The Ford Fiesta Was Britain's Best-Selling Car for Over a Decade, and the Used Market Still Hasn't Noticed It's Gone

Both reviews return to the same theme: this wasn't just a good supermini, it was the default car for millions of British drivers for the better part of 15 years — and even after Ford ended production in July 2023, the Fiesta remains the UK's best-selling used car year after year.

Illustration for editorial purposes

The Car Everyone Learned to Drive In

Few cars earn the kind of ubiquity the Fiesta achieved. Reviewers keep pointing to the same explanation: it wasn't one standout strength but a genuinely well-rounded package — sharp handling, a broad and sensible engine range, and prices that made sense for first-time buyers and families alike.

Specs at a Glance

Body style	Supermini hatchback, three- or five-door
Generations covered	Mk7 (2008–2017), Mk8 (2017–2023)
Engines	1.0 EcoBoost petrol (95–140bhp), 1.1/1.25 petrol, 1.5 TDCi diesel, 1.5 EcoBoost ST (197bhp)
Production ended	7 July 2023, at Ford's Cologne plant
UK sales	Over 4.1 million total — the best-selling car in UK history

Full Review Summary

Top Gear

Top Gear rated the Fiesta as the best supermini on sale for the driving experience specifically, praising the range's punchy, economical engines spanning the award-winning 1.0 EcoBoost through to the frugal TDCi diesel capable of up to 85.6mpg. They found genuinely sharp, enjoyable handling across the ordinary range, not just the sportier variants, and rated the Fiesta ST as a hall-of-fame hot hatch — one of the finest handling front-wheel-drive cars ever built, in their assessment.

🎬 Watch: What Car?'s Ford Fiesta review

Watch on YouTube ↗

Auto Express

Auto Express confirmed the Mk7's Powershift dual-clutch automatic gearbox, fitted to higher-spec trims, developed a genuine reputation for jerky changes, clutch judder and premature wear — worth avoiding if you want a used automatic Fiesta specifically. They rated the Mk7 ST200's 197bhp 1.6 EcoBoost as genuinely potent for the class, with an overboost function pushing to 212bhp for short bursts, and praised the range's broad trim spread for making a Fiesta findable at almost any budget.

🎬 Watch: Ford Fiesta ST200 review

Watch on YouTube ↗

Trims & Engines at a Glance

The 1.0 EcoBoost triple was the engine to have — a Powershift dual-clutch automatic was available on the lower-power version, but most Fiestas sold were manual.

Derivative	Engine	Power	Transmission	Body	0–62mph
Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost 100 Zetec/Trend	1.0L 3-cyl turbo petrol, FWD	99bhp	6-speed manual	Hatchback (3/5-door)	10.6s
Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 125 ST-Line	1.0L 3-cyl mild-hybrid turbo petrol, FWD	123bhp	6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic	Hatchback (3/5-door)	9.4s
Fiesta ST	1.5L 3-cyl turbo petrol, FWD	197bhp	6-speed manual	Hatchback (3-door)	6.5s

Trim walk ran Zetec/Trend → Titanium → Titanium X, with ST-Line/ST-Line X, Vignale and the crossover-styled Active sitting alongside. A wide colour range was offered across the run. Check current used listings for pricing.

Strengths

Genuinely engaging, well-sorted handling across the whole range
Broad, sensible engine choice from frugal diesels to the excellent EcoBoost petrols
Huge used car availability and strong parts support given production volume
The ST remains a genuine hot hatch benchmark

Weak points

Powershift automatic gearbox has a real reputation for reliability issues
No longer in production — every Fiesta on the road is now a used buy
Cabin tech feels dated next to newer rivals, particularly on Mk7 cars
Boot space trails some rivals like the VW Polo

Who It Actually Suits

Buyers wanting a genuinely enjoyable, affordable small car with huge parts and specialist support given how many were sold. Both reviews agree the manual gearbox is the one to seek out given the Powershift automatic's reputation, and the ST remains a genuine enthusiast's pick if outright driving fun is the priority.

Common Ford Fiesta Parts & Costs

Watch the Reviews

Ford Fiesta review ↗ (same video, watch above ↗)