Ford Fiesta Diesel 1.5 TDCi Sport Van

Ten Second Review

The much improved Ford Fiesta Van gets off to a great start in life in being based on the brand's seventh generation Fiesta supermini. The carrying capacity isn't huge but its driving experience, design and build quality set new standards for the sector.

Background

By far and away the simplest route to creating a class leading small car-derived van is to start with a class leading small car. Which in the seventh generation Fiesta is exactly what Ford have. Having done the hard work in creating this supermni, the boys at the Blue Oval weren't above tearing out the back seats to bring us the Fiesta van. This variant competes in the supermini-derived van market where Ford has traditionally taken 25% of sales and goes head to head with the van version of one of the key small models its passenger car sibling must battle. So the Fiesta van follows the same basic recipe as the well established Vauxhall Corsavan in that it sacrifices its rear seats and windows in favour of a flat load bay in which businesses with minimal load carrying requirements can stow their wares.

Driving Experience

On the road, if you're familiar with the previous generation Fiesta van, your experience should be that this model has a more solid feel. There's more of an emphasis on petrol power this time round with a choice of two petrol engines - 1.1-litre 3-cylinder with 85PS, and 1.0-litre EcoBoost with 125PS. If you must have a diesel, here's a 1.5-litre TDCi unit in a choice of 85PS and 120PS outputs Variations on the Fiesta Van theme may come and go but before driving this little LCV, there's one thing you almost always know for certain: that it'll be a great steer. This new generation model is 15% stiffer and both front and rear track measurements are wider. The engineers tell us that the chassis now offers 10% more cornering grip, supported by Electronic Torque Vectoring Control, which enhances the driving experience by applying a small amount of braking to inside wheels to assist traction and stability when cornering. Braking distances at 62mph are reduced by more than 8%. There are freshly developed five and six-speed manual gearboxes. And rear disc brakes feature on models with engines developing more than 100PS.

Design and Build

Once upon a time, the small van market was completely made up of supermini-derived models like this one but in recent times, most buyers have been drawn towards purpose-designed small vans that aren't constricted by passenger car styling and so can offer much larger carrying capacities without taking up any more road space. Ford's own Transit Courier model is a good example of this approach and if you really need carrying capacity, models like that one are indeed a better bet - but then, if you really need that, should you really be considering a very small van in the first place? If having considered that, you conclude that your needs are less cubic capacity-orientated, then this Fiesta van might prove to be a very effective choice. The styling of this commercial Fiesta may win it many admirers and operators looking for a compact van that will cut a dash on the city streets will like the wedge-shaped front end as well as the curvy rear. The cabin is similarly avant-garde in its design, with a clever choice of quality materials. It also incorporates the latest interior technologies, including Ford's SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system.

Market and Model

Prices are much as with the previous model, which means a starting point of around £15,000, though that will reduce to more like £12,000 once the reclaimable VAT element is taken into account. These kinds of figures are very comparable with those being asked for this Ford's arch-rival, the Vauxhall Corsavan. For customers wanting a bit more sporting style for their business, the Fiesta Van is available as a Sport model, with unique front and rear design treatment, colour-coded rocker panels and up to 18-inch alloy wheels. The sporting theme continues inside the cabin, with revised seats and trim materials, plus a unique design for the steering wheel, pedals and gear lever. An Adjustable Speed Limiter and a Lane Keeping System are fitted to this variant as standard. For this latest generation model, Ford has incorporated its 'SYNC 3' communications and entertainment system. It's available as an option and is compatible with the 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring systems. Safety kit includes Ford's PreCollision Assist with Pedestrian Detection emergency braking system, Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Information System. Plus there's Active Park Assist with Perpendicular Parking and Cross Traffic Alert to support easy and safe parking, along with Traffic Sign Recognition and Adjustable Speed Limiter to help avoid speeding fines.

By Jonathan Crouch

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