Ford Fiesta 2016 review
Overview
The 2016 Ford Fiesta was the last full year of the Mk7 facelift — and the final year of Britain's best-selling car in its classic small-car form before the Mk8 arrived in 2017. By 2016 the formula was thoroughly proven: a class-leading chassis, the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder, and trim levels from Studio to Titanium X that covered everything from first cars to warm-hatch alternatives. A 1.0 EcoBoost 100PS Zetec five-door cost around £14,245 new, undercutting the equivalent Volkswagen Polo.
The engine is the one to buy. The 998cc turbocharged three-cylinder produces 100PS and 170Nm, pulls cleanly from low revs and — paired with the standard five-speed manual — covers 0–62mph in 11.2 seconds. Officially it claims 65.7mpg combined with 99g/km of CO2, putting pre-April-2017 cars in VED Band A under the old CO2 system, and as a Euro 6 petrol it is ULEZ-exempt in London and clean-air-zone compliant everywhere else. Ford's SYNC voice control, the Quickclear heated windscreen and 15-inch alloys come on Zetec and above, while Titanium X trim added heated seats, climate control and keyless start. The 290-litre boot is on the small side for the class, but the 60/40 split rear seats fold to 974 litres.
As a used buy the 2016 Fiesta is Britain's default small car — and for good reasons: insurance group 11E, genuinely cheap parts, and every garage in the country knows how to fix one. Typical 2016 examples now sell for £3,000–£6,500 depending on trim, mileage and condition. But buy with your eyes open: the 1.0 EcoBoost has a known weak point in its plastic de-gas (coolant expansion) chamber and hose joint, which can lose coolant internally — check the level carefully and walk away from cars with unexplained loss. The wet timing belt is rated for 150,000 miles or 10 years but is an engine-out, labour-heavy job, so full Ford service history is non-negotiable.
On the road it remains the supermini benchmark: direct steering, a chassis that genuinely entertains on a B-road, and a hushed-enough cruise. Avoid the rare PowerShift automatic — it can suffer clutch shudder at low speeds; the five-speed manual is the safe and more enjoyable choice. Check the door-latch recall was completed with Ford UK, and you have one of the safest used buys in the class.
UK price from: £14,245
Specifications
| Engine | 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (EcoBoost) |
| Power | 100 PS (99 bhp) @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 170 Nm (125 lb-ft) |
| Gearbox | 5-speed manual |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| 0-62 mph | 11.2 seconds |
| Top speed | 112 mph |
| Fuel economy (NEDC) | 65.7 mpg combined |
| CO2 emissions | 99 g/km |
| Boot space | 290 litres (974 litres seats folded) |
| Kerb weight | 1,026 kg |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars (2012 test) |
| Insurance group | 11E |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60,000 miles |
Features
- 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder turbo petrol (100PS, 170Nm)
- Five-speed manual gearbox (six-speed PowerShift auto was a rare option)
- 65.7mpg combined and 99g/km CO2 (NEDC), VED Band A, Euro 6 ULEZ-exempt
- Ford SYNC with voice control, Bluetooth, USB and DAB radio
- Quickclear heated windscreen — a Ford signature feature
- 15-inch alloy wheels and air conditioning on Zetec
- Start-stop and Easy Fuel capless refuelling
- City Pack option added rear parking sensors and power-folding mirrors
Common parts & prices
| Part | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake pads (set) | £32.99 | Branded aftermarket; budget from ~£10 |
| Oil filter | £9.99 | Bosch/Mann type |
| Cabin pollen filter | £12.99 | Activated-carbon type from ~£13 |
| Front wiper blades (pair) | £16.99 | Bosch Aerotwin type |
| 12V battery | £89.99 | Type 075 |
| Timing (wet) belt kit | £189.99 | Parts only; labour-heavy job — use a specialist |
Pros
- Class-leading handling — still the supermini chassis benchmark
- Strong economy: 65.7mpg claimed, 99g/km, ULEZ-exempt Euro 6 petrol
- Cheap to insure (group 11E) and cheap, plentiful parts
- Huge used choice and every UK garage knows the car inside out
Cons
- 1.0 EcoBoost can lose coolant from the plastic de-gas chamber — check carefully
- Tight rear legroom and a 290-litre boot trail the Polo and Fabia
- Firm ride on larger wheels with noticeable motorway road noise
- The rare PowerShift automatic can shudder — the manual is the safe pick
