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The Fiesta protected well in all areas tested but its restraint system fed high loads to the driver’s chest, increasing the risk of injury. Testers noted that while Ford has worked hard to safeguard the driver’s knees it had not cleared all the hazards. Protection in the side impact was reasonable and was achieved without a thorax-protecting airbag. Ford says that a new ISOFIX child protection system is to be introduced and the restraints in this test are to be replaced, even though they worked reasonably. Protection for pedestrians was better than average.

Front impact
The restraint systems were effective but the chest loadings were on the high side. The body withstood the impact well, with minimal distortion of the footwell and screen pillar. As with any small car it was difficult to provide room to protect the driver’s knees fully. The only hazards arose from the steering column and shroud. Substantial padding was provided but testers judged that the ignition barrel and adjuster lever presented hazards to the driver’s knees. A three-point belt was fitted to the centre rear seat, which protects far better than a lap-only belt.

Side impact
The side impact protection worked quite well without a side-impact airbag. However, the driver’s ribs, abdomen and pelvis were loaded by the door during the impact.

Child-protection
Ford told Euro NCAP that it is to replace the restraints supplied here with a new design using ISOFIX. The ones tested relied on the adult belts to secure them and worked well, protecting the children’s heads in side and frontal impact. The children’s chests and necks were protected in the side impact but not in the frontal impact. Ford also offers the option of a dealer-fitted passenger airbag on/off switch but stops short of actively recommending that it be used.

Pedestrian protection
The bonnet was fairly compliant where an adult’s head was most likely to hit it but the wings and front of the car were unforgiving. Unusually, the bonnet’s front edge was fairly ‘pedestrian friendly’. The Fiesta ranked as one of the better cars tested here.