Ranked #252 car in the UK · Hatchback · 113 units sold last year

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta was Britain's best-selling car for years before Ford discontinued it in 2023, so the used market is deep and keenly priced. The 2017-2023 (Mk8) cars keep the class-leading agility that made the Fiesta the supermini benchmark, and the ST is one of the great modern budget performance cars. Most are 1.0 EcoBoost three-cylinder petrol, with 1.1 non-turbo entry cars and the 1.5 ST. Cross-shop the VW Polo, Renault Clio, SEAT Ibiza and Vauxhall Corsa - the Fiesta wins on driving feel.

How these figures are sourced — the valuation is anchored to a researched used-market price for this model (AutoTrader median, 2023 at 30k miles). Reliability, mileage and variant data are real DVSA MOT records. Dimensions, tyre sizes and costs, servicing figures and the insurance group are segment-level estimates rather than sourced per car, and are being replaced model by model.

Ford Fiesta
Photo: © M 93 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · source
Body
Hatchback
Years
2018–2023
Fuel
Petrol / Mild Hybrid
Economy
54 mpg

combined

Insurance
Group 15

The short version

36/100

Forecourt score

Value 34 · Reliability 37 · catalogue percentiles

The Ford Fiesta holds its value about averagely. Its MOT-based reliability is good — an MOT score of 73/100, ahead of 25% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 34% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20) — the from-new ownership picture. Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Estimates are tuned to the version you choose.

Fuel

Mild Hybrid · 999cc

Power

125 ps

Drivetrain

FWD

Cam drive

Wet belt

Quoted MPG

54 mpg

The volume Fiesta (used market). 1.0L EcoBoost mHEV (post-2022 cars), 125 PS, 6-speed manual, FWD. 9.5s 0-62. 54+ mpg achievable. Titanium — 16-inch wheels, climate, parking sensors. Discontinued 2023.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20182023
20,973 mi
0Expected: 20,973180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£11,750

Range £9,900 – £13,750

medium confidence

When new (2023)circa £22,000Age-based value£12,237Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region-£6Market calibration+£319Forecourt price£12,550Private sale£10,950Part-exchange£9,650
Holdthis 3-year-old

Fair value — depreciation is moderating.

At 20,973 miles it’s about the ~25,071 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Ford Fiesta loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 20,973 miles you entered above — worth about £11,750 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 6,991 miles a year.

5-year total

£13,276

Per year

£2,655

All-in per mile

£0.38

Fuel per mile

14.5p

Depreciation£2,414
Fuel / energy£5,082
Servicing£1,765
Road tax£1,000
Insurance£3,015

Best age to buy — around 4 years

A 4-year-old example loses roughly £1,200 a year — 56% less than the £2,700 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 34%
Reliabilitybetter than 37%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

1.0 EcoBoost / Fiesta ST

UK's former bestselling new car. Discontinued 2023 — end of era. Cross-shop Vauxhall Corsa (sister-segment, current), Hyundai i20, Renault Clio, VW Polo. Fiesta ST (used market) is the apex affordable hot hatch — sub-£20k used market for Quaife-LSD version.

New price
circa £20,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,100
3-yr depreciation
50%

Watch for

  • ·🔔 1.0 EcoBoost wet-belt issues — cambelt at 60-80k miles or 4 years
  • ·Some Fiesta ST had dual-mass flywheel issues at high mileage
  • ·DISCONTINUED 2023 — used market only
  • ·Ford reliability acceptable

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 03/08/2026) · Petrol 159.9p/L, Diesel 179.2p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 15 of 50 (low — cheaper end of the scale) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£603/ year

Roughly £50 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£1,375£1,719£2,234
Age 26-32£718£844£1,030
Age 33-39Selected£531£603£712
Age 40-49£450£500£581
Age 50+£402£446£527

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

6,991 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 6,99130,000

Routine service

£185

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£210

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£200

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£941

54 mpg, £1.60/L

Insurance

£603

Age 33-39, group 15

Clean-air zones

✓ ULEZ compliant
  • Mild Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.
  • All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£2,139 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£80

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£240

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£520

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£900

per year · high risk

Tyres

195/65 R15 · 205/55 R16 · 215/45 R17

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 20,973 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 14.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 36,267,654 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 9.7% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 36,267,654 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 8.9% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 36,267,654 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120medium severityParts high

Recorded in 9.9% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 36,267,654 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 4.7% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 36,267,654 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

EmissionsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£800medium severityParts high

Recorded in 5.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 36,267,654 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the Ford Fiesta, from its 2017 assessment.

5/5
TEST YEAR2017
Rating lapsed after 2023 · protocol superseded

The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014. Euro NCAP ratings run for six years from publication; a lapsed rating means the protocol has moved on, not that the car performs any worse than it did on test.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 36,634,357 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old Fiesta passes its MOT 86.3% of the time; by 25 years that has slipped to 66.7%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

96%of 8-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 95,884 vehicles registered in 2018.

