The Fiesta was launched
late last year and it already has an all-new competitor in the Aveo. Ford would surely have preferred a little more time to establish the Fiesta, but now they have had to step up their promotional and marketing campaigns and these days their brand ambassador Abhishek Bachchan can be seen all over, exhorting customers to buy a Fiesta and ‘Go Fida’.

We decided to compare the petrol Fiesta 1.4 EXI (Ford’s started pushing it aggressively) with its equivalent rivals, and quite honestly were surprised with how well all three of these smaller engined siblings acquitted themselves.
In fact it was one of the toughest matches we’ve ever had and its only by a whisker that the Fiesta won! Just tells you how similar and closely matched most cars are getting to be these days.

Grey suit
Though our test car came in a bright flare colour (the Aveo’s shade was also similar, but they call it amber), it could not hide the formal styling. Flowing cleanly sculpted lines, nice balanced proportions, wide and neat grille, muscular wheel arches, smart lights and well cut panels, all put together nicely. Simpleand elegant styling that’s difficult to fault, but at the same time not likely to excite. The 1.4 EXI doesn’t have the full chrome surround on the front grille and headlamps as in the 1.6 and the 1.4 ZXI (diesel) versions, and it actually looks better without these. But the empty fog lamps slotsstand out and make the front look incomplete. And although the Fiesta and Aveo have some similar styling features, the lower stance of the Fiesta makes it look more attractive, at least to our eyes.

Come on in
When the Fiesta arrived, its interiors looked and felt better than most of its competitors. Now the Aveo has gone one better and the Fiesta’s cabin no longer appears to be all that special. But it’s yet impressive and scores over its rivals in certain areas. The door map pockets are the deepest and widest and can even hold a one-litre bottle of water! And it’s the only one that offers them on all four doors. It also has covered vanity mirrors on both sunshades. Compared to its rivals the Fiesta’s interiors have more storage space and point to note are the pen and cardholders inside the glove box.

The driving position is also very nice and though you sit low the view is good and the seats also have adequate lumbar support and grip you well. The rear seat is also quite comfortable and has the most headroom, but relatively less legroom than the other two.

Get going
A 1388cc engine with 16 valves and DOHC powers the Fiesta EXI and the electronic throttle ensures that response is almost immediate. The ETC also eliminates almost all engine vibrations and driveline jerks. Power delivery is smooth and linear and the willing engine is the most silent of the lot. It’s also more rev happy than the Aveo’s but not as eager as the Accent’s slighter bigger powerplant. And it has a nice sporty exhaust note that only makes the driving experience more enjoyable.

Though the gear lever is a little long, the throws are short and slots precise, making the shift quality the best of the three. But sometimes when you select reverse, the gears clash and there is not enough feedback of engagement. But the transmission mates well with the engine and delivers good drivability and economy. The ride is firm and deals with most undulations and rough roads without bouncing you around much.

The Fiesta feels well planted and handles predictably and there is very little body roll, especially in comparison to the Aveo. The steering, though not very communicative, has better weightage and the variable power steering reduces assist by just the right amount as speeds build, making the Fiesta feel very stable at high speeds. The brakes also inspire confidence as they bite nicely and are easy to modulate. The Fiesta is without doubt an impressive performer and scores well on almost all counts, including fuel economy and value.

Bollywood stars are playing
a new role of promoting cars and to match Ford’s Abhishek Bachchan, GM have gone and got Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherji. But this is not about stars. The Aveo that we got for our test was an amber 1.4 LS, but here we have compared the base 1.4 version as it’s closer in price to its rivals. It does not have some cosmetic features and equipment, and neither is the amber shade available.

Standing tall
The legendary Bob Lutz gave the initial draft for this global vehicle. The brief was taken to Italdesign, the design studio founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and the new Aveo was born on its drawing boards. The most distinct aspect about the Aveo’s styling is the tall stance and the stretching of the front and rear window joints to provide a longer and larger cabin. It’s not exactly a ‘tall boy’ butmore a ‘tall car’ and some may see it as too tall for a saloon. But with the strong lines and the pronounced wheel arches, they have managed to infuse strength into the styling, giving the Aveo a strong look and good street presence. Like the Fiesta, the styling is conservative and there is not much you can fault other than the tall stance, which in any case has its benefits. The styling overall is sensible but not striking. A case of function before form.

