Ford Fiesta Style

The Ford Fiesta runs rings round every other supermini for driving enjoyment, and Style trim gives buyers a wider choice of engines to choose from. A 95bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine is available in addition to the 59bhp and 81bhp 1.25-litre petrol units and the 69bhp 1.4 diesel offered with entry-level Studio models. Style is the second rung in the Ford Fiesta trim ladder, but it doesn’t have much more equipment than the Studio version. Most of the extra features are cosmetic, although remote central locking and driver’s seat height adjustment have been added. You also get 15-inch wheels instead of 14-inchers, although they are still steel with plastic trims, rather than alloy. With its body-coloured door handles and powered and heated door mirrors, the Fiesta Style looks a little sharper than the Studio, but we would question whether all this is enough to justify the extra £650 that Ford charges.

Good points

There are two good reasons for choosing the Fiesta over any other supermini: how it drives and how it looks. Both are marginally improved by stepping up from the Studio to the Style version. Style has 15-inch wheels instead of 14-inchers, and there’s the option of a 95bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine which isn’t offered in Studio spec. The extra touches of body-coloured trim (on the door handles and mirror housings) enhance its good looks, while the addition of driver’s seat height adjustment and remote central locking are worthwhile convenience features not even available as options on the Studio model. As with any Fiesta, the list of standard safety items is impressive and includes the potentially life-saving feature of electronic stability control.

Bad points

If there are two good reasons for buying a Fiesta, there are also a couple that might make you want to consider choosing something else. There’s a lot less rear legroom than in many rivals, so the Fiesta isn’t suitable as a family car, and the seats don’t fold flat when you want to expand the boot. The quality of the plastics leaves something to be desired, too. We would also question whether the Style version provides enough extra equipment over the Studio to justify its higher price.

What you get

• Folding rear seats
• Passenger & Driver airbag
• Front side airbags
• Manual air conditioning
• Height adjustable driver's seat
• Single CD player

Recommended optional extras

• Full-size spare wheel
• Curtain airbags

Our choice

The 1.25-litre 81bhp engine keeps prices reasonable while delivering good performance and respectable fuel economy. For high-mileage drivers, the 1.4-litre 69bhp diesel is also worth considering.