The ‘S’ on the bootlid  of the Ford Fiesta is significant. It means harder, shorter springs, wider tyres and bigger wheels. In a market where everyone is going soft on their suspension settings, the S’s harder edge comes as a breath of fresh air. And at its current price of Rs. 8.38 lakh this is probably the bargain driver’s car of the decade.

Driving is in town was pretty easy says the Autocar team (Sept. ’09) – it handles well, the seats are comfy and the compact dimensions make it a great traffic warrior. The ride is not too bad, there’s a hint of stiffness and it crashes over sharp bumps – but one can live with it.

On the highway it’s got good throttle responses everywhere in the rev-band and it’s so smooth that it does not tire you out over long distances.

Of course it has its faults – the colours are boring, the headlights are not that strong and the rear seats would be better off with adjustable headrests...

Still...it’s brilliant.

At a Glance

Price – Rs. 8.38 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) Test Economy –10.5kpl (highway) Maintenance costs– None Previous Reports – None