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Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre hybrid ST-Line Edition E-boost 3-door 125PS six-speed manual

Electrification is coming. There’s no avoiding it, no matter what you do. Sooner, rather than later, we will all be driving around in battery-operated cars. Assuming we find somewhere to charge them of course. Oh, and actually afford to buy one.

Still, while we wait for that day to arrive, there are plenty of other options available to choose from when it comes to deciding how we want to power our motor vehicles.

If you don’t fancy going all-in on electric right now, there’s plain old petrol or diesel, self-charging hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells or there are cars like this Fiesta here, which is a mild hybrid.

Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387724)
Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387724)

In practice what you get is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine – essentially the same one that Ford has been popping in its cars since 2011 – combined with a 48v electrical system. In mHEV guise the engine gets a lower compression ratio and a bigger turbocharger.

There’s a beefed up starter/generator that harvests braking energy to top up the battery that’s hidden away at the rear of the car.

The battery powers a tiny motor that provides a little more thrust during acceleration (Ford claims it can deliver up to 50Nm of additional torque) and can also give a small boost from low revs to eliminate the dreaded turbo-lag that you can encounter when you’re pulling away at junctions.

Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387722)
Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387722)

Having driven a Fiesta fitted with the ordinary version of this engine I can say that it really does male a noticeable difference. It pulls much more readily from almost any speed and there’s also a significant reduction in the number of gear changes required. It performs like an engine with a much higher cubic capacity.

You’ll be treated to the pleasantly eager thrum of Ford’s three-cylinder engine under full throttle as the little petrol unit makes a mockery of its meagre size. It really is a delightfully perky power plant.

You can choose between the 125PS unit reviewed here which takes 9.4 seconds to reach 62mph on its way to a top speed of 126mph or, if you think you need a little more performance, there’s a 155PS version of the same engine which cuts the 0-62mph time to 8.9 seconds and boosts top speed to 136mph.

Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387716)
Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387716)

Apart from some discreet additional badging there is nothing to distinguish the hybrid version of the Fiesta from its brethren. It’s available in the same three- and five-door body styles.

The Fiesta is, pound for pound, one of the best-handling cars on the market.

The steering is a tad lighter which means that it’s a little less taxing to drive in urban areas, but that has done nothing to dilute the fun-factor on faster roads.

There’s still enough weight in the steering – and the wheel is the perfect size – that you can feel the mass building as you turn in, and there’s certainly a welcome degree of feel to let you put the car where you want on the road with ease. There’s lots of grip to exploit at the front too, so you can carry a surprising amount of speed through a bend without worrying about it washing wide.

Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387727)
Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387727)

The chassis is playful and finding its limits can be highly rewarding. Lifting the throttle, or gentle braking, will allow you to tighten your line while the excellent body control means that it’s balance is rarely unsettled by mid-corner bumps but the Fiesta really impresses in the way it combines that agility with a comfortable and composed ride.

Part of the reason for the Fiesta’s sophisticated ride is it’s relatively low weight - the mild hybrid weighs just 30kg more than the standard car - which also has other benefits such as handling, performance and, of course, efficiency.

The driving position is spot on. It feels quite sporty but access is easy. The manual gearbox is well judged, with a slick, precise action that encourages swift and smooth changes.

Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387720)
Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387720)

A large, tablet-style touchscreen is mounted atop the dashboard with the air con controls laid out below. Although I'd rather see screens integrated into the dash rather than looking like a bit of an afterthought it seems to be the fashionable thing to do these days but the display is crisp, bright and easy to use but I did find it ever-so-slightly sluggish in response to my prodding finger.

It comes with Ford's SYNC3 software that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

It's all relative of course but, for a car of this size, the Fiesta provides spacious accommodation. There's so enough flexibility in the seating and steering wheel positions that anyone, regardless of stature, should find it easy to get comfortable. The thick C-pillars and small rear window hampers visibility around the back of the car but its compact dimensions should make that a little easier to live with.

Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387706)
Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387706)

According to Ford there's an additional 16mm of legroom in the rear and while that might sound a paltry figure, the fact is that taller passengers should have little difficulty getting comfortable, although the seating position might prove a little too upright to make longer journeys a particularly enticing proposition.

Boot capacity changes dependent on your choice of either three- or five-door. Pick the three-door and you'll have 292 litres with the rear seats in place, or 1.093 with them stowed away. The five-door, meanwhile, offers 303 with the rear seats up, but 984 with them folded down.

What is consistent across both versions is the wider boot opening, which makes loading bulkier items a touch easier. However, some of that good work is undone by the relatively high boot lip. However, a £75 investment will snare you a variable boot floor which can be used to create a flat load area with the rear seat stowed away.

Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387730)
Ford Fiesta ST Line (46387730)

This is by no means a proper hybrid so bear that in mind if you’re considering buying one. It is more efficient thanks to that 48v electrical system but you shouldn’t expect huge differences compared to the standard Fiesta, which already benefited from cylinder deactivation in the pursuit of efficiency.

Few rivals boast a powertrain quite so sophisticated and there’s certainly little in the way of competition from a keen driver’s perspective. Taking both those factors, and the improved economy into account, and the prospect of ownership could prove quite compelling.

Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre hybrid ST-Line Edition E-boost 3-door 125PS six-speed manual

Price: £20,965

Engine: 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Max power: 125PS

Max torque: 155lbft

Max speed: 126mph

0-62mph: 9.4 seconds

Combined: 57.6mpg

Emissions (CO2): 121g/km

For more information visit www.ford.co.uk

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