For years Ford were dominant; regularly topping polls for most popular cars with British motorists; firstly with the Escort and then with its replacement the Focus in 1999.
However, the Focus has subsequently fallen from grace on account of rising fuel and insurance prices which has led to motorists increasingly opting for smaller and hence more fuel efficient vehicles.
In its place has come the Vauxhall Corsa, which is now the most popular car with British motorists according to car insurance comparison site MoneySupermarket.com. This has been calculated by looking at the number of car insurance searches carried out for every different vehicle available in the UK.

Indeed, the Corsa was the only car to attract over one million car insurance searches over the past 12 months on the website; attracting over 175,000 more searches than Ford’s Fiesta model which took a solid 2nd.
With both manufacturers having launched new versions of both models recently; we take a look at which model is the best option for motorists and whether or not Ford has done enough to regain its lead.
Aesthetics
Of course, the first thing you look at when you are judging any car is its external appearance. This is where Ford has fallen short of Vauxhall in recent years; regularly producing vehicles which simply didn’t look as modern or as aesthetically pleasing as its rival.
However, this has all changed with the latest range of Ford models which have been released. In fact, the new Fiesta is arguably the best looking little hatchback currently available on the market having taken many of its styling cues from the fourth iteration of the Corsa which was launched back in 2006.
The interior has also been significantly modernised. However, it is perhaps not quite as sturdy as the Vauxhall alternative. The best example of this point in the steering wheel. While the Corsa offers a thick leather steering wheel, the Fiesta’s wheel is made of quite thin plastic. This might only be a small thing, but it doesn’t exactly shout quality.

External appearance Winner: Ford Fiesta
Internal appearance Winner: Vauxhall Corsa
Handling and performance
Looking beyond the steering wheel, the Fiesta’s handling is actually incredibly responsive and sensitive. A joy to drive in fact. Gear changes are smooth and the power available from the 1.25 litre version of the model is certainly good enough for the size of the car.
The Corsa isn’t exactly bad itself, and certainly in terms of handling it is more than a match for the Ford alternative. However, the 1.2 litre engine for some reason feels too small to carry what appears to be a much bulkier frame than what was used by its predecessor.
The clutch also feels much more juddery when changing gear than the Fiesta which would make even the poorest of drivers look like an expert.
Winner: Ford Fiesta
Fuel efficiency and tax
Of course the big thing at the moment on the back of rising oil prices is fuel efficiency.
Ford claims that the 1.25 litre version of the Fiesta will consume 51.4 miles per gallon (MPG) on average, which would result in the average driver spending about £1,100 per year on fuel at the current rate.
Remarkably Vauxhall claims that its equivalent 1.2 litre Corsa also has a combined fuel consumption figure of 51.4 MPG.
Both cars are also classified into band D on the road tax groupings, meaning that they will both attract a road tax bill of about £100 per year.
Winner: No winners
Car insurance premiums
Now let’s take a look at car insurance, which has become such a big area of concern for motorists in recent years with the average driver paying approximately £921 per year for cover according to the latest figures published by the AA.
Every car on the road in the UK is classed into a car insurance group numbered between 1 and 50, with those in car insurance group 1 attracting the cheapest premiums. A Basic 1.2 litre Vauxhall Corsa Active is classed as being in car insurance group 6 according to Thatcham.
Meanwhile a basic Ford Fiesta Studio is actually classed as being in car insurance group 5 under the new classifications, meaning that it will attract slightly cheaper premiums. Its not a significant difference, but nevertheless it is still likely to bring an annual saving.
Winner: Ford Fiesta
Overall Winner
It really is a closely run contest, and with there being just a £300 difference in price between the two models (with the Corsa being the cheaper option); initial purchase costs was never going to be a consideration. However, in the end the Fiesta just pips the Corsa to the title of the best small hatchback on the market.
The Fiesta strong performance, reliability and pleased exterior appearance must surely bode well for Ford’s chances of regaining the title of the nation’s favourite car.