Ford Fiesta 2002 2008 No Manual

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Ford Fiesta (2002-2008)

Apr 2002 Class: Superminis
New price: - Used price: From 2,275
On sale:
Performance:
Ride comfort:
handling:
Boot & Storage:
Safety:
Reliability:
Total score:
65%
Easy to drive and cheap to run.

Good safety and reliability.
Five-door is quite roomy.
Below-par reliability.
Dull cabin, and limited visibility.
Three-door a bit awkward and impractical.
Recommended models
in the range
Which? Car Top Choice Model

1.4 Zetec 5dr [Climate]
New price: Used price: 4,095
Fastest Model
2.0 ST500 3dr
7.9 secs
0-62mph:
Most Efficient Model

1.4 TDCi Finesse 3dr
Combined fuel economy:
65.7 mpg
Cheapest Model to buy new

New price:
Overview
The 2002-2008 Fiesta, with its mini-Focus outline, has aged gracefully and whilst it cant match
its successor for sporting dynamics or striking styling, its easy to drive, and cheap to buy and
run. No wonder it remains popular.
Since Ford launched an all-new Fiesta in autumn 2008, this plainer-looking 2002-2008
model has become cheaper to buy secondhand. Its not as exciting to drive or as sharp-looking
as the new model, but its good value for money. Its both easy to drive and easy to own. We
drove the end-of-line 1.4 TDCi diesel. The gearbox is smooth and the ratios are well spaced for
good acceleration and confident overtaking. Economy was reasonable at 53.3mpg, though
thats well short of the official 62.8 figure. The 1.6 TDCi is quicker and more economical
our test showed 57.6mpg (officially 64.2mpg). The 1.4 petrol needs to be worked hard, and
economy isnt as good.
Climb inside and theres a fair amount of space, although the interior looks a bit dated.
Theres ample room for three kids or two adults in the back, although the 270-litre boot is only
average for the class.
The 2002-2008 Fiesta has fared respectably in the Which? Car Survey in recent years,
but its reliability score has dropped to a poor two stars this year. Diesels are definitely more
problematic than petrols, with owners reporting higher breakdown rates, and higher average
repair costs, while diesel Fiestas seem to have a particular issue with the fuel system.
Otherwise, the most frequent faults relate to the air conditioning and lights.
Cheapest Model to buy used

1.3 Finesse 3dr
Used price:
2,275
Cheapest Model to Run (new)

New price: Running costs: (3 years/36,000 miles)
Owners View
Great handling, decent
performance and fun
to drive at low and high
speeds.
Which? Car review

Superminis
On the road
How we test
The Fiesta is easy and confidence-inspiring to drive, with its accurate and sensitive steering,
and overall feeling of stability. Its not terribly exciting, however.
Performance
Performance
Gear changes are usually smooth and precise but for quick changes at higher speeds,
fifth gear can sometimes engage inaccurately. The fact that reverse gear doesnt click in
satisfactorily is also irritating and means you cant really tell whether or not its engaged
properly.
The 1.4 TDCi gives a decent amount of power under acceleration and is flexible, meaning
you wont need to change down a gear if youre overtaking at higher speeds. Its fairly smooth,
but in winter the engine can run pretty rough when starting from cold.
Model tested
diesel 1.4TDCi (68bhp) manual 3-door (2003)
petrol 1.4 (80bhp) manual 5-door (2002)
Ride comfort
Acceleration (37-62mph)
9.9 secs
7.2 secs
9.4 secs
9.4 secs
Ride comfort
Rating
The Fiesta delivers a confident and smooth driving experience, with good responsive steering.
It tends to understeer on sharp corners but this is predictable for less experienced drivers.
Overall, you get a sense of stability and assurance in the handling of this car. All Fiestas have
power steering, although electronic stability control was only optional - try to find a Fiesta
which had this fitted.
Model tested
We use the sophisticated electronic timing

equipment to record standing-start and
in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test
several times.
Rating
Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of
thousands of miles in a myriad of different
models.
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Superminis
On the road continued...
How we test
Handling
Handling
Model tested
Rating
Brakes
All Fiestas have ABS anti-lock brakes fitted as standard. This, along with the balanced
distribution of braking power, helps maintain control and delivers a quick response when
needed.
Model tested
Braking distance (62-0mph)

42.2m
38.5m
41.0m
41.0m
Brakes
Rating
Refinement and noise
On-the-limit handling is explored well

away from public roads to ensure a fair
test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of
the harshest tests in the industry..
The Which? Car braking test measures

stopping distance from 62-0mph and is
repeated ten times in quick succession to
highlight any brake fade issues.
Refinement and noise
The Fiesta is fairly quiet for a supermini. Even at high speeds, you wont have to crank up the
volume of your CDs to drown out clatter.
Model tested
Cruising noise
70dB
73dB
72dB
72dB
Rating
The Which? Car experts use a decibel

meter to record interior sound levels
at common UK motorway speeds, and
combine this with subjective assessments
to arrive at an overall score.
Which? Car review

