Johannesburg — IN THIS world of amortised costs and global platforms, it is rare to seeing many manufacturers being daring, particularly in the styling department.

Yes, we have seen a few quirky models, such as the Nissan Micra, that definitely break the mould, but generally the urban runabout market is full of vehicles that either date quickly or were just bland to start with.

In many respects Toyota kicked things off with its Yaris, but it was left trailing when Mazda launched the Mazda2. The little 2 heralded a new era for the Zoom-Zoom philosophy of the Ford-owned company that has subsequently seen the stylists applying similar modern and refreshing themes to the other models in the stable.

Following the resurgence for the Japanese brand, the parent company has started to bring its refreshing approach to the Ford models. The first to emerge is the new Fiesta, which takes the kinetic design theme from the original and larger Iosis concept and recreates it in a funky and sexy package for the modern generation.

Whether you opt for the five-door versatility or the sporty three-door it is like receiving one of those extreme makeovers where you suddenly become an instant member of the fashionable set. It shows you respect style and practicality -- and you can achieve this within a reasonable budget.

I spent time with both the petrol powered Titanium specification model and the frugal TDCI turbo diesel derivative. Both have similar traits with a sporty stance, loads of interior space and plenty of get up and go. The diesel, of course, gives you better fuel economy and, despite a slight amount of turbo lag at the reef, its performance is pretty good.

The focus of attention, though, has to be reserved for the top level Titanium model, with its 1.6l petrol engine and enough kit to satisfy even those who may be persuaded to buy down in these trying times. You get a full body kit including a nifty rear diffuser and a world rally style boot spoiler that is perfectly styled to integrate with the overall look.

Inside you get some aluminium look trim that makes it stand out from its Ambiente siblings which have just black plastic. Yet it is the layout inside that is simply superb, with a nifty slanted centre console housing the infotainment system behind a range of buttons that you almost think you could make music on -- well, in some ways, of course, you can.

The instrument cluster is functional behind some trendy dial cowls and there is a central information display. On this range-topping model you also get bluetooth connectivity and an iPod auxiliary connector, all of which are essential to satisfy the urban set.

On the road the Fiesta handles as you would expect, with poise and precision that may not quite be up to the standards of the Mini perhaps, but considering it sits on the same platform as the Mazda2, it echoes the go-kart style handling of its Japanese cousin. On some surfaces the ride can be a little choppy, but we can blame that more on the bad state of our roads than the car .

Overall the new Fiesta is not only a welcome addition and a superb debut for the new styling transition, but it is without a doubt the new benchmark in the class. Regardless of what you think you should have on your shopping list, this is one that belongs at the top and if you do not give it serious consideration, you need to spend more time with your therapist.

John says: I drove the 1.6 Titanium which has all the go faster looking bits and I must admit to liking the looks, but I would wait for the ST version to arrive so that I have got the performance to match.

Not that the Fiesta is an underperformer -- far from it. It offers enough power and tractability for both urban and rural driving and the handling without a doubt makes the Fiesta one of the best in its class.

I said it before and I'll say it again: as far as I am concerned the Fiesta has set a new benchmark for the urban commuter segment.

Lerato says: Nominated as one of this year's car of the year finalists, the new Fiesta certainly has a lot going for it. Foremost it has its competitors licked in the styling department and the fact it is now designed on a global platform means it is built for a more universal appeal.

I had the opportunity to take the TDCI model for a spin and came out of the experience suitably impressed.

The turbocharged 1.4l diesel engine proved quite gutsy when worked through the five-speed manual transmission, but also proved to be thrifty both around town and on the open road.

Interior appointments appear to be on a par with competitors, while overall build quality is worth a mention. On the road the vehicle is more biased toward comfort than outright sportiness, seeing as this was the baseline Ambiente model. It also became evident while going around corners at speed that the vehicle displayed a slight tendency toward understeer.

I do have a few niggles , such as the radio controls on the centre console are placed at a rather odd angle making legibility and operation a bit arduous. Also the lack of remote central locking on the base model makes manually opening and locking the vehicle somewhat tedious, particularly at night.

Overall, however, the package is competent and an appealing proposition. I say go out and get yourself one!

FIESTA 1.6 TITANIUM

WE LIKE:

Styling, specification, handling

WE DISLIKE:

Steering wheel feel, price (it is a Fiesta after all)

VERDICT:

The most stylish piece of practicality the motoring world has seen in ages

TECH SPECS

ENGINE

Type: Transverse In-line

four-cylinder petrol

Capacity: 1596cc

Power: 88kW at 6000r/min

Torque: 149Nm at 4250r/min

TRANSMISSION

Type: Five-speed manual

DRIVETRAIN

Type: Front-wheel drive

BRAKES

Type: Front ventilated discs, rear drum

Traction Aids: ABS with EBD

PERFORMANCE (claimed)

0-100km/h: 9,9 seconds

Top speed: 193km/h

Fuel consumption: 5.9l/100km

STANDARD FEATURES

Sixteen-inch alloy wheels, full body kit, dual airbags, remote central locking, double lock deadlocks, alarm system, Isofix child seat mountings, electric windows and mirrors, leather wrapped multifunction

steering wheel, trip computer, front-loading radio/CD player, auxiliary connector, adjustable driver and passenger seats,

air-conditioning

COST OF OWNERSHIP

Warranty: Four-year/120000 km

Maintenance Plan: Four-year/ 60000km

Price: R186500

*Lease: R4291 per month

* At 13,5% over 60 months no deposit