Test drive Ford Fiesta 5 doors 2002 - 2005 hatchback

We have a fiesta

Ideal cars, as well as ideal women, do not exist in nature. The former, as a product of mass consumption, simply cannot fully comply with the requirements of everyone and all, and the latter cannot be ideal in fact. Nevertheless, nothing prevents the designers of cars at least try to make their brainchild close to the ideal ...

Impossible - perhaps!

To make a solid but expensive car is not a problem. The modern technique is so developed that if desired, as well as with the appropriate budget, the car can be equipped with so many options and bells and grounds that the owner does not have enough for their testing. Another thing is the car is relatively affordable, compact and massive. Try to equip it with active safety means, such as ABS and airbags, add air conditioning, electric drives and heating here and at the same time maintain an acceptable retail price. So as not higher than that of competitors ...

And these are far from all the tasks set for designers, engineers, testers. It is necessary that even an affordable car is beautiful, quite prestigious, that is, inexpensive to manufacture, but expensive to the touch, compact, but quite spacious. Reliable, unpretentious, but created in the latest technology. With good athletic controllability, but not toothbrushetic. Dynamic, but economical and unpretentious to the quality of fuel.

Naturally, creating a car that meets all the above requirements cannot do anyone. Therefore, everyone is twisted who can. Some manufacturers emphasize reliability, but require constant care, and are also demanding on the quality of oil and fuel. Others, on the contrary, offer Nevazhnetsk reliability, but excellent handling and magnificent running qualities. Those and other qualities are present to one way or another, but still there are their own characteristics - high price or cost of content, specificity of the structure, low degree of functionality, etc. The question arises: is it weak to make a really interesting inexpensive car with good running qualities, reliable, unpretentious, roomy and functional, but very beautiful? As it turned out, this is possible ...

Close acquaintance

True, for this, the car manufacturer, in this case, Ford, had to wait for the happy time when the consumers finally wanted to buy such an inexpensive expensive car and are ready to pay for this magnificence. We waited: Golden steering wheel 2002, according to German automobile publications - Ford Fiesta New. The first copy in the republic, brought by the new official dealer Ford - Liberty Motors!

The new fiesta, the fourth in a row, in the past, 2002 replaced the model with the same name. As usual, the novelty surpassed the progenitor in all respects, she became higher, wider, longer, heavier. The wheelbase has increased, which implies the presence of additional free space in the cabin, the center of gravity decreased, making the car more stable. The architecture has changed slightly. The car turned out to be very high, and if not for its unique design, then it would have a pavement like a bus like a bus. A visual example: Fiesta passenger car is next to Mikroven Mazda Demio. In height, both cars are approximately the same, even with a slight advantage in favor of Ford, but visually each of them looks in its own way. The new fiesta is not at all like all these micro-item-nan-wen. When looking at it, no associations with single -combed models arise at all. But Mazda Demio, although it has smaller dimensions and in growth even below the fiesta, will always be perceived in the stream as Wan.

This trend has been observed for several years and is especially pronounced in the small and golf class. Take a look at Peugeot 307, Citroen C3 or Fiat Stilo with a five -door body: in height they are almost competing with minibuses. The same can be said about the new small -leafs. The Citroone C2 is not yet officially represented will be very high, and the same can be said about the rest.

Although the creators, especially the designers of the fiesta, need to pay tribute: with such dimensions and proportions, they so nailed the car visually to the ground that even associations with other giants arise in any angle. The car seemed to try to step from a small class to a small middle, but then remembered that its consumers are youth, and they could not afford a large car. The costs of maintenance grow, the tax press (abroad) also begins to crush stronger. In general, the car still remained small. But - only outside, and even according to the classification. In all other respects, this is already a real transitional model - it seems that it is not a small class, but also not a small middle one.

Living space

The most interesting transformation occurred in the cabin: inside it has become much more spacious. There is no longer that tightness: the ceiling does not press, the doors do not press on the side, the knees do not rest on the panel. At first, this is perceived for granted, and only after a trip on a low-profile generation do you begin to understand what interior revolution has occurred.

