Many people use the excuse of having to transport bicycles and surf boards as justification for buying bulky, costly off-roaders. But why bother, when you could have a Fiesta? Our ultra-capable Ford has easily handled all the outdoor pursuits we have thrown at it in the past six months.
Acronyms are all too common in the motor industry, but they're not always clear-cut. And during its daily life at Auto Express, our frugal Ford takes on the roles of MPV and SUV, all in the space of a compact supermini. Fold down the seats and the luggage area can easily swallow a bike, but leave the rear bench in place and all of the passengers enjoy plenty of room.
Now well established on our fleet, the Fiesta has been with us since September, during which time it has proved itself to be a reliable workhorse. There are only minor shortcomings to report, and the car hasn't been back to the dealership once - which is no more than we would expect from the blue oval's finest.
With 8,462 miles on the clock, we've had plenty of time to evaluate Ford's 67bhp TDCi diesel engine and its remarkable fuel consumption - or lack of it. The Fiesta has maintained
its position as the most economical long-term test car on the current fleet, bettering even the tiny Smart City Cabriolet, which produces an impressive 41.3mpg. The Ford has recorded an average 48.1mpg - not bad, considering the car spends most of its life travelling within the busy confines of the M25. However, while we won't be complaining about our car's thirst - given its gruelling lifestyle - the consumption still falls well short of Ford's official combined figure of 63mpg.
But what about the performance? In town, the 1.4-litre oil-burner is in its element. Peak torque of 160Nm comes down at 2,000rpm, making stop-start motoring a breeze. But the Fiesta is decidedly sluggish in the 40-70mph range - and that's where you need some urgency on motorway slip roads. Yet once it's on the pace, the diesel motor proves its worth, with few gradients requiring a downchange to maintain the momentum.
Although the engine has left us with mixed feelings, we can't fault the rest of the driving experience. The gearbox never fails to impress with its slick changes, and the precise steering is well up to the standard of class rivals.
That noted, the car isn't completely fault-free. Motorway work is a bit of a bind at the moment because of an intermittent, high-pitched whine which develops around the windscreen seal. It's probably nothing serious, but if it starts happening more frequently, we will have to get it checked out. The seats have also come in for some strong criticism - their shape has been blamed by some of our staff for causing lower back pain. Although the upper part of the frame provides suitable shoulder support, the base of the spine has less padding, and this can leave the driver with plenty of aches after a long trip.
The absence of an external boot release is a continuing source of annoyance, as is the pedal arrangement, which leaves no space for the clutch foot when you are cruising. The fuel-filler release has also caused frustration because there is no internal lock. Granted, these are minor problems, but they are the sort of things you only notice when you live with a car on a daily basis.
These niggles aside, the interior has proved thoroughly practical, even if the overall look and feel are rather uninspiring. The light grey plastic has a low-budget appearance, but it's well put together and all the controls are easy to use. Ford's bespoke CD player is a doddle to master, and takes the strain out of the city commute.
On the outside, the Fiesta's clean shape looks functional rather than funky, and it lacks the visual interest of some of its supermini rivals. Ford bosses are marketing the three-door version as a more youthful option than the five-door, but the extra practicality of our model will be enough to sway any buyers who value versatility. Yet its bland styling hasn't helped the Fiesta to escape the attention of car thieves. Just before this report went to press, the Fiesta was left with no wheels outside the London home of one of our team. Despite being parked on a busy road, the cheeky crooks stole all four alloys, leaving the car perched on bricks. The replacements have been ordered, and more details will follow in the next report.
This mishap aside, the Fiesta has proved a real asset in its time with us so far. Its sheer flexibility is enough to satisfy the most demanding supermini owners. And the good news is we've got it for another six months!