FORD FIESTA LX 1.4L (2011)

February 28, 2011

If you are looking for a bit more involvement in your daily drives, you might want to consider a car with a manual gearbox. Not only will you get a nice workout with your feet, you will also get to control how much torque that is being transferred to the wheels. As an added benefit, manual transmission cars are generally more fuel efficient than their automatic counterparts.

One such model which offers manual transmission is the Ford Fiesta LX 1.4L. Initially, I was given the option of choosing between the highest spec 1.6L Ti-VCT and the 1.4L for my Fiesta test drive. How about giving me the option to test drive both cars I asked? And the people at Sime Darby Auto ConneXion Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian dealer for Ford was kind enough to oblige.

Lately, new cars with manual transmission are becoming rare in Malaysia. This is possibly driven by consumer demands for automatic transmission which offers greater convenience particularly in heavy traffic places like Kuala Lumpur. My preference is still a manual transmission car since it gives that extra bit of control for the driver.

Since the1.4L is the entry level model for the Fiesta range, it is to be expected that some of the features which are standard in the 1.6L Ti-VCT will be missing here. Some of these feature which are not in the Fiesta LX 1.4L include foldable side mirrors, fog lamps, alloy wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel with multifunction buttons, sports seats, fuel computer, USB connectivity, Bluetooth and sports tuned suspension/rear bumper.

Important safety features are still standard on 1.4L but without the front side passenger air bag, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Traction Control System (TCS). The car still comes with driver airbag, side door impact bar, safety belts with emergency locking retractor & pretensioners, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and EBA Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

Visually, the car appears similar to the 1.6L Ti-VCT with the obvious difference of having steel wheel covers instead of alloys rims, no fog lamps and no front lower chrome grilles. In Malaysia the Ford Fiesta (hatchback version) is probably the best model in Ford’s current range showcasing its Kinetic Design principles with sleek aerodynamic lines and looks that convey a sporty and aggressive image.

DRIVING IT

The seats are fabric all around and comfort levels are slightly lower compared to the 1.6L Ti-VCT which has sports seats at the front giving additional support on the thighs. The quality of materials used for the dashboard is within expectations at this price point. There is a central three line multi-function LCD display showing useful information such as the date, time, details on CD and Radio. Buttons on the prominent butterfly shaped centre console are large and easily accessible for the driver.

Steering is tilt adjustable with sufficient thickness at the right places. The driver’s seat has provision for manual height adjustment, ensuring that a comfortable driving position can be easily attained. The instrument panel is similar to the 1.6L Ti-VCT with the exception that the small LCD panel in between the two large dials only displays the trip information.

The Fiesta 1.4L’s signal lever/stalk is on the left side of the steering column which makes it a challenge to change gears and signal at the same time. Perhaps this design is catered more for left hand drive cars such as in the US and some European markets as the gear lever will be on your right side. One possible design option is to put signal indicators as buttons on the steering wheel itself.

Powerplant is a 1,388cc 4 cylinder DOHC 16V mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. Both max power and max torque is on the modest side, ie at 96PS (70kW) @ 5,650rpm and at 128Nm @ 4,050rpm, respectively. The specs stated a top speed of 175km/h and the century sprit (in km) is achievable in 12.2 seconds.

Refinement appears to be the key here as the engine is relatively silent upon ignition. Even during hard acceleration, the engine sounded quite refined and controlled. The clutch is not too heavy and is quite easy to detect where the engagement range was. The gear lever shifts quite easily and positively with short throws. Unlike some manual transmission cars, engaging the reverse gear was relatively fuss-free.

To gain the maximum out of this car, the rev friendly engine will have to be pushed a fair bit especially during gears 1 to 3. In each of these three gears, pushing the revs closer to about 4,000rpm before the next upshift produces a sportier response from the engine. If required, the car can still be driven at a leisurely pace.

