14 Jan 09
As John mentioned in our previous report, I've found the Ford Fiesta's ride rather hard going.
In most other respects, I really like the car, but the suspension is just too firm for my liking. I am also finding the seats rather unsupportive - especially after a three-hour stint on the M25. Or maybe I'm just getting old.
The Fiesta still scores well with me for its fun factor, though, and it draws an excellent balance between being a usable supermini and an all-out hot hatch. There aren't many comparable cars that can do this - except, perhaps, the Suzuki Swift Sport.
The Swift Sport comes with a 1.6-litre engine which develops 125bhp, an advance on the 1.6-litre Fiesta's 120bhp, though torque output (109lb-ft) is a little less than the Fiesta's 112lb-ft, peaking a little higher up the rev range. Lighter in weight, it's a whole second quicker 0-60mph (8.9 seconds), promises a top speed of 124mph - and it's cheaper than the Fiesta too, at £11,747. On the whole, they're fairly evenly matched...
