Ford Fiesta Studio 1.25 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Performance credentials are uninspiring, with a top speed of 94mph and 0-62 mph taking 16.9 seconds. Rival cars in this class easily outperform the Fiesta's power output of 59 bhp and 80lb-ft of torque.

Despite the lacklustre performance of this model, the car handles well on the road and this makes it fun and enjoyable to own. The suspension does a great job of ironing out imperfections in the road and the Fiesta is agile with the superb handling characteristics we've come to expect from Fords.

The Fiesta is a great looking car but only offers a basic level of kit and even central locking is not an option - something which is surprising for a modern car. The car is not fitted with an alarm either and the lack of rear parking sensors mean there are a number of compromises made on this model.

Standard features which are offered include power steering, electric door mirrors, an immobiliser and a stereo system with CD player. The exterior can be upgraded to a metallic paint finish but this will cost buyers an additional £495.

As a small car it is surprising that this vehicle lacks some of the additional features many expect from modern cars. The lack of alarm makes the car more vulnerable to theft.

Other areas of safety are fairly good however, and the car comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags all fitted as standard. The model also scored well in the NCAP crash tests, achieving a five star rating for occupant safety and a four star rating for child safety.

In terms of practicality, this model offers a clear advantage over the three door version - improving access to the vehicle. Space within the cabin is also used well but, as a small vehicle, room is always going to be more adequate than excessive. This means taller passengers may experience a little discomfort in the back seats during long journeys but this is a drawback buyers are likely to expect.

In terms of storage capacity, the car offers just 295 litres of boot space when all the seats are in position, expanding this to a more reasonable 979 litres when the rear seats are folded down. This means practicality may be limited a little, but the car should still cope well with the obligatory weekly shop.

Ford has a good reputation for reliability and the car feels well built both internally and externally. It is also covered by a warranty for three years or 60,000 miles.

Priced at £10,095 the Ford Fiesta Studio 1.25 5dr is fairly cheap but doesn't offer much in-car equipment for the money. Instead, the car's efficiency is one of its biggest selling points with fuel efficiency of 51.4mpg achievable on the combined cycle whilst road tax and insurance premiums are also fairly reasonable under price bands D and 5 respectively.

Unfortunately, the compromises on space and in-car technology means that other models may prove more popular with motorists and this may harm residual values when you come to sell.