Ford Fiesta: Farewell

At the beginning of my time with the Fiesta I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to see if it really did deserve its place as the best-selling car in the UK.

After three months I think the answer is yes.

The good points

The handling and driving performance are very good. It's incredibly engaging to drive and always feels like you are driving much more than a Ford Fiesta - something I had to remind myself a few times while flying through roundabouts and city streets.

We're fortunate enough to be able to drive a huge range of cars and no matter what it was I got to drive, as soon as I step back in the Fiesta it felt more advanced than any of them and especially more superior compared to most of its rivals.

Then there is the styling. Both inside and out the Fiesta is great to look at. That sloping coupe-like roof is a massive advance on the previous model. On the inside everything is clearly laid out and easy-to-use, while there is also plenty of room for passengers both front and back.

The bad points

Although I have learned to live with the 1.4-litre engine it's a little underpowered and on the motorway and longer journeys it starts to feel a little strained. One more gear and it would be fine but unfortunately it just struggles a little.

Another thing - and this isn't just a gripe with the Fiesta but most cars - despite some solid runs on the motorway, I'm still way off the average economy of 49mpg Ford claims and continue to hang around at the 39mpg mark.

Obviously these are just minor problems but they don't detract from the fact that the Fiesta is a brilliant car and it's easy to see why it's so popular among British car buyers.

Current mileage: 9118

Average mpg: 39.8