Superminis
On the road continued...
How we test
Cabin and controls
Cabin and controls
The Fiesta feels fairly roomy, but the look of the interior is rather bland and conservative. Our
readers also criticised the instrument layout in our Which? Car survey. This is not intuitive
- for example, when you pull the windscreen wiper lever toward you expecting the front
screenwash to spray, it actually starts the rear wipers. The front seat belts in the three-door
version are also difficult to reach.
Model tested
Rating
Visibility and parking
Visibility and parking
The rear headrests retract into the seatback, giving a nice clear view when youre parallel- or
reverse-parking. If you opt for Fords Quickclear front windscreen defroster, bear in mind that
the headlights of oncoming cars can reflect off the heater filaments when youre driving at
night.
Model tested
We penalise cars with difficult controls,

and we look for things like backlit light
switches and easy-to-use heating and
ventilation adjustments.
Turning circle
10.5m
10.5m
10.5m
10.4m
Rating
Visibility is a major issue for motorists

today, so each car gets a 360-degree
swivel view test to reproduce the drivers
eye view and any obscured areas.
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Superminis
Comfort and practicality
How we test
The interior of the Fiesta is spacious and family-friendly, with ample room for three kids or two
adults in the back. The boot is about average for a supermini. Five-door models make most
sense for families.
Getting in and out
The Fiesta is spacious enough to carry two adults in the back, but getting in and out of threedoor models with dignity is a tall order - the front seat backs dont stay in position when theyre
folded forward, so dont offer any grip or support when youre trying to get out. Opt for the
five-door version if you ferry around rear-seat passengers.
Model tested
Rating
Seat space and comfort
The Fiesta is roomy enough to make a decent option for families. The front seats are well
padded and comfy but the drivers seat tilt cant be adjusted sufficiently to make sure youll be
comfortable. Weve got a similar complaint about the back seats - adults travelling in the rear
are going to have to sit in an uncomfortable crouching position because the seat base isnt
angled far enough backwards.
Model tested
Getting in and out
Rating
We take measurements all around the

driver and passengers door apertures
and note the height of the seat, door sills
and step down onto the car floor. The
best cars dont require too much bending
or stretching to get in and out.
Seat space and comfort
We assess seat comfort subjectively,

using our road testers expert knowledge
and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head-, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to
see how well the car caters for people of
all shapes and sizes.
Which? Car review

Superminis
Comfort and practicality continued...
How we test
Boot and storage
Boot and storage
The boot is average for its class, but might turn out to be a bit small if youre carrying your
family and associated luggage. Loading is easy, thanks to the boots large opening, but its
annoying in that it can only be unlocked with the ignition key or from inside the cabin. The split/
fold back seat offers a bit of extra capacity, but the seat backs dont fold flat enough for it to be
truly useful.
Model tested
Heating and ventilation
Boot space (seats up/down)

270 litres / 580 litres
Rating
Carmakers give official stats for boot

space, but our tests are more realistic. We
load the boot up with measuring blocks
only as far as the rear window line, so
that luggage is well secured and wont
obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test
with the rear seats up, and folded down
(where possible).
Heating and ventilation
We were impressed at how quickly the cabin reaches a comfortable warmth from sub-freezing
temperatures, particularly in the diesel model (12 minutes in the front and 17 minutes in the rear)
- most diesel engines take longer than petrol engines to reach running temperature because
of their heavier engine block.
Model tested
Rating
Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm

each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in
our climate chamber. Starting with a cold
engine, we measure how long it takes to
warm up the front and rear of the cabin.
Diesel cars usually take longer. We also
check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.
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Superminis
Running costs and depreciation
How we test
Running costs are quite low, but choose the right engine, as the high-power variants can be
costlier. Servicing costs are reasonable, helped by relatively cheap parts prices and labour
rates at Ford garages, and the Fiesta can be easily serviced and maintained by independent
mechanics and garages.
Insurance costs are reasonable for the smaller-engined models, starting from group 3. The
1.4 and 1.6-litre TDCi Ghias are a reasonable choice and both in band 4, though some models
are in 5, 6 and 7; the sporty 2.0-litre is in band 13.
Fuel consumption
Ford claims the most frugal Fiesta (the 1.6 TDCi) will achieve 64.2mpg. For the version we
tested (the 1.4 TDCi) Ford claims 62.8mpg, though the best we could manage was 44.4mpg.
Petrol (combined mpg, claimed)
37.6 mpg - 47.1 mpg
Diesel (combined mpg, claimed)
61.4 mpg - 65.7 mpg
Model tested
Urban (claimed/tested)
52.3 mpg/52.3 mpg
54.3 mpg/53.3 mpg
32.1 mpg/32.1 mpg
34.0 mpg/33.6 mpg
Model tested
Extra urban (claimed/tested)

