1985 Ford Sierra Laser 1.3 petrol
Summary:
Good memories. Slow, but very reliable
Faults:
Cold start issues and unstable idle.
The distributor cap and rotor are subject to wear, causing power interruptions.
Despite being a 1.3-liter engine, it is characterized by high fuel consumption in city driving. It is very inefficient due to its small size and low power output.
The electric cooling fan and the temperature sensor often fail.
The Sierra's independent multi-link suspension (ideal for comfort) is prone to misalignment or bushing wear.
General Comments:
I can start by saying it was a basic car, lacking much in the way of equipment; the Laser didn't even have electric front windows or any of those bells and whistles that came standard on cars of this type back in the 80s. It didn't have power steering either, though—unlike the Escort I’d owned previously—it drove quite well, and the steering was much lighter.
Despite having a small engine—just a 1.3-liter—city fuel consumption was very high; while highway mileage was better, the overall average remained high.
Clearly, it wasn't the right engine for a large car like the Sierra, and contrary to Ford's goal of improving fuel economy, the opposite happened (it actually consumed more than the 1.6-liter version).
Although it smoothed out once up to speed, it was quite sluggish off the line—simply too little engine for such a heavy car. That said, it performed reasonably well on the open road.
The engine itself was excellent and reliable, with few issues over more than 250,000 km—aside from starting troubles and oil leaks, there were no other problems. It is a solid 1980s-era engine that performs very well.
Despite being basic, the interior was pleasant and very spacious, with soft, comfortable seats—a huge difference from the Escort’s stiffness and spartan ride. At the time, at least, it represented a major step up in class.
It performs its role as a family car very well. We owned it for many years and put a lot of miles on it; for a family of four like ours, there was plenty of room, allowing for completely stress-free travel. The suspension was quite solid, and the brakes were highly responsive, even at speeds above 120 km/h.
A truly reliable car for the whole family to enjoy.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th June, 2026
20th Jun 2026, 17:28
I never understood why manufacturers would install slightly smaller engines to improve fuel economy, when in reality, they often ended up consuming more than the versions with larger engines.
You can see this clearly with the Sierra, but it applies to the Escort as well. The 1.1 and 1.3-liter engines didn't offer enough of a fuel-saving advantage over the 1.4 and 1.6-liter versions to justify anyone actually buying them.
This approach doesn't work for mid-sized and large cars because a small engine places a greater strain on both the vehicle's body and the engine itself; consequently, the car ends up being much slower and far less fuel-efficient.