ONE of Britain's most popular cars for the past 15 years and a top three seller in the UK for the past three, the Ford Fiesta's relaunch brings with it a restyled front end, new model line-up and a clearer range with simpler pricing. It's a welcome change for those who, like me, found the old Fiesta's droopy frontal styling a turn-off. With prices starting at ú7,750 on-the-road for the 1.3 Encore 3dr, rising to ú11,850 for the 1.4 Ghia 5dr, the Fiesta undercuts many key rivals, including the new Fiat Punto, at the bottom end of the scale.

There are four engines - the 1.3-litre Endura-E (60bhp), 1.25 Zetec SE (75bhp), 1.4-litre Zetec-SE (90bhp) and 1.8-litre Endura-D diesel (60bhp) - while five trim levels encompass Encore, Finesse, Zetec, LX and Ghia. All are available in three- or five-door, except Ghia, which comes as a five-door. The new Fiesta echoes its stablemates' 'new edge' design with rakish headlights, a mesh grille, new wings and bonnet. It's a successful transformation that has brought fresh style to the old Fiesta at a time when several key new rivals are emerging. Here, we try the top-of the range 1.4 Ghia, available as a five-door only at ú11,850 on-the -road.