Contrary to what you would expect, the diesel version isn't nose heavy at all nor does the steering require any undue effort. And it's not too bad in traffic either. With most of the 16 kgm of turning force coming in at just over 1400 rpm, all you need to do is stick it in one gear and let the torque do the er... talking. In terms of driveability, the diesel is brilliant.

Something that's a bit of an issue with the petrol, though. The 1596cc, 16-valve, DOHC, Duratec motor that currently serves the Fusion has seemingly been retuned, but is good for 100 bhp at 6500 revs and 14.6 kgm at 3400 rpm. This isn't too bad when you have a decent stretch of road, but in traffic, life becomes an endless series of gear changes.

With a huge chunk of the power coming in at 3000 revs, the 1.6 struggles to breath fluently in traffic. Show it an open stretch though, and it will pay a fitting tribute to the brilliant Cosworths of yore. Not to mention the noise that it makes, which will get you interested in pressing that right foot harder.

Fiesta's instrument cluster has an electronic speedometer, tachometer, fuel and coolant temperature gauges with backlit dials and moving analogue needles that are LED illuminated

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