Back in 1974 tension was high between Israel and Syria and Nixon met Brezhnev in Moscow in the continuing Cold War and while Barry Manilow rocketed to fame with his song Mandy, the cinemas were full of people watching Towering Inferno and jazz lovers mourned the death of Duke Ellington. However, it was also the period the country suffered a fuel crisis and Ford reacted by giving birth to a car that became the bench mark for the small and economical family car – the Ford Fiesta. Its popularity is witnessed by the fact that over 14 million of them were built and when the sportier XR2 came out in 1981 it became the must-have car for boy racers.

Thirty two years later we are again in a fuel crisis and Ford have reacted by launching a brand new Fiesta which is not just a warm over of the old: it a new from the bottom up and utilizes the floor pan of its sister company’s Mazda 2, as well as the tried and tested Macpherson strut suspension with twist beam rear axle, plus using some of the very reliable engines used in several Ford cars.

An essential car for Ford which is hoped will raise its world-wide flagging sales, I was grateful that Julian and his helpful sales executive Paul at GK Ford, Gilwilly, Penrith, were able loan a 1.4-litre diesel version for an extended test which had 67 bhp and 118 Nm of torque of useful lugging power.
Spending time just walking round the new Fiesta I was impressed by its slightly wedge shape and general good looks which make it look like a small coupé and thus a bit sporty.

The work of Ford’s top designer, Martin Smith, the new Fiesta is a development for the Verve concept seen last year and is modern without being outlandish. Indeed, by not being whacky it will appeal to young and older car buyers alike as it has class and has taken the Fiesta from the rather bargain basement, low rent image many felt the old one had. The well proportioned profile with its wedge treatment of the window line and eased out arches, its subtle creases lead the eye up and back, while the slant-eyed front and broad-grin grill and cuddly bum at the back creates a very pleasing and harmonious, overall design.

The new Fiesta also makes better use of the internal space and the car on test, a four-door, had rear seats which were roomy for its class and more than adequate for two adults to travel in comfort, while up front I easily found a comfortable driving position as the seats are well contoured and had lots of adjustment. The real change is to the whole feel of the interior which is much more modern with improved quality materials boasting a chrome effect, winged centre console and angular door inserts which lifts the overall black and grey treatment. Though the console is a bit in your face it is clear, the knobs for the air con are big and chunky which moves with a satisfyingly clunk and the whole effect is a pleasant change from the previous more utilitarian Fiesta dash.

Instrumentation is clear with two large dials in the driver binnacle to give speed and revs while a tiny one gives fuel level with a red computer readout which copes with other information.

With prices starting with the entry level Studio at £8,995, those who want more bling and equipment can move through the model line up to the top Titanium at £13,695 in which you can have the acclaimed Converse+ system which controls satellite navigation, trip computer and mobile phone plus, of course, the all-essential MP3 player.

Thus far I was impressed by the look and quality of the new Fiesta but to find out if it’s good to live with I carried out some long motorway journeys as well as my usual thrash round the A and B roads of my beloved Eden Valley.

The small diesel is reasonably well insulated and is quiet on the move but the 14 seconds 0 – 62 mph dash is not exactly spine tingling though the book says it will trundle on up to 103 mph when asked However, what the figures don’t show is the midrange grunt which means you will not be thrashing up and down the box on hills and to be frank the Fiesta’s performance is perfectly acceptable in terms of the small family car class.

Moreover, Ford have been very smart by slightly reducing acceleration and top speed because by so doing the new Fiesta achieves class winning figures for fuel consumption and emissions.

Owners can expect 65.7 mpg which Ford say will rise to 70+ mpg on a long run and having emissions of 114g/km means the Fiesta is very saintly and limbos into the Group 4 insurance bracket.

On the move, the new Fiesta feels like its bigger stable mate the Ford Focus and has the same crisp and safe handling which makes it real fun on the twisty bits, made more so by the slick five-speed ‘box with well-spaced gears.

I really do feel that Ford’s market judgement is spot on as the new Fiesta matches the current economy and fuel crisis, being good to look at, well priced and economical. It is also very comfortable, has a decent boot for its class is nimble and fun with essential street cred.

But don’t take my word for I and visit any of the GK Ford showrooms for a test drive but if you want one Julian and Paul at GK Ford, Gilwilly tell me they have sold five already, so join the queue!