Survival by registration year

93%95%98%100%20182022

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every Fiesta with MOT history in the DVSA record. From 4,935,442 vehicles tested at least once - not the number on the road today, which is lower.

  • Petrol 88.9%
  • Diesel 10.6%

What fails at the first MOT

The defect categories a Fiesta registered 2020–2023 fails on at its first MOT, from 130,154 first tests. Every car here is the same age and the same generation, so these are the faults that show up first - not the wear a high-mileage older example collects.

  • Tyres & wheels3.6%
  • Suspension1.4%
  • Brakes0.9%
  • Lighting & signalling0.9%
  • Driver's view0.7%
  • Seat belts & restraints0.3%

Share of first MOT tests recording at least one defect in that category. DVSA test-item categories, not parts: “Driver’s view” covers mirrors, wipers and glass.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a Fiesta at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 3 yr25,071
  • 4 yr32,618
  • 5 yr39,990
  • 6 yr47,121
  • 7 yr53,838
  • 8 yr59,934
  • 9 yr65,276
  • 10 yr69,640
  • 11 yr73,321
  • 12 yr76,422
  • 13 yr79,244
  • 14 yr81,617

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records. Ages below three are not shown: the first MOT is due at three years, so the few cars tested earlier are a self-selected minority rather than a representative sample. Ages with at least 10 tests shown.

Reliability

73/ 100

Good

First-MOT pass rate and defect rate for cars registered 2020 onward (130,154 first tests), with cohort survival — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

81%first-time pass rate

25th percentile — Below catalogue average

Based on 2,520,936 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

0%50%90%

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

  • 01The 1.0 EcoBoost uses a wet belt - confirm replacement history (around 60-80k / 6-10 years); it's the single most important check on a used Fiesta.
  • 02The Fiesta ST (1.5 EcoBoost) is brilliant but check for hard use; early cars had occasional diverter-valve and motor-mount niggles.
  • 03Now discontinued, clean low-owner cars are starting to firm up in value - buy on condition and history rather than chasing the cheapest.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Ford Fiesta, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

The Ford Fiesta is the UK's most-stolen car for years running (UK 2025 data). Keyless entry on later cars makes relay theft the usual method.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Ford Fiesta into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
GlasgowCity centre—
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
EdinburghCity centre—
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
AberdeenCity centre—
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
DundeeCity centre—
Likely exempt
Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • Bath — City centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • Bradford — Outer ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • Sheffield — Inside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & Gateshead — City centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • Portsmouth — Part of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Ford is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~290

Large network

Mass-market

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Ford is 6.4% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

These are segment estimates, not manufacturer figures. 296 of 325 catalogued cars share one of 14 identical dimension sets, so they describe a class rather than this particular car. Sourced figures replace them model by model.

Length

4,300 mm

Width

1,790 mm

Height

1,460 mm

Kerb weight

1,350 kg

Boot

380–1,250 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

How the UK Ford Fiesta fleet splits: taxed and on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, and gone from the register where that figure is available.

Total ever registered

1,668,644

Currently taxed & on road

1,322,273

79% of all registered

SORN (off road)

121,835

7% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

224,536

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

-5% vs 2024
1,444,5221,322,273

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 29 Jul 2026

Similar cars

Other hatchback models worth looking at

Ranked #35 in the UK

Vauxhall Astra

Read profile →

Ranked #37 in the UK

SEAT Leon

Read profile →

Ranked #38 in the UK

Renault Clio

Read profile →

Ranked #32 in the UK

Skoda Octavia

Read profile →

Same underpinnings

Built on the Ford B-car platform

Ford's B-segment platform underpinning the Fiesta and the Puma. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

Ford B-car / Global B · Ford

Common questions

Ford Fiesta, answered from the data

Is the Ford Fiesta reliable?
The Ford Fiesta scores 73/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 25% of the cars we track. That is computed from 36,634,357 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used Ford Fiesta cost?
A 2023 Ford Fiesta with around 20,973 miles is worth roughly £11,750 today (typical range £10,600–£12,900). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Ford Fiesta depreciate?
A new Ford Fiesta typically loses about 45% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Ford Fiesta?
The Ford Fiesta sits in insurance group 15 of 50 — the cheaper end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Ford Fiesta?
The most common age-related issues we track for the Ford Fiesta are: suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right); tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Ford Fiesta cost to run?
Expect around 54 mpg combined on the 1.0 EcoBoost 125 mHEV Titanium, £200 a year in road tax, about £185 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.
Is the Ford Fiesta ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol Ford Fiestas from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
How many Ford Fiestas are on UK roads?
About 1,322,273 Ford Fiestas are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

SearchCompare with