Everything begins with landing: you no longer dive into the car and do not fall, trying to get out in a narrow doorway. Now everything is in an adult way: the doors are very wide, open on a fairly large angle. The chair itself is higher than that of the previous model, so you don’t get into the car, but you seem to go in.

In general, Ford Fiesta, unlike past generation models, no longer gives the impression of a cheap, budget car. In terms of internal size, the supply of space and the quality of the interior decoration, it is no longer inferior to models of the small middle class - golf class, as we call it. The point is not even that the car has air conditioning, electric drives and heating: all this, for an additional payment, could be got into any other low -profile. It’s just that Fiesta has become older, there are no more compromise solutions inherent in all small class models. This also applies to materials used in the interior decoration and equipment. Take, for example, at least head restraints: in many low -profiles they are installed only in front, and if there are, then only two - small and uncomfortable. Yes, and without adjustments. But Fiesta behind - three head restraints with height adjustment. Moreover, in the upper position, they rise almost to the ceiling - a hint that a very high person can ride in the back seat.

This, by the way, is not a joke: basketball players can really go to Fiesta. Both in front and behind them are enough for them. Even if you just push the front chair until it stops back, the space still remains between its back and the rear seat pillow! With normal planting, there are no problems with this at all: the car is really five -seater, without any discounts on class. Having adjusted the front chair for myself, I specially moved back - to feel what the rear passenger to sit behind me. Fine! Let him only complain: the legs are free, it does not rest against the ceiling, the seat is comfortable. Sit and enjoy ...

Real Ford Driver

The Badeg sign with such an inscription was given to me at the presentation of the Liberty Motors car dealership after a trial active trip to the Ford Mondeo 2.5 V6. They were given to all invited who expressed a desire to cut a brand new car. But after the Ford Fiesta test, they did not give me any driver. Although the riding part this time was much more interesting and active ...

Few people know, but there is a real problem: if you want to travel by car quickly, but without prejudice to others, then there is simply nowhere to do it. In Minsk and the suburbs there is not a single decent asphalt platform on which one could sing, without the risk of meeting another car in its path or flying into an obstacle. Until recently, such a place was a platform in Borovaya, but its current state is already concerned: maybe you won’t be cut into another car there, but you can easily get off with a turn - pardons there be healthy! With Ford Fiesta we were lucky: the car dealership is located on the territory of the automobile market. Accordingly, there is access to its huge asphalt territories ...

What can be done on Fiesta on such a circuit, in details we will not tell you, otherwise you will begin to envy. The main thing is that Ford Fiesta showed himself well done. It is not for nothing that German experts awarded him a gold wheel - the highest award for excellent controllability and predictability of behavior. Almost everyone who drives the car is given to feel all the nuances of the controllability of this car. After all, the fiesta is a mass model designed for buyers from completely different segments of the population. Different ages, with different driving experience. Imagine what it feels like to make a car that everyone would like.

I don’t know how to do this, but Ford Fiesta really should like everyone: women, young people, and senior familymen. It does not provoke active or even aggressive driving - it is quite interesting to go on it in compliance with all speed restrictions. Enjoy silence, for example. The motor in ordinary modes is practically inaudible, although it is difficult to call it quietly. The sound is perfectly balanced and is always present in the salon at the level of information content: its baritone does not irritate, but does not press on the ears. The same can be said about aerodynamic noises: it was not possible to defeat them completely, because it is impossible, but the level of penetration is calculated in advance and brought to the optimal level. Even at 130-140 km/h in the cabin there is no hum or whistle of wind, you can safely listen to music or talk.

If you go much more active, you understand: for pendants it is not the limit, but the engine could be more powerful. Its eighty horses are enough for high -speed modes, but the real Real Ford Driver in this case does not work. There is no undermining, no aggression, there is not enough drive. The car rides fast, but without adrenaline - everything is under control, no surprises. Maybe it's better?

