2002 Ford Fiesta FINESSE review from UK and Ireland

The Fiesta is a truely superb car to drive. It can be chucked round a corner with such ease and the overall poise and stability makes it handle with verve. It has to be the best handling small car!

I have driven many cars and the only other car which comes close to matching the responsiveness of the steering is (surprisingly) a Mazda Premacy people carrier, which is actually a fun car to drive too.

The quality of the interior can't match the mazda's, there are too many hard and shiny plastics and the assembly doesn't seem quite as sturdy, either.

Build quality is merely adequate, in terms of things not working, the front windscreen washer has failed (and yes it does have water!!), and when I opened the bonnet the stick to prop it up came off in my hand! Also the heated rear window is useless.

The cabin has excellent ergonomics and is well equipped in for an entry level supermini. Performance from the 1.2 engine is equally good, with a top speed of 97mph, the acceleration seems better than figures suggest. The engine is equally quiet and smooth. The ride quality however is far too firm round town especially over sleeping policemen, and it doesn't even have low profile tyres.

A car to buy if you love driving, but in terms of quality and build a Yaris or a mazda 2 would be better.

The Fiesta is an A1 car to drive and will definitely put a smile on any drivers face.

But in terms of quality, comfort and build, sadly it is merely average, but good for something British.