Go Fida!

Exterior: There are a few changes in the looks of 2009 fiesta; more curves which makes it look elegant. The front grill makes it look sporty. the back is just ok, I added spoiler at the back to improve the looks. The radio antenna is placed at the front side as compared to backside in most other cars. The wheel is bit smaller in diameter in this version as compared to the higher end models and there are no alloy wheels available for this model.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort): I opted for leather interiors and it definately looks better than the normal ones present in ZXi. The interiors are two tone. ZXi comes with all electronic gadgets including electronic ORVM and a cd player although the ZXi leather's cd player lacks a line in which is quite useful to plug in ipods and other mp3 devices. Besides this flaw, I think the cd player sounds exceptionally well and has facilities for mp3 cds and 6 preset FM stations. As the cd player is pre fitted by Ford, it blends in with the interior design giving a more elegant feel inside. Other useful features include central power windows, tilt steering and distance to empty indicator which basically gives the approx amount of distance you can go without a fuel refill.

Space is a bit of concern in this car and if that is your number one criteria for selection, then steer clear of this car!! The length and width of this car is smaller than most other cars in this segment as a result the space for passengers at the back is less, but hey, if you are going to purchase a fiesta, you will be spending more time in drivers seat than be driven; trust me on this :)

Another problem area that I found out was that of suspension; it is too rigid and you can feel every bump on the road.. not sure if it is only in the car is new though. Also no airbags are present in ZXi.

Other features include fog lamps, ABS, rear window defogger.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox: What can I say about Fiesta's performance? In one word, it is mindblowing. At 1.6 liters it churns out about 100 horses of power resulting in a rocket acceleration as you leave everyone else eating your dust! Also at 6.8lacs on road, it is the most powerful car in the price bracket. If power is what you are after then, my friend, you have found your machine.

The gearbox is notchy and it is a real pleasure to shift gears. I am currently getting a fuel economy of 11, but that may be on the account of my driving habits and this being a new car. The fuel economy promised by my dealer after first service is 13.

Ride Quality & Handling: Fiesta has the least turning radius in its segment which leads to exceptional maneuverability on city roads. Also the tall design gives it a better ground clearance and you dont need to worry about hitting tall speed breakers. The ride quality can be improved by providing better suspensions, but I would say it is not bad either. Exceptional handling and good ride quality.

Final Words Before purchasing, I was thinking of getting of a high end hatchback like i20 but after test driving i20, I thought it was not a value for money. at 6.4 lacs on road. So I started looking at entry level sedans. I test drove aveo, linea, city and fiesta. rejected aveo and linea because of power concerns; although the looks of linea were very impressive and interiors/space of aveo are better than fiesta. fell in love with honda city but at 9.something on road, it was way out of my price budget. But once I drove fiesta, I stopped searching and realized this is the car I want. So fiesta turned out to be the best choice for me. It is truly a drivers car!

Areas of improvement More interior space and better suspensions.