But why an automatic tranny on such a small vehicle I hear you shout! Well a number of factors resound in mind, with choice being the pinnacle factor, Ford may have just carved a niche in this passenger vehicle segment with this particular derivative.

The entire Fiesta range has recently undergone a minor facelift, with redesigned front headlamps and a more pronounced yet sporty front apron a-la-ST, albeit without the integrated fog lamps on this particular model.

The rear light clusters have also been revamped with individual circular light bulb housings while the colour coded rear bumper is home to the two rear fog lights.

The interior also echoes the modern design of the exterior while evoking a sense of fun. The cloth seats are practical though lacking some bolstering as they can get a little uncomfortable on long journeys, the centre console gives a sense of quality and luxury. The white on black dials are both legible and highlight a touch of sporty, luxury and fun.

Our test unit, a 1.6 four-speed automatic derivative, offered a very dependable power train, and the sprightly performance from the 75kW motor is enough justification.

Even though I was at first sceptical of a 1600 mill mated to an automatic tranny. But to my pleasant surprise Ford has done its homework as these two just marry happily together.

The gearbox hardly ever hunts for gears and keeping the car on the boil is just a prod of the right foot away, even though this car was never meant to be a performance vehicle it still makes for a pleasurable yet satisfying drive.

My only gripe with this tranny is during peak our traffic where I found the gearbox to hang in first gear up until 3000rpm before gearing up which results in dreaded jackrabbit starts and high fuel consumption. Though I found manually engaging second gear seemed to remedy the situation.

The standard 14-inch alloys are a bit of a let down as they are distinguished more like hub-caps than the former. Handling is acceptable for a city car, although body roll is imminent when fed into corners at higher velocities.

Standard amenities include power steering, radio front CD loader with remote controls on the steering rake column, power windows, air conditioner and single cupholder. The remote radio controls in my opinion are an after thought and frankly not user-friendly.

Safety features haven't taken a back seat either and feature dual airbags, pre-tensioned seat-belts and ABS braking with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) and this combination worked very well under duress conditions.

Boot space isn't a strong point but then this should be expected for a hatchback of this size, although folding down of the rear seats should expose adequate storage space for the families monthly shopping.

The Fiesta offers a competitive package that features a relaxed and comfortable driving approach with a zesty motor, which should give it a competitive advantage in this ever growing and improving baby-hatch segment. Page: 1 of 2 - next