2023 (23) Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Hbd mHEV 125 Active X 5dr Auto

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

The last seventh generation version of Ford's Fiesta supermini had to appeal to a more diverse cross-section of buyers than its predecessors. So in 2018, the Blue Oval brand added this lifestyle-orientated 'Active' body shape to the range - creating the first ever Fiesta crossover model. It wasn't really any sort of SUV, but it might be an interesting used car market alternative to one for quite a number of small car buyers.

History

Here's a Fiesta - but not quite as you know it. For those who kind of like the idea of a small SUV but aren't quite ready to take the plunge, the Fiesta Active might be just perfect. A few off road cues, some extra traction for slippery surfaces and efficient running costs will all make it tempting to those wavering on the brink of small Crossover ownership. Just about every market segment seems to offer an SUV option these days and the supermini sector is no exception. Ever since the turn of the century, we've had superminis on sale with ruggedized exteriors - usually marked out by body cladding and sometimes a bit of extra ride height. Long-forgotten contenders that come to mind include the Rover Streetwise, the Volkswagen Polo Dune and the Citroen C3 XTR. Announced in 2018, this Ford Fiesta Active was a slightly more serious effort than most of those. Thanks to a multi-mode traction control system and 18mm of extra ride height, it actually did have some very mild 'off piste' ability for a start - not that typical owners are ever likely to use it much. No, this is a car that'll fit in just that little bit better in the country carpark where you walk the dogs. Or, for older buyers, it'll be a supermini that'll be just a touch easier to get out of in the doctor's surgery carpark, thanks to that fractionally increased ride height. In other words, the differences over the ordinary MK7 Fiesta this model's based on are small. Which is good news in many ways because there's lots about that ordinary Fiesta that's brilliant - including drive dynamics which weren't harmed by the 'Active' package. So does this concept makes sense? And would you want it in a used MK7 Fiesta? Here, we'll find out. This model got an update in 2021, when a mild hybrid engine option was introduced. And then sold until the end of Fiesta sales in mid-2024.

What You Get

In Active form, this Fiesta certainly has a more purposeful gait. In fact it's surprising just how much visual difference an 18mm increase in ride height can make, though of course the whole effect is amplified by all the styling changes made to this more outdoorsy variant. The profile perspective shows them off best, the extra distance away from the deck emphasised by dark plastic cladding that flows round the wheel arches and covers lower sills that also feature silver trimming. The 17-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels were unique to the 'Active' too. At the front, the dark-finished grille has a unique mesh pattern, while further down, the lower air intake sits above a bright lower scuff plate built into more black cladding. When it's time to get in, older folk will like the way that the extra ride height makes ingress slightly easier but once inside, some of them may not appreciate the yellow seat and fascia trimming that plusher variants feature. Ford claimed the upholstery and the trimming materials had all been specially tested for the outdoor-orientated needs of SUV-style customers - the muddy boots, sandy beach towels and soggy passengers that this car will be expected to take in its stride. Standard was the brand's 'SYNC 3' infotainment set-up, which allows for easy app integration and functionality that allows you to duplicate the operation of your smartphone onto the central fascia screen via either 'Apple CarPlay' or the 'Mirror Link' 'Android Auto' system. Get yourself into the back seat and if you're not familiar with this MK7 model Fiesta, you might be pleasantly surprised at the amount of legroom on offer - 16mm more than was available with the previous generation car. That's not enough though, to make it feel in any way spacious. Most buyers of course, will merely be carrying small children in the back here - though even a youngster will only want to travel short distances in the middle of the rear bench as the cushion is quite narrow. Finally, let's take a look at the boot. We should give you the total cargo capacity figure - 292-litres; that's 41-litres less than you'd get in an EcoSport and about 20-30% less than you'd get in the most popular 'Juke'-genre small SUVs. If you need more room, pushing forward the 60:40-split rear backrest frees up 1,093-litres, which should be sufficient for the needs of most likely buyers. This Ford's floor has quite a step in it when the rear seats are tipped forward but you can alleviate this with the adjustable boot load floor.

What to Look For

It's extremely unlikely that any Fiesta Active will have been used on rough surfaces, but check around the undersides just in case. As usual with a supermini, check the interior for child damage. And with top-spec versions, check the alloy wheels for scratches. Look for any dents, dings and scratches to the panelwork. And ensure that the clutch engages smoothly and that the car goes into gear easily. The 1.5-litre diesel engine is fitted with a diesel particulate filter, but this may be clogged up if the previous owner hasn't completed too many highway journeys.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2020 Fiesta Active 1.0 EcoBoost 125PS - Ex Vat) An oil filter usually costs in the £5-£10 bracket, though you can pay £20-£25 for pricier brands. An air filter costs in the £8-£16 bracket. A fuel filter is in the £2-£24 bracket. A pollen filter costs in the £3-£15 bracket. A headlamp costs in the £123-£185 bracket. A wiper blade is in the £3-£14 bracket. A front brake disc costs in the £34-£79 bracket. A rear brake disc costs in the £20-£60 bracket. A front brake pad is in the £25-£40 brackets; rears are in the £14-£41 bracket. A radiator is in the £75-£187 bracket. An alternator is in the £156-£301 bracket.

On the Road

Most of the engineering effort here was put into countering the potential handling downsides of the raised ride height that the development team knew this Fiesta Active model would have to have. There's 18mm of it - just enough to better cope with a bumpy track but not enough to deal with any terrain much more adventurous than that. You don't get 4WD of course but Ford did add a bit of substance to the lifestyle rhetoric by equipping all Fiesta Active models with a Drive Modes set-up featuring a selectable 'Slippery' setting which tweaks the traction control to help the front wheels better cope with unmade tracks and poor conditions. Other changes include a 10mm wider track, suspension revisions and optimised front shock absorbers that feature a special hydraulic rebound stopper that smooths out the bumps or jolts you'd get over rougher surfaces. Fortunately, none of this significantly detracted from the standard Fiesta's class-leading handling package. True, the ride's a tad firmer, but it's still impressively supple over broken urban tarmac surfaces, aided by those special front shock absorbers we mentioned. Get beyond the city limits and Fiesta regulars might notice a touch more body roll than you'd get on the ordinary version of this car, but it's nothing significant; certainly not enough to detract from the kind of handling poise that's a world away from the SUV norm. Active buyers looking for petrol power get Ford's three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in four different states of tune, with either 85, 100, 125 or 140PS. The 125PS variant manages 56.5mpg on the combined cycle and 113g/km - pretty much the same as you'd get in the same version of the ordinary Fiesta model. There are also two diesel options, with either 85 or 120PS versions of Ford's familiar 1.5-litre TDCi unit.

Overall

Nobody buys a small Crossover to go off roading but people do like the confidence that kind of car can give if, say, you're dropping off the main road on to a gravelly layby. Or you're negotiating a bumpy track up to a forest carpark. Buying an SUV just to deal with that kind of thing might seem a bit extreme when there's a simpler solution like this Fiesta Active on offer. It gives you much the same kind of capability without the usual SUV running cost deterioration and handling downsides. For sure, this isn't a perfect package. You don't of course get the spacier practicality a proper small SUV Crossover would give. Despite the fact that this ruggedized Fiesta might cost as much - if not more - than you'd be charged for one of those. Still, the handling's better than any small SUV you could name, the running costs are affordable, the 'SYNC 3' infotainment system's slick and there are some smart lifestyle touches that'll make the car stand out on the school run. Bottom line? If you want a more interesting breed of Fiesta, then getting Active might well be worth a thought.