Small cars with automatic transmissions are seldom fun to drive. Such vehicles are often sluggish, prone to hunting between gears and generally sap every bit of automotive passion from your veins. That was our general perception until we tested this Fiesta.
Jump in the car, start the engine and slot the gear lever into drive. Now relax and concentrate on the road while listening to your favourite music through SYNC’s Bluetooth streaming. What makes this engine/transmission combination so effective is that it does exactly what you expect of it. Step on the go-faster pedal and the diminutive Fiesta responds with enthusiasm, pulling away with haste and holding on to gears until the redline prompts a quick shift upward.
Drive in a relaxed manner and the gearbox will keep the engine in the meaty part of its torque range. Whenever you lean on the throttle, there is always enough available forward thrust without excessive cog swapping. These qualities, combined with the compact dimensions, endow the vehicle with a true point-and-squirt quality that is a boon in urban driving conditions. The main reason for this proficiency is that the engine produces a flat torque curve from 1 400 r/min. Combined with excellent transmission calibration, there is no need for sport mode or manual shifting, as the PowerShift programme almost reads your mind.
PowerShift is Ford’s term for its dual-clutch-transmission technology, similar to VW’s DSG application. In the Fiesta, though, you will not find paddles behind the steering wheel and only a conventional automatic shift lever. However, there is a toggle-like button mounted on the lever that allows you to change gears manually using your thumb. A sport mode is also provided, but the latter
two functions are largely irrelevant in day-to-day driving.
The 1,0-litre petrol engine (featuring turbocharging and direct injection), which scooped the current International Engine of the Year award for a third consecutive time, is an excellent example of powerplant downsizing as it hits that elusive sweet spot that combines spirited performance with frugality. In the PowerShift application, it has been detuned from 92 kW to 74 kW but still delivers the same 170 N.m (from a low 1 400 r/min to 4 000 r/min). This has resulted in only a slight drop in performance measured on our test strip as the 100 km/h marker was reached in 11,52 seconds; the
manual version we previously tested completed the same feat half a second quicker. The feeling from behind the steering wheel is much more exciting than the acceleration time would suggest. According to Ford, the lower power rating is as a result of our specific altitude and climatic conditions.
TEST SUMMARY
The PowerShift Fiesta genuinely impressed. It is the perfect car for easy commuting or city driving, but also excels on twisty roads. At R236 600, it is rather pricey, but you do feel that you are getting a quality product. If you are sceptical about small automatics, this one will change your mind.
