Ford Fiesta Zetec ECOnetic & Titanium ECOnetic added to Fiesta range

Ford has finally realised buyers of Eco cars don’t necessarily want a hair shirt too, as they launch Fiesta ECOnetic models in  Zetec & Titanium trim.

Back in early 2009, when we reviewed the first Fiesta ECOnetic, we were suitably impressed with what a decent job Ford had done with their eco-friendly Fiesta. But we said that Ford would ‘…do better making ‘ECOnetic’ an option, not a model’. And it looks like someone at Warley was listening.

Because Ford has announced that you will no longer be limited to a relatively base model if you also want to have sub-100g/km CO2 emissions in your Fiesta, with the launch of two new Fiesta ECOnetic models – the Fiesta Zetec ECOnetic and the Fiesta Titanium ECOnetic.

The two new ECOnetic Fiesta means you’ll now have the choice of three Fiesta ECOnetics, all with the go-cleaner 1.6 litre, 94bhp Duratorq TDCi lump with DPF.

They’ll all get the stuff that makes your emissions BIK and VED friendly, such as lowered suspension, low rolling resistance tyres, shift indicator and different final drive. All of that adding up to a Fiesta with 95g/km (a small improvement on the original Fiesta ECOnetic emissions) and 78.5 mpg.

None of which, surprisingly, makes the Fiesta ECOnetic any poorer to drive than its non ECOnetic siblings. True, 94bhp won’t win the traffic light Grand Prix, but the Fiesta ECOnetic is light and nimble, and the lowered suspension to make it more aerodynamic doesn’t come with a stiffer suspension setup, so you still get a decent ride and, if anything, slightly better handling than a regular Fiesta.

The Fiesta Zetec ECOnetic comes in at £14,445 and gets the usual Zetec bits and bobs like 14″ alloys, Fogs, AirCon, chrome bits and ambient lighting.

Jump to the top-of-the-tree Fiesta Titanium ECOnetic and you can add DAB, Bluetooth, USB, Cruise, power mirrors, auto lights and wipers, Privacy Glass and Climate from £15,645.

Anthony Ireson, Ford’s marketing director, said:

Many drivers want to drive a car with lower emissions but still want comfort, performance and an affordable price. Expanding ECOnetic across the series answers that demand, with style.

Which seems to echo pretty much what we said in 2009:

So it’s a good car, this Ford Fiesta ECOnetic. But we do think Ford has missed a trick. Why have an ‘ECOnetic’ Fiesta as a separate model? Why not offer an ECOnetic version of the Fiesta right across the model range instead? Then you could have comfort or funkiness or toys or whatever your thing is without being lumbered with ‘Old-Man’ seat trim and low-rent plastics.

Occasionally, we make a good call.