Ford has updated its Fiesta supermini, which means the Fiesta Van is also getting an upgrade. The new model – which is available to order in autumn 2021, priced from £16,715 – gets a new face and some new technology.
As before, Ford’s car-derived van (CDV) comes in two versions: the entry-level Trend model and the more popular Fiesta Sport Van.
Both are based on the Fiesta three-door passenger car, but with the rear seats removed and replaced with a high-quality load space, including a hardwearing floor and part-mesh metal bulkhead. Right-hand drive UK examples also benefit from steel panels in place of the rear side glass.
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What’s new for the 2021 Fiesta Van facelift?
The changes on the outside are relatively subtle, but you’d definitely notice them if the new Fiesta Van was parked alongside the old one, and are designed to bring Ford’s smallest model into line with its latest design language – the styling you see on SUVs such as the Ford Puma.
To this end, the front of the bonnet is slightly higher than before, and the upper grille larger – with the Ford badge mounted in this instead of on the bonnet lip. LED headlights are now standard, with adaptive Matrix LED units available as an option.
At the rear, the taillights now have a black surround – ‘more sophisticated’ apparently – and there are new wheel designs for both variants, 15-inch with plastic trims for the Trend and 17-inch metallic alloys for the Sport. The 18-inch wheel option for the Sport is now finished in a machined Pearl Grey.
What else is different about the Fiesta Sport Van?
The Sport Van gets a gloss black honeycomb grille instead of the Trend’s horizontal bars and chrome surround. It’s also fitted with lowered suspension, which improves the way it handles corners at the expense of some ride comfort.
On the inside there’s ‘red and ebony’ colour theme going on, with contrast red stitching; this will be familiar from the previous model, which took a similar approach.
The Trend, meanwhile, gets a new ebony trim finish inside, and what’s described as ‘comfort seat foam’.
You can also pick two new exterior paint colours: Boundless Blue and Beautiful Berry.
What new technology is available on the Fiesta Van?
We’ve already mentioned the Matrix LED headlights, which cleverly adapt the beam pattern to give you the best possible view of the road ahead without dazzling other drivers. They can also change their beam pattern to suit bad weather and low speed manoeuvres.
Also new is an optional Parking Pack, which includes not only a reversing camera but gives the Fiesta Van the ability to detect suitable parking spaces and drive itself into them (though you still have to work the accelerator, brakes and gearbox). Puddle lights on the doors are also part of this package.
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Is there any bad news?
Well, the FordPass Connect modem – which enables mobile Wi-Fi and various connectivity features – has come as standard on the Fiesta Van since 2018. But now it is only included if you spec the Ford Sync 3 infotainment system.
And there are no diesel engine options, though this is unchanged versus the pre-facelift Fiesta Van.
What engines are available?
Ford offers two flavours of 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine. Both have 125hp, but the fancier EcoBoost Hybrid version uses mild-hybrid technology to save fuel and boost performance.
The hybrid Fiesta Van doesn’t have the ability to run on electric power alone. Rather, by carrying a small lithium-ion battery and using a ‘starter-generator’ in place of a conventional alternator, it has a much more efficient stop-start system and is able to recover energy that would otherwise be lost when slowing down or braking.
This energy can then be used to assist the petrol engine; hard to detect in real life, but enough to show a 13% improvement in urban fuel economy, according to the official figures. There’s a 7% gain in overall fuel economy, which is a claimed 56.4mpg.
How much is the new Ford Fiesta Van and when does it go on sale?
Prices start at £16,715 for the Trend model and £16,790 for the Sport – both excluding VAT.
The Fiesta Van will be available to order in autumn 2021, with first deliveries before the end of the year.
Also read:
>> Our main Ford Fiesta Van review
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