1.25 or 1.4 duratec?

Go for a test drive.

Everyday driving is much more about the torque curve than absolute power.

Try to get some road test data on things like 50-70mph acceleration in top gear; that's much more the sort of thing you will be doing every day.

FWIW, a colleague who was not any sort of car enthusiast bought a 1.25 Fiesta new. He hated how frantic it was. After a year, he part-exed it (at a huge financial loss) for a 1.4 which he was very happy with.

YMMV!

Chris

Frantic is a good word for the 1.25l Fiesta. I quite like it that way but I know what he means.

Tony

Torque.

If economy is your thing,

This place appears to knock out the lower spec diesels for the same sort of price...

If you haven't already, I'd advise you to test drive the 1.4 TDCi before going for a petrol- great fun to drive and much more economical than either of those petrols. Cheap road tax as well. I had a 1.25 as a courtesy car when my Focus was in for repairs, and it was quite thirsty for a small petrol (barely better than my 1.6 Focus) and dull to drive compared to the

1.4 TDCi.

I think you'll be surprised at how strongly that little 1.4 turbo diesel can pull, and they get 50-odd mpg when driven hard, up to 70-ish on a long run if you're light footed. Ignore the spec on the TDCi, it really doesn't do the engine justice at all.

Morse

the 1.2 is supposed to be a sweeter revving unit.

80bhp for the 1.4 is quite poor when other makes 1.2's produce better power/economy.....

To be fair, though, the Focus *is* economical for what it is, whereas the Fiesta 1.25 is merely adequate.

Absolutely, a much better engine option in my opinion.

Yes. As others have said, it has more torque spread over a wider power band.

Personally, I found the 1.25 disappointing after its earlier generation. Driven gently and one or two up, is is economical but always feels compromised. They thrive on revs and consequently feel gutless in the bottom half of the rev range... although here they are at least economical.

The 1.4 on the other hand has taller gearing. The engine is far less willing to rev but outright poke is slightly better and it feels easier to drive when you're heavily laden.

But if you spend most of your time on at higher speeds and you don't get the TDCi, go for the 1.6. It's as economical as the other two outside of the city, a nicer engine than both too.

The 1.25 is fine with air conditioning, depending on your perspective. If you hate the little kick you have with the air conditioning compressor cycling in then you don't want either petrol Fiesta, you want the diesel.

Come to think of it, you want the diesel anyway, if fuel consumption is your bag.