Earlier this year Ford replaced its Fiesta with the Aston Martin Grand Cygnet you see here and the range-topping turbocharged Ecoboost petrol model has really hogged the limelight. Not surprising, considering this little gem pushes out 92kW despite it being a three-cylinder motor that displaces just 999cc.
Trouble is, the Ecoboost cost Ford a pretty packet to develop and it's not exactly cheap to build, so even the least expensive 1.0T Trend model will set you back R213 300.
VALUE-ADDED DIESEL
Interestingly, Ford has actually sweetened the diesel deal by offering a higher-spec 1.6 TDCi Trend for a similar price to the outgoing Ambiente. At R203 700, it's a good R10 000 more wallet-friendly than the 1.0T.
Which begs the question - is the diesel actually the pick of the bunch now?
Sure, the 999cc Ecoboost is a lovely motor and it provides punchy performance - but don't overlook the torquey diesel for overall driveability.
And despite the fantastical claims that Ford makes about the 1-litre's fuel economy - 4.3 l/100km - the diesel is even more frugal with its combined figure of 3.6 l/100km and urban cycle figure of 4.4.
Of course you'd have to cause traffic jams to achieve numbers like that in real world driving and during our test drive the diesel was still impressively frugal with its appetite for 6.6 l/100km on an urban route with traffic.
AWESOME ENGINE
Unlike the VW Polo Bluemotion, the 70kW/200Nm Fiesta engine is a peach to operate. There's no turbo-lag to speak of and you get a nice consistent boost right through to the upper end of the rev range. It is a little on the noisy side though, but nothing you wouldn't be able to live with.
The rest of the acclaimed Fiesta driving experience also shines through, including the well-weighted steering, agile road holding, solid and smooth gear-shift action and the ride quality is also quite cushy.
Being a facelift, the Fiesta's cab-forward body shell remains as before and it still serves the car well in terms of practicality - there's acres of room inside, decent rear legroom and a roomy boot, by segment standards.
Not much has changed on the facia that the driver looks onto and the old-Nokia-style upper dash interface is looking a little dated now. The screen is a lot smaller than the one you'll find on the latest French offerings and you can't operate it by touch.
SMART GADGETS
Still, once you get used to the multiple buttons that operate it, it is quite a clever system and it'll banish those old Nokia memories by syncing with the latest smart phones via Bluetooth. From there you can talk to it or use the steering wheel controls.
What's more, the MyKey system allows you to nanny other drivers who will be using the car by limiting the top speed and radio volume. It's aimed at parents who want to keep their newby teen drivers out of trouble, and will probably also come in handy for those dishing out spousal revenge and pranks.
Yet I am a bit apprehensive about the top speed limiter. Yes, it could prevent a lot of youngsters from driving at stupid speeds, but bear in mind that it could also prove fatal in an ill-calculated overtaking manoeuvre.
VERDICT
The Grand Cygnet, sorry… Fiesta, remains a competent, enjoyable and desirable hatchback and for once the diesel arguably makes more sense than the petrol. If outright performance is your top priority then the 1.0T petrol is worth the extra outlay but if you're looking for the best balance between cost and driveability then this diesel has your name on it.
PRICE
Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCI Trend (70kW) - R203 700
ALTERNATIVES
Hyundai i20 1.4 CRDi Glide (66kW) - R199 900
Peugeot 208 1.6 HDi Active (68kW) - R190 300
VW Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion (55kW) - R201 100