Small nit -picking

If you already managed to think that Ford Fiesta New is really such an ideal car, you can breathe a sigh of relief: it didn’t happen. There are shortcomings, and with all our maliciousness, we are ready to publish them. So....

Firstly, Fiesta has not a single ceiling handle in the cabin! Neither in front, nor from behind. Above the rear seats there is a small gear clue, and that’s all: the ceiling is surprisingly clean. And this decision is surprising: the car is clearly driver, and it will probably be quickly and actively driving it. How will passengers deprived of supports feel at this moment?

Secondly, the door handles are inconvenient: they fit to close the door, but it is impossible to dick on the move: the handle is too close. Therefore, there are certain inconveniences with the moment of energy in the bend: unhealthy passengers, especially the rear ones, move to the side, there is nothing to hold on to them - there are no ceiling handles, as already mentioned, in the fiesta either.

Well, thirdly, Ford Fiesta has an inconvenient pedal node. What for the fiesta, as for a very incendiary car, is doubly unforgivable. To the pedals themselves, the efforts of them, as well as their location, there are no complaints. Unless the clutch is located a little high, and sometimes you have to tear off the leg from the floor, but these are trifles: you will get used to it and stop noticing. But the fact that to the left of this very clutch pedal there is absolutely no free space is already bad. Typically, at this place there is a platform on which you can put your leg: from this position, the clutch can be instantly squeezed at any time. Those models that do not have such a site for relaxation, at least they make some kind of ledge that imitates this very platform. But at Fiesta to the left of the clutch pedal passes some kind of body element, covered with noise-absorbing material. And its shape is so uncomfortable that the left leg does not find supports. It is necessary either to keep it on the weight over the clutch pedal (in the city), or to clean, put on the floor (outside the city).

Result. Intermediate

It turned out to be much more difficult to determine the essence of Ford Fiesta in one phrase than studying the nuances of his behavior, looking for shortcomings and finding fault with some things. In fact, for the small class, the machine turned out to be just unique: a spacious interior, pleasant appearance, excellent chassis. In addition, the car has a completely roomy trunk, sufficient even for our conditions a road clearance and a sensitive, almost backwear steering. Previously, all these qualities had to be observed separately in different models, but now there is one obvious leader - Ford Fiesta. Such a statement, of course, requires specific evidence, rather than just a statement by one individual journalist expressing his subjective opinion. And we will try to provide them: perhaps in the near future we will try to organize a comparative test to which we will invite a couple of competitors. In the meantime, we say: Ford Fiesta is magnificent! And the most interesting thing is that there is nothing to scold this car: it is made so competently that there are simply no obvious shortcomings in it. And this is not a sign that Ford Fiesta is even not perfect, then at least close to this ...

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Help AG:

Designing the new Fiesta, Ford engineers paid a lot of attention to safety: passive and active. Programmed zones of deformation, shock -resistant bumpers, a rigid cell that protects passengers in the accident. It is not surprising that on the crash tests EURONCAP FIESTA showed the class: four stars! The deformation zone programmed by the designers completely absorbed the energy of the impact, leaving the salon's almost untouched cage. The door opens without problems, on the roof - not a single fold. As can be seen in the picture, the energy of the blow went out even in the hood and the front wings, without touching the doors and windshield. Great indicator.

Equipment of Ford Fiesta with many active security means also contributed its contribution. For example, in the basic configuration, which, excluding customs payments, costs a little more than eight thousand dollars, there are already ABS and air pillows for the driver and the front passenger! Typically, these positions in the price list include additional equipment, and each of them costs about 500-800 EUR. In addition, Fiesta has head restraints in all five places, adjusted in height and perfectly protect when hitting from behind.

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Opinion Ag:

Without a doubt, a magnificent car: beautiful, roomy, dynamic. A worthy competitor to the current bestsellers of the market.

Magnificent running qualities and smoothness

+Pleasant design

+A spacious salon

+Spacious trunk

-The stale pedal node
 

Source: Autogazet / N 13 (405) dated 09.04.03