Fiesta family, and has been slapped with the sporty label.Fitted with new front and rear body-coloured bumpers, grille design, headlamps, which especially afford it a sporty look, rear tail lamps and tapered side body mouldings, it could be argued that the Fiesta has had the Beckham makeover of style and flare. But don't expect too much, just because of the sporty tag.It sits in the small car segment and the Zetec is priced at $18,490.The athletic qualities of the Zetec stretches to the sports suspension, the 16-inch alloy wheels and a revised manual transmission with a closer ratio gear set.Take a step inside and you'll find a cosy interior with modern and creative trim, available in three different designs for the Zetec model, although these interiors are a little on the plain side in comparison to those offered in the other Fiesta models.While the seats may feel a little firm at first, they do get comfortable after time, and the adjustable head-rests in the back look great. They are very practical to suit all, short and tall, although loftier people will suffer in the leg-room department in the back seats.The gadgets are easy to use and very straightforward, but the extra radio controls do not appear on the steering wheel like on most new cars. Instead they feature on a bulky lever behind the steering wheel, below the blinker, making it hard to reach. It's easier to use the main radio controls.The major annoyance of this car is the blinker, a minor thing perhaps, but it sounds like popcorn cooking and it can get pretty frustrating for anyone who gets irritated easily. Hence during my test drive, the radio was turned up and got a fairly good workout.Turning sharp corners produces some resistance on the wheel, with heavy steering required. There is a bit of pull when doing a U-turn or manoeuvring in tight car parks.In this generation of the Fiesta, airconditioning comes as standard and manual transmission versions are fitted with an input facility for an iPod or MP3 player.The Zetec is also available in three new colours, with the car tested here a Sea Grey, a little dull for my liking, but it did have a certain sense of style about it.The ability of the engine is not the most exciting available and behind the wheel it won't exactly give you that buzzing sensation you may experience in more expensive and powerful cars. However, for its class and price, it produces fairly competitive figures in the small car range.Its 74kW at 6000rpm is equal to or a little less than similar vehicles and on the torque front, it produces a slightly higher figure, with 146Nm at 4000rpm.The 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine trots along fairly confidently, with sufficient power in the lower gears and it travels comfortably when it hits the higher speeds.The Zetec is the middle child in the Fiesta range, with the three-door LX manual at $15,990 and big brother Ghia only available in five door, with the manual priced at $20,490.With a 6.8-litres/100km combined claimed fuel consumption, the Fiesta has a slightly higher fuel consumption than its small car competitors. The Honda Jazz VTi has uses a claimed 6.0-litres per 100km, the Toyota Yaris burns 6.1-litres per 100km and the Hyundai Getz uses 6.2-litres over this distance.I couldn't notice much difference in the handling and style between of the LX model and the sportier Zetec. This suggests the cheaper LX model is worth consideration, especially if you want to save $2500.Overall, the Fiesta seems to have most qualities people want in a small car.

We're the first to confess we're not huge fans of small cars with automatics, but the sporty Fiesta Zetec stands out as an exception to this rule.Even hooked up to the four-speed auto is a cracker.It goes off! All Fiestas get the same 1.6-litre DOHC 16 valve engine that delivers 74kW of power at 6000rpm and peak torque of 146Nm at 4000rpm. May not sound like much but combined with the car's relatively light weight it delivers a lively power to weight ratio. Our four-speed auto test vehicle weighed in at a modest 1089kg, about 25kg heavier than the manual model. For the mine's bigger than your's crowd, having the same donk as the entry level model kind of takes the shine off the sports machine but that's life. What you do get with Zetec is sports suspension. Combined with larger diameter wheels fitted with low profile tyres it makes for significantly better handling. The sports kit delivers a firmer ride, with sharper handling and a more precise steering feel. The kit drops the ride height, with stiffer springs and dampers, revised suspension bushes, larger diameter front anti-roll bar and a stiffer rear suspension twist beam. 16-inch seven-spoke alloys are fitted with 195/45 R16V low profile tyres, Fuel consumption from the 45-litre tank is a claimed 7.5L/100km using standard unleaded petrol, compared with the manual's 6.8L/100km. Performance is sharp and the engine is a real buzz saw, revving all the way to 7000rpm in third gear without forcing a gear change. An overdrive lockout button can be thumbed to keep the car in third. Ford has given the car a makeover, with changes to bumpers and grille, new head lights, new tail lights, thicker body side mouldings and body coloured handles and mirrors. Airconditioning is now standard across the range. The front spoiler is quite deep and easily scraped on dips and driveways unless the driver is careful. Standard equipment includes ABS anti-lock brakes and electronic brake distribution, but not brake assist which shows in the amount of pedal force required under heavy brakling. It's worth noting too that the car misses out on rear disc brakes, but in a small car it is the front brakes that do most of the work anyway. Front driver and passenger airbags are also standard. We found the sound system in our test car a little temperamental in dealing with burned CDs, but it produces better than average sound.VERDICT: No hesitation recommending this little beauty. Offers plenty of performance even when you opt for the convenience of automatic transmission. Not quite as roomy as Barina but heaps more fun to drive by a country mile.

It is not the cheapest of the bunch but there is quite a willing three-door here, in line with the idea of junior hot hatches from Europe. And the Fiesta is no wild child on the styling front, rather this compact Ford looks a little serious, verging on plain, alongside the likes of Honda's Jazz, Suzuki's Swift, the Toyota Yaris or Mitsubishi Colt.And the Fiesta has a traditional approach to the interior and instrumentation, precious few swoops and curves and digital readouts sitting closer to the front wheels than the driver.No, this is a subdued package, inside and out, looks a little more mature than most rivals.And that may well suit some in this market. With a price premium and that more conservative approach to motoring style, the Ford Fiesta positions itself as a serious alternative, more Volkswagen Polo rival than Holden Barina.Drivers sit tall and pretty in the Fiesta. There is plenty of headroom and good visibility over that stubby bonnet although the big transmission tunnel does impinge on room in the driver's foot well.The steering wheel and controls are all logical enough (with indicator stalk on the left) with simple arrangements for stereo and air-conditioning controls. It is a compact car with decent accommodation for the front two occupants.Best fun is attacking the gearbox with short-throw shifts through five forward ratios. The Fiesta's engine does not mind finding all those 74 kilowatts before moving on; this is a free-spinning powerplant that likes to keep on the move.The encouragement here is well met by a keen, front-drive chassis. Here and there the suspension can feel a bit sharpish over broken bitumen yet, in the main, this is a quick and comfortable small car.There is mild understeer as road speeds rise but the Fiesta's attitude is easily controlled and changed on the throttle.The Zetec Fiesta scores a little extra suspension work over a standard Fiesta, this one sits lower and firmer. It all suggests a quick little machine and adds to the zip and confidence through city streets.Although there is a good chance a full load may dull some of that 1.6 litre engine's sparkle.The Fiesta Zetec is a neat and tidy machine with an engaging nature, albeit also carrying a price premium over most of its rivals.