Ford Fiesta 1.6S: Designed to look and feel quick

FORD Fiesta 1.6S’ cargo compartment is surprisingly spacious

Appearances can sometimes be deceiving. I was thinking of this when I was handed the key to a chili orange Fiesta 1.6S, the sport version of the new Ford hatchback.

I could not have picked a more appropriate color considering it pairs well to the car’s chiseled lines and aggressive stance. This hatch already looks fast even when parked.

Not that there’s anything wrong with employing design cues that convey intensity, fierceness and speed but I had a feeling that the Fiesta 1.6S’s striking fascia is mainly for show.

But I stand corrected: The moment I hit the accelerator, the hatch’s 121-horsepower 1.6-liter Duratec I4 gasoline engine lets out a high-pitched note that brought smile to my face.

Satisfying

Obviously, the P834,000 Fiesta 1.6S is no sports car—it takes around 9 seconds to get past 100 kph (from standstill)—but the thing is, this hatch provided that lively, wide-awake feel that could only be attributed to the fast, smooth-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Ford engineers should be commended for equipping the Fiesta 1.6S with the PowerShift that constantly selects among the six gears without any jarring or intrusion—the so-called shift shock.

The result is a hatch that is able to provide instantaneous and sustained acceleration through an extended range of speed.

THE FIESTA 1.6S is a remarkable Ford creation that will definitely put a smile every time you sit behind the wheel. PHOTOS BY CHARLES E. BUBAN

And because this particular Fiesta variant was set up to have better road holding ability—16-inch alloy wheels (Continental 195/50 R16 tires), sports-tuned seats and suspensions (rear spoiler, Anti-lock Braking System with Hill Launch Assist and Electronic Stability Program—the hatch remained well planted and balanced, even going beyond 150 kph.

Superior efficiency

Perhaps most significantly, the employment of the PowerShift enabled the Fiesta 1.6S to exhibit superior fuel-efficiency ratings.

Through the Fiesta 1.6S, Ford is now able to challenge the status quo by delivering segment-leading fuel economy, which this writer found as remarkable: without trying to be efficient in my driving, I still averaged about 14 kilometers per liter (a figure that pales in comparison to the 18 kpl efficiency that was recorded during a locally organized fuel economy run last year).

And while this tiny hatch is brilliant as well as more efficient to drive, Ford also made sure that the interior accommodation of the Fiesta 1.6S is equally exciting.

Indeed, the Fiesta 1.6S is as dramatic on the inside as it is on the outside. The sharp, contemporary designed dashboard is well laid out and simple to use.

The center console of the Fiesta 1.6S is inspired by a mobile phone, hence the buttons arranged like keypads. A 3.5-inch LCD screen adorns the top of the dashboard.

The audio system also gets iPod, USB and auxiliary input jack, which are essential connectivity options especially if you are traveling on places where AM and FM reception is poor or nonexistent.

Indeed, if you are looking for a compact hatch that is refreshing to look at, comes loaded with the latest goodies, does not compromises on safety and, best of all, fun to drive, then the Fiesta 1.6S is very much recommended, a remarkable Ford creation that will definitely put a smile every time you sit behind the wheel.