Used Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)

Ford Fiesta prices from £4,295   Finance from £178 per month

The previous generation Ford Fiesta is still an excellent choice of small car today, if the latest model is beyond your budget, you could do a lot worse than saving thousands on this perfectly well equipped supermini.

This version of the Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car in Britain for years, even when it was nine years old and on the verge of being replaced. British people were still buying the Fiesta because of its versatility and charisma. It comes with a large range of efficient engines, various equipment levels, plenty of optional extras, plus, it was reasonably priced as a new car and is now hugely affordable as a used one, with prices starting at £4,295 and monthly finance costs from £178.

It's engaging and fun to drive, with many more smiles per minute than you'd get in a Volkswagen Polo or Skoda Fabia. It leans very little in the corners, which means it feels stable and agile, plus it has quick steering perfect for darting through tight streets.

And if you thud into a pothole, the Fiesta absorbs the impact with composure, and won’t send you juddering off into a different direction. This makes it comfortable over rough roads and long motorway journeys, even though the Polo and Fabia are a little ahead in that respect.

Few rivals can match the fun feel of the Fiesta: the Mazda 2 runs it close, as does the Mini Hatchback, but neither offer the same value-for-money as the small Ford. Thanks to its popularity as a new car, there are vast numbers of used Fiestas to choose from at affordable prices, so you should be able to find one with the specification you're looking for.

If driving fun is low down your priorities, though, the Ford is a little less impressive. The Fiesta's dimensions mean that it's certainly not the most spacious supermini on the market. The back seats offer little room for taller adults to stretch their legs out compared with alternative options, and it's particularly claustrophobic if you opt for the three-door model. There's much more space in a Vauxhall Corsa, Skoda Fabia, Kia Rio, or Citroen C3 and the Fiesta's 290-litre boot is no better than average.

As a much older and now totally outdated model, the interior feels cluttered compared with the minimalist interiors of the latest Volkswagen Polo, Peugeot 208 and the new Fiesta. There's no display, but the controls are simple and much less distracting than a large touchscreen. The view out of the windscreen is much better, and there's good visibility all-around the car, although this is mostly down to it being built according to outdated and less stringent safety standards.

The best Ford Fiestas started production in early 2013, fitted with then-new engines, badged EcoBoost. These are small (just 1-litre) but turbocharged, which provides them with plenty of power for town and motorway driving, which is delivered smoothly and with a gentle thrum. Their official fuel economy figures are excellent - close to the level of diesels - but it's hard to get close to those in real-world driving. That's the case even if you're pressing the accelerator gently and coasting to a halt. 

Prices for these EcoBoost cars start at £6,190 or £213 per month. Cheaper petrol engines, extremely frugal diesels, the option of an automatic gearbox and a choice of three or five-door body styles ensure there’s a Fiesta to suit almost every need.

Most cars sold since 2013 have been updated models, with the most efficient engines and the option of automatic emergency braking, as well as a more modern design. This updated model was independently crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2012 and received a full five-star rating, which although the tests were less stringent than the ones that more modern vehicles are put through.