Gear ratios are quite close from 2^nd to 5^th but is fairly wide from 1^st to 2^nd which is where most of the torque kicks in. Gearing as expected is short and the car runs on relatively high rpms at around 2,500 rpm at 80km/h and at around 3,000 rpm at 110km/h.

With a full load of passengers, the car would sometimes struggle to get up to speed going uphill or when there is a change in the road gradient. At this time, I wished for more power and torque. However, once the car builts its momentum, it is able to cruise quite comfortably holding on to the 5^th gear on the freeway.

The electric power assisted steering is very light, responsive and easy to steer. There is just enough feedback to ensure that the driver does not feel too detached from the road. Steering inputs are quickly transferred into the front wheels ensuring the car retains the sharp handling that the higher spec 1.6 Ti-VCT is known for. Nevertheless, without the ESP and TCS on board, a bit more caution is required when making fast turns.

One of the strong points of this test model is the excellent ride quality. NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) are kept to a minimum. In fact, I prefer the ride quality on the 1.4L as compared to the higher spec 1.6L Ti-VCT. The 1.4L is able to soak up imperfections on the road better and vibrations are well dampened throughout the test drive.

During a simple cruise of 110km/h on the freeway, the cabin was relatively silent matching closely to standards attained by higher segment models. Despite the short gearing and the engine working harder at higher rpms, the cabin was well insulated from engine, wind and road noise, thereby exceeding expectations for car in this segment.

Since there is no on board fuel computer, fuel consumption was estimated using a simple computation based on fuel consumed and distanced traveled. The car was put through the test with runs on various roads for a combined test mileage of around 330km. Based on the data accumulated, the average fuel consumption throughout the entire test drive was estimated at around 7.8 liters per 100 km.

Tyres are 15 inch Continental ContiPremiumContact 2 (185/55 R15) which is of equal size for both the front and rear set. Tyres on this sampled model have better thread pattern and lesser wear compared to the earlier test models, hence providing improved grip and relatively low road noise. In terms of aesthetics, the car would have looked better if it came with alloy rims rather than steel wheel covers.

The EBD and ABS working in tandem with the ventilated disc brakes at the front performed well with good stopping power. Crucially, the brakes respond quickly to pedal inputs since there is not much travel before it bites. Boot space is similar to the 1.6L Ti-VCT at 281 cubic litres with the rear seats up.

It can get dark at night inside the cabin of the 1.4L. The car does not come with map and footwell lights. There is one interior light as the main light source which is only capable of lighting the dashboard and parts of the front seats. For entertainment the car is equipped with a single indash CD/Radio and MP3 compatible audio system with 4 speakers. Sound quality is above average with well rounded bass and not too exuberant treble.

The Ford Fiesta LX 1.4L delivers in terms of ride quality and it is the most fuel efficient variant in the Fiesta range. Its 5-speed manual transmission is one of the better gearboxes which I have tested so far. For those who are in the lookout for a competitively priced, complete built-up (CBU) manual transmission car, you might want to put this model on your shortlist.

Test vehicle courtesy of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion Sdn Bhd (SDAC)

MAINTENANCE

Full Tank:	42 litres @ RM80 (Petrol RON 95)
Insurance:	RM1,951.20
Road Tax:	RM70
Standard Service:	RM250 to RM670
Warranty:	3 Years or 100,000km whichever is earlier*

These are estimated costs applicable to Malaysia only which are subject to change without notice. Insurance is based on initial premium paid upon purchase and the sum insured. Road Tax is for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia. Standard/scheduled service excludes additional or specific service/repairs requested.

* Currently SDAC is offering 3 years FREE Service maintenance (including labour) or 60,000km whichever comes first.

Please reconfirm these terms and costs with an authorized Ford dealer.

VITAL STATISTICS

Engine:	4-cylinder DOHC 16V
Capacity:	1,388cc
Max Output:	96PS (70Kw) / 5,650 rpm
Max Torque:	128Nm / 4,050 rpm
Top Speed:	175km/h
Acceleration 0-100km:	12.2sec
Fuel Consumption:	5.7ltr/100km (Combined)