Spread out
That’s exactly what you feel like doing inside the Aveo. Its cabin is airy, cheerful, and very easy on the eye and extends you a warm invitation to make yourself comfortable. There is excellent use of space and the fit and finish is also very good. The plastics are of very high quality too and the instruments are neat looking and easy to read and the red needles look particularly good when backlit. All the switchgear feels very nice and is simple and user friendly. The best part is that the interiors exude a lot of ‘warmth and friendliness’. And the single-DIN MP3 sound system is smartly integrated into the dash and looks damn good, and also sounds great. But there is limited storage space and the narrow and shallow door map pockets are just good for maps.
The couch-like seating offers a great view but the front seats lack lumbar support. The rear seat is comfortable and offers more legroom than the Fiesta but less than the Accent. And unlike in the other two, the rear windows in the Aveo don’t roll down completely because it doesn’t have a quarter glass.
Run frugal
The 1.4 engine is quick to respond and delivers its power in a linear and even manner and retains the torque through most of the rev range. But it is a little sluggish under 2000 rpm until the torque has built up. The ECM’s setup ensures the best fuel effeciency and the Aveo’s in-gear acceleration is also better than the Fiesta’s. What’s even more impressive is the suppression of NVH, with the hydraulic engine mounts taking care of vibrations and the extensive – in some places eight layers – of insulation isolating the passenger compartment from noise and harshness. The gearshift is not as light as the Accent’s nor as direct as the Fiesta’s, but those who shift with a positive, guiding hand will not be perturbed by its notchiness; but, yes, the throws are a little bit long.
The suspension setup is somewhat soft and makes the ride a little jiggly at low speeds. But it soaks up undulations quite well and despite the soft setup the Aveo is impressively stable at high speeds. The three-spoke steering feels good to hold but the horn button is in the centre unlike the other two. The tall stance and high ground clearance result in more body roll than the others and even though it’s not as agile, the handling is predictable. The steering is precise too, but it could communicate in a better manner. The brake pedal has a nice feel and good bite, but panic stops require the pedal to be pushed much harder and as modulation is a little difficult, it’s quite easy to lock-up. The braking distance is more or less the same as the Fiesta’s but the brakes experienced some fade after severe use.

The veteran of this pack
and the one that dominated this segment until recently. Hyundai was also the one that started the trend of using film stars by getting Shahrukh Khan to endorse the Santro. I guess we will see him back in action when the Accent’s replacement arrives later this year.
Because of its age the Accent is clearly the odd one out in this match, but we included it, as it remains a viable option and a proven performer. It’s also a good indicator of how standards have risen in this important segment.

Fading beauty
The Accent’s been around so long and one is so familiar with its styling that one hardly notices it anymore. But it must be said that though its beauty is fading, it has an attractive shape, clean flowing lines, low and appealing stance, and a smiling face. It’s got a pronounced line running across the middle, that in our opinion, lends itself very well to a two-tone paintjob. If the top half was painted in a darker and contrasting shade from the bottom, like silver-on-white or black-on-silver, it would look longer and lower. And it might just add that extra styling element in the last months of the Accent’s life. If Hyundai is listening and do go in for it, remember you first read it here.

Space without style
The Accent’s interiors have not aged as well as the exterior. Compared to the competition they look bare and boring and the basic equipment levels mean you don’t even get a single vanity mirror! Or central locking! Or even a clock or stereo system! And the dull upholstery fabric and the plastic you see everywhere, also don’t help improve matters. But it’s got broader map pockets than the Aveo, and and it’s the only one with a split rear seat. It’s also got the most comfortable rear seat and can seat three in reasonable comfort. The huge glass area adds to the sense of space and though the other two have better aircon blowers, the cooling in the Accent is clearly the best.
The driving position, like the Fiesta’s is quite nice. The seats are nicely shaped and even though you sit low, the view is great. And as the rake of the windscreen is lesser than in the other two, it means that the more upright A-pillars do not obstruct vision as much. Another very nice feature is the nicely sized and well-positioned dead pedal, which is so useful on long drives. And it’s the only one here that can boast of one.
Yet has the go
The Accent GLE is driven by a 1495cc, 12-valves, SOHC engine, which is quick to respond and revs happily. It delivers its power in a linear manner and not only is the Accent the quickest to get from 0 to 100kph, but its drivability or in-gear acceleration, is also the best. What’s somewhat disappointing is that it pays the price for its enthusiasm at the fuel station, where it drinks the most. It also feels a little rough and gets quite audible in the upper end of the rev range, and loses out on refinement.
The Accent’s gear shift is the lightest and most effortless of the lot. But the light shift action does not encourage rapid gear changes, as there is a chance of missing the slot. The ride is on the softer side and in the city this really works because the Accent soaks up everything nicely. But its weaknesses show up when speeding on patchy and undulating roads, where it gets squishy and bounces around. The steering is light and precise and the variable assist also nicely increases effort as speeds climb, and it’s the most communicative of the lot though it could talk better. The Accent is the most nimble and ever willing to change direction. It also sticks to its selected path quite well, but at the limit, the soft suspension begins to let it down and the Hyundai exhibits some nervousness. It also displays torque steer under hard acceleration.
The brakes have a nice bite and the pedal a good feel, but like most other aspects of the Accent; they are a bit too eager and become difficult to modulate during panic stops. And this makes it the easiest of the three to lock up.

The final judgement

Fiesta just about manages to beat off its newest rival, the Aveo

A real close match between the Fiesta and the Aveo. Both are modern vehicles. Neither has striking looks. Their performance, drivability, fuel efficiency, NVH levels, cost, and even braking are quite similar. High-speed stability is good in both. What it simplycomes down to is the fact that we find the Fiesta a little more fun to drive. Its ride is more firm and supple, it’s handling just that wee bit sharper, its gear shift more precise and its engine slightly smoother. But the Aveo makes up lost ground in interior quality and ambience. We drove, deliberated and decided. And the Fiesta won by just one point. Really, that’s how close it was and very honestly, it could have gone either way. There will be those who prefer the Aveo’s softer ride or like us, the Fiesta’s handling. It just tells you how
similar modern cars have become.
The Accent, was clearly the odd one here. But despite its age, it was able to hold its own in certain areas and even score over its more modern rivals in acceleration and drivability. And now that its replacement is on the way, good discounts should be offered, making it a more attractive buy.