This Fiesta may still be a small car but these days, it thinks big in almost every way, starting with styling designed to make more of a statement in the supermini segment.

Under the bonnet lies an impressively clean and frugal range of petrol and diesel units. Plus there’s a more up-market cabin, safety technology that can automatically brake the car for you even at night and a pokier diesel engine option.

Ford has also broadened the appeal of the range with an ‘Active’ Crossover bodystyle, plus variants more specifically aimed at customers wanting luxury and sportiness. And as well as all that, the brand reckon that it’ll be even more fun to drive than its predecessor. We’ve yet to drive it but the prospects for this seem promising. Engine-wise, the three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol unit is carried over, here offered in 110, 125 and 140PS guises. Sharing this poweplant’s architecture is a lesser 1.1-litre normally aspirated unit, available at the foot of the range in 70 and 85PS guises. The 1.5-litre TDCi 85PS diesel unit is familiar from before too, but this time round, this powerplant is also being offered in a pokier 120PS guise.

As before, the car is offered in both three and five-door bodystyles and both are tidy pieces of styling with evolutionary styling and a bolder, wider front grille. This time round, Ford is offering Fiesta customers much more choice. Mainstream models will be sold in ‘Zetec’, Syle’ and ‘Titanium’ trim levels. But the options now go much further than that. There are specific sub-model lines: a Fiesta ‘Active’ variant with SUV styling cues that targets the growing Crossover market; a Fiesta ‘ST-Line’ derivative which aims at those wanting a sportier look; and a Fiesta ‘Vignale’ aimed at customers prioritising ultimate supermini luxury.

A smarter choice all round then? Many will think so. There’s an unpretentious quality to it and a focus on providing the things that really matter to small car buyers - the fun handling and affordable technology Ford has long delivered to them in this segment but also the low running costs, strong safety provision and low emissions they now need too. And it’s all been done with a polish and self belief that we’ve never seen from a Fiesta before. In short, this is, more than ever, a small car that supermini buyers simply can’t ignore.

CAR: Ford Fiesta
PRICES: £12,715-£21,225 – on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-30
CO2 EMISSIONS: [1.5 TDCi 95PS] 94g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.0 EcoBoost 100PS] 0-62mph 10.5s / Max speed 113mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.0 EcoBoost] (combined) 65.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Electronic stability control, ABS with brake assist, seven airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4040/1735/1476