Ford Fiesta, car review: Few things this doesn’t do well – and many that it does brilliantly

Whatever you go for, the Fiesta can seat a quartet of adults and swallow a sensible load of luggage

If you’re in the market for a supermini and driving pleasure is anywhere on your list, the Fiesta has got to be one of your top options. It’s a good looker from every angle (including inside) – and whatever kind of driving you do in it, you’ll have a smile on your face.

That smile arrives with pretty much the first corner, which is where you’ll start learning about the Fiesta’s excellent blend of steering feel, grip, ride and body control. It’s eager, precise and confidence-inspiring, with just a little suspension noise on bad roads.

Our pick from an array of engines is the 99bhp Ecoboost unit, which is good news for petrol lovers. Don’t rule it out if you prefer diesel, either, because the way it pulls from deep down in its rev range will put you in mind of a modern oil-burner. It works well with the optional auto box, but try the manual too before making that decision – it’s an absolute pleasure to use.

In the cabin, aside from a little engine noise (or a little more if it’s a diesel) you sit in a calm, comfortable environment. Just as the Fiesta’s handling puts you in mind of a sports car, its interior is like something from a big family motor. The dash is trimmed in nice, tactile materials – though too many of the switches feel like a money-saving exercise.

The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car in April, as it has been for 2017 so far, followed by the Nissan Qashqai, the Mercedes-Benz C Class, the Mercedes-Benz A Class and then the Ford Focus

There’s a wide choice of specs available. The ever-popular Zetec gives you must-haves like alloys, air-con and a heated front screen, so we’d hesitate to dip below that.

Whatever you go for, the Fiesta can seat a quartet of adults and swallow a sensible load of luggage. There are better cars in its class if interior packaging and practicality are what matter most – and also if your idea of heaven is a really good stereo – but it does what it does without disgracing itself.

We’d recommend the adjustable boot floor from the options list, though, as without it you’ve got to load stuff over a high lip. And we’d also recommend, to Ford, that seat folding technology has moved on since the days when a back that just flops down on to its base to leave a huge step in the boot floor was the best anyone could come up with.

That’s more than an irrelevant gripe, but at the same time an exceptional level of safety kit and a strong reliability record are more important. So too are low running costs, which the Fiesta backs up with some big dealer discounts – importantly, because it’s not a car that holds its value particularly well.

Those discounts get you into a range-topper for not much more than £18k – or if you’re not scared to go entry-level, a new one can be yours for as little as £8645. The price list says £10,145 to £18,220, so that’s a sign of dealers who’re willing to work for your custom.

Take advantage of that, and you’ll get a funky looker that simply wipes the floor with all comers for driving pleasure. There are classier cabins around, and some superminis put more effort into addressing your practicality needs, but there are few things the Fiesta doesn’t do well – and many that it does brilliantly.