74.3 mpg/72.4 mpg
72.4 mpg/68.9 mpg
52.3 mpg/55.4 mpg
56.5 mpg/53.3 mpg
Model tested
Motorway (measured)
40.4 mpg
47.9 mpg
32.5 mpg
32.1 mpg
Model tested
Combined (claimed/tested)
64.2 mpg/53.3 mpg
64.2 mpg/57.6 mpg
42.2 mpg/38.7 mpg
45.6 mpg/38.7 mpg
Fuel consumption
We test fuel economy under strict lab

conditions using realistic test cycles to
reveal the facts behind the figures. Our
figures rarely match manufacturer claims
as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold
engine, and on the motorway.
Which? Car review

Superminis
Running costs and depreciation continued...
How we test
Emissions
Emissions
Carbon dioxide emissions, and hence tax bandings, are low for the lower-powered and diesel
models: 116g/km from the 1.6 TDCi, though the larger-engined petrol models put out up to
179g/km (1.6 automatic and 2.0-litre manual).
Petrol (CO2, claimed)
142g per km - 179g per km
Diesel (CO2, claimed)
114g per km - 120g per km
Model tested
Emissions (claimed/tested)
117g per km/143g per km
While testing fuel economy, we also

collect exhaust gases to enable us to
measure the amount of carbon dioxide
(CO2) emitted. We also check whether
particulate filters are effective at removing
sooty emissions from diesel engines.
Safety
Safety and security

Euro NCAP score
Here is the video of the 2002-2008 Ford Fiesta hatchback Euro NCAPfrontal crash test.

Please enable JavaScript to access this content.
Adult occupant
Child protection
Pedestrian protection
We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP

crash test scores (where available),
alongside our own comprehensive safety
checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results
from our accident avoidance test after
all, its far better to steer around a crash
than rely on the airbags...
Security
Which? safety rating

Active (crash avoidance)
Passive (crash safety)
Child
Pedestrian
Security
Theft of car:
Theft from car:
Security scores come from the security

experts at Thatcham, who break into
hundreds of cars each year. Most modern
cars are very difficult to drive away, but
are still too easy to steal from.
Which? Car review

Superminis
Which? Car Survey results
About our survey
The Which? Car Survey is the UKs biggest and best reliability and owner satisfaction survey.
In 2013, drivers told us about 57,182 cars, covering more than 450 million miles in the previous
12 months (thats equivalent to driving 18,398 times around the world). This unique feedback
allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.
Note Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown
under Most common faults indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the
past 12 months.
Brand
Sample size: 5,409 people
Ford ratings
Overall owner satisfaction for this brand
Brand reliability
Dealer Servicing & repair
Model: Ford Fiesta (2002-2008)Sample size:
404 people
Ownership ratings
Overall owner satisfaction for this range
Ease of driving
Comfort
Dash layout and controls
In-car technology
Styling
Build quality
Practicality
Value for money
Everyone who takes part in the Which?

Car survey tells us about their car and
the dealers who sell and service it. We
analyse this feedback across all cars to
give top-level satisfaction ratings for each
brand, including the brands reliability
record over the last eight years. All star
ratings are out of five.
Model ownership ratings
Dealer Sales Service
Driving enjoyment
77%
Brand ratings
These show how owners score this car

in 12 different areas, from performance to
heating. Owners ratings are subjective
so may differ from Which? Car test scores
but they give a good idea of what the
car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars
are scored against other cars in the same
class (e.g. for space).
74%
Owners View
Over the years both as a
workhorse and a leisure car
it has given us great service
and cost very little.
Owners View
I am quite sure that there
are more powerful, more
comfortable cars but not at
the price.
Which? Car review

Superminis
Which? Car Survey results continued...
About our survey

Reliability ratings
Reliability ratings
Overall Reliability

Petrol cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
Diesel cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
All cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Up to 3 years old
3-8 years old
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts
need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where
the car has been on sale for some time,
and we have numerous survey responses
from owners, we also split scores by the
age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are
out of five the more stars, the more reliable the car.
Most common faults
Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months

Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12
months
Most common faults

Up to 3 years old
-
-
3-8 years old
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year
Want to know whats most likely to go

wrong as the car gets older? These are
the five most common faults reported by
owners, grouped by age into new, recent
and older cars. A score of 40% means
four out of 10 owners reported problems
with that part of the car over the previous
12 months. Engine electrics and non-engine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause
more headaches than mechanical parts in
most modern cars.

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