The best car I ever owned was an XR2. The hot-hatch from Ford was stylish, swift and handled beautifully.

OK, this was the 1980s but it was a great car for that era. I preferred it to its big rival, the Peugeot 205 GTI, because it was cheaper and comparatively raw but still tremendous fun.

Sky-high insurance rates and the hot-hatch’s bad-boy image put paid to the XR2 and its ilk. But just look at this, the Ford Fiesta Metal.

It’s the closest thing to the old XR2 but in a more refined, more polished set up.

At £15,695, it’s a limited edition model inspired by MINI, the car which proved that motorists would be a premium price for a three-door hatchback if it was sporty and good enough.

Well, this is no MINI. But it is a very good car in its own right. Fiesta has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and this is a very good version to appeal to younger drivers, or at least the young at heart.

It’s simple, light and has an engine that doesn’t produce peak power until 6,700rpm. In fact, Auto Express claimed it was one of the top ten performance cars of the year in 2011, higher than entries from Bentley, Aston Martin and Porsche. Praise indeed.

It manages 60mph in 8.7 seconds which isn’t that quick. In fact, my 1980s XR2 probably matched it.

But it feels faster and the ride and handling, thanks to stunning low-profile tyres and a great suspension, mean this car over-achieves. It has perfectly-weighted steering, too.

Maybe it’s my age but I felt it could do with a sixth gear to bring the revs down a little at motorway speeds, but that’s a minor criticism for a car which is such a great all-round package.

Based on the popular three-door 120PS Ford Fiesta Zetec-S, the Fiesta Metal boasts some pretty impressive trimmings. I liked the chrome twin exhaust pipes, the silver front grille surround, front aerofoil and front fog light bezels.

Inside, the piano black painted centre stack, air vent rings and door pulls and the black leather sports seats with silver contrast stitching gave this class a sporty and classy feel.

It also has special floor mats with silver piping, stainless steel door scuff plates with Fiesta logo and 17in black alloy wheels topped off with sports tuning with lowered ride height.

It still felt like a comfortable car but it was immensely capable. The ride and handling was stunning and the features including Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Home Safe headlights, Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS), Intelligent Protection System (IPS), front, side and knee airbags and anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) mean this a a very capable and safe vehicle.

Production is limited to 1,000 which is low enough to ensure the Metal retains some exclusivity.

It comes, as you might expect for a youth-oriented sports model with some impressive kit such as leather steering wheel, alloy pedals, black leather sports seats, side skirts and silver trim to the grille and foglights.

It also has chrome exhaust pipes, a lowered sports suspension and some of the meanest-looking alloy wheels you're ever likely to see.

Anthony Ireson, Ford of Britain's marketing director, said: “The Ford Fiesta has a significant heritage as a great driver’s car. The Auto Express accolade is a testament to how much work we put into making our cars special for today’s drivers.”

Meanwhile, the Ford Mondeo picked up two accolades at the What Car? 2012 awards, being declared both the UK’s best family car and the best estate car for the second consecutive year.

The best family car award went to the Mondeo 1.6 TDCi 115PS Zetec, with the UK’s most popular car buyer’s guide naming the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140PS Zetec the best estate – repeating the car’s double success at the What Car? Awards last year and also in 2009.

What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: “The Ford Mondeo has plenty of fresh rivals, but it’s such a strong package that it picks up two more awards this year, for best estate car and top family car.

“Ford has worked hard to keep the Mondeo refreshed and it has succeeded; this is still a great all-round package, either as a hatchback or an estate.”

Last year Mondeo was updated adding external refinements, heightened interior craftsmanship and new hi-tech features.

The Zetec model accounts for 38 per cent of sales in the UK, with the standard specification including 16in alloy wheels, Bluetooth hands-free and voice control system, cruise control, adjustable speed limiter, Quick Clear heated windscreen, electronic stability programme with traction control and Emergency Brake Assist.