Fun, funky, striking, and award-winning, the Ford Fiesta seems like it has every ingredient to create the ultimate recipe for success for the American automotive brand.
Ford Motor Company has always marketed the Fiesta to an international audience, manufacturing the model across the world; the Fiesta is produced in the United Kingdom, Brazil, India, South Africa, and other countries.
Ford has enjoyed a fiesta with their Fiesta, as sales figures indicate the model's massive popularity in South Africa. With over 250 vehicles sold in July 2019 alone, according to the latest NAAMSA vehicles sales report, the Fiesta is a beloved funky hatchback.
While it's been unable to knock its rival, the Volkswagen Polo, off pole position as the best-selling hatchback in the country, the Fiesta is totally deserving of its enormous success. Let's look at what makes it so special.
The Ford Fiesta was first introduced internationally in 1976 as a compact hatchback aimed at drivers who wanted an affordable, efficient, and stylish city car. Over the years it became one of Ford’s most successful global models.
The Fiesta gained popularity for its sharp handling, compact size, and modern styling, making it a favourite among younger drivers and urban commuters. While designed in Europe, it was sold widely across multiple markets including South Africa.
South Africa received later generations of the Fiesta, with the seventh generation launching locally in 2018. This version brought updated design language, a more refined interior, and advanced safety technology such as stability control and multiple airbags.
The Fiesta has remained a benchmark in the small hatchback segment by combining practicality with driving fun, while continuing to appeal to budget-conscious buyers seeking affordable running costs and insurance premiums.
The Ford Fiesta features a sleek and sporty exterior design, with sharp body lines, a wide grille, and modern headlamp styling that gives it an energetic presence on South African roads. Its compact proportions make it perfectly suited for city driving and tight parking spaces.
The Fiesta has been offered with a range of efficient petrol engines, including the award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder turbo. This engine is known for delivering a strong balance of performance and fuel economy, making the Fiesta fun to drive while keeping running costs low.
Fuel economy is rated from as low as 5.0 – 5.5 L/100 km, and safety is supported by features such as stability control, ABS brakes, multiple airbags, and driver-assist technology on higher trims, giving peace of mind for young drivers and families alike.
Ford assembles its vehicles in South Africa and offers great service through an extensive Ford dealership network, with branches located across the country. You can test drive and purchase a Ford Fiesta at any of these dealerships.
Ford South Africa also offers Ford Credit, a finance solution to help buyers purchase their new vehicles. Options include the new vehicle trade-in value guarantee, an added balloon payment, a 90-day payment holiday, and a 5% discount for students on their first new Ford vehicle.
The entry-level Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost Trend 6MT retails from R278,200.
Ford South Africa offers customers Ford Protect, their comprehensive car insurance policy which offers credit protection, extended cover, a deposit protector, and the Return To Invoice policy. In the event of an accident, this pays you out the original car purchase price minus either the vehicle's market value at the date of loss or the amount paid out by your car insurance company.
Ford is listed as one of the highest risk vehicles for theft in South Africa, according to Ctrack, a vehicle tracking and recovery agency. This will likely be factored into your Ford Fiesta car insurance quote, so keep this in mind when comparing insurance prices.
One of the best ways to find a good deal on your car insurance is to use our hippo.co.za online vehicle insurance comparison tool. You don't need to own a car to find out how much cover would cost for it – simply input the details of the car you're looking at buying and get a range of car insurance quotes to compare side-by-side within minutes.
| Vehicle Make & Model | Average Insurance Premium | Minimum Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| FORD FIESTA [2013] 1.4 AMBIENTE 5DR | R 1,115 | R 325 |
| FORD FIESTA [2018] 1.0 ECOBOOST TREND 5DR | R 1,596 | R 427 |
| FORD FIESTA [2013] 1.6 ST ECOBOOST GDTI | R 1,544 | R 433 |
| FORD FIESTA [2018] 1.0 ECOBOOST TREND 5DR A/T | R 1,736 | R 438 |
| FORD FIESTA [2013] 1.0 ECOBOOST AMBIENTE 5DR | R 1,147 | R 332 |
| FORD FIESTA [2013] 1.0 ECOBOOST TITANIUM 5DR | R 1,345 | R 357 |
| FORD FIESTA [2013] 1.0 ECOBOOST TREND 5DR | R 1,195 | R 398 |
| FORD FIESTA [2013] 1.4 TREND 5DR | R 1,158 | R 360 |
| FORD FIESTA [2018] 1.0 ECOBOOST TITANIUM 5DR A/T | R 1,963 | R 460 |
| FORD FIESTA [2013] 1.0 ECOBOOST TREND 5DR POWERSHIFT | R 1,199 | R 337 |
The Ford Fiesta is covered by a comprehensive four-year/120,000 km warranty, along with a five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty and three-year/unlimited km roadside assistance. A service plan also comes standard, valid for four years/60,000 km with service intervals every 15,000 km to keep your hatchback running smoothly.
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publishing this article. The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or medical advice.
