Supermini Shooutout: Ford Fiesta Econetic

I jumped into the Fiesta Econetic right at the death of the SMMT test day. I think “Goodness gracious, we’re doing a bloomin’ supermini group test and I haven’t had a go in the blinking best-seller yet” may or may not have been my exact words moments beforehand.

Keys nabbed, I was off, but not before the Ford PR chap had actually apologised to me for the spec of the cars present. That’s right, he spies your young, charismatic (cough) writer sprinting towards the Ford stand and immediately assumes I’d be turned off by the fact there were no petrol Zetec S warm hatches to punt around Millbrook.

As it turned out, having the low-powered, low-grip, low-emission Econetic version on show might actually have been the biggest masterstroke of all…

Anyone who knows half a thing about Fords in Europe knows Ford makes the everyman drivers cars. I should know, I own one. If you’re on a budget but want properly well-set up cars obviously tuned for driver pleasure, you want a Blue Oval. Is this Mk7 Fiesta, with green paint to match its green worldview, and a growly diesel motor worthy of the badge?

In a word, abso-bloody-lutely. The Ford Fiesta Econetic was by far the biggest pleasant surprise of the day, because it shows that small cars, small cheap cars – small cheap cars designed to save the world – can still be a total giggle to chuck down a British B-road. The Fiesta’s skinny eco tyres meant that when understeer resulted from ambitious corner speeds, a swift lift of the throttle would lighten up the rear and skew the car ever-so-slightly sideways in a miniature four-wheel-drift. Not dangerous, not tyre-smoking like a Fast & Furious movie, but proper throttle adjustability and that satisfying feeling of having a car up on its tiptoes and skipping across the tarmac.

The engine wasn’t bad either – torque was sufficient at walking speeds to make the Fiesta an easy pedal in town driving, but treat it like a petrol model - changing gear later than normal in an engine running on the black stuff - and the Fiesta wasn’t totally embarrassed by its petrol competitors. And it has the drinking habits of a nunnery during prohibition – no wonder that 60mpg is possible when you don’t drive like a lout (which I did purely in the interests of comprehensive journalism, you understand).

The best thing about the Fiesta though is that unlike other eco cars like a Prius, or iMiev, it doesn’t make you compromise. Same funky interior, enough poke to get you around on time, and a chassis that’s come down on a cloud from heaven. If you really like the concept-car body though – get a petrol one. Then at least you can jump out and admire it more often when it needs a fill-up...

Apology accepted, Ford.

Car Throttle Cool Factor: 8/10