TREADING water Ford is most definitely not. Except for the fuel-sipping Econetic variant, the Blue Oval's popular German-built WS Fiesta gives way to the new Thai-built WT version, adding a raft of incremental driveability, packaging, safety and refinement improvements, as well as more features and better choice, thanks to the inclusion of a bulbous new four-door sedan variant, as well as an expanded diesel line-up in the mid-range LX and best-selling Zetec hatch models.

There are one or two surprising omissions, but otherwise the Fiesta re-establishes itself as one of the best light-car all-rounders money can buy. And that is quite a feat in this post-VW Polo world.