Ford Fiesta review - Interior, design and technology

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The new Ford Fiesta isn’t exactly a design revolution over the previous model, and that’s partly because the car uses the same Ford ‘Global B’ platform as before. That means lots of the unseen parts are the same, keeping the proportions broadly similar to before - and, therefore, the design. A familiar trapezoidal grille remains on the front, plus there’s a set of swept-back headlights and a rising shoulder line just like before.

Still, at the back there is quite a change, as the larger, more horizontal taillights and new tailgate give the rear a different stance on the road. The car is longer and wider than before, which helps with interior space, but it also means the new Ford supermini does have a new shape, even though it takes more than a glance to realise.


The bigger change to the Fiesta’s design is on the inside, though. There are fewer hard, scratchy plastics in there, replaced with soft-touch materials and a newer, more modern layout. A large, tablet-style touchscreen sits on top of the dash, just like in the Citroen C3 and Hyundai i20, with the heater controls placed lower down. It means the Fiesta is a far cry from the previous version covered in buttons and switches, and it feels more upmarket as a result. The SEAT Ibiza still wins for material quality and simple design, though.

Ford Fiesta - interior detail

Ford Fiesta - interior detail
Ford Fiesta - Apple CarPlay

Spend another £300 for and you get a ten speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.
Ford Fiesta - panoramic roof

Ford Fiesta - panoramic roof
Ford Fiesta - front red

Ford Fiesta - front red
Ford Fiesta - rear red

Ford Fiesta - rear red
Ford Fiesta - wing mirror red

Ford Fiesta - wing mirror red
Ford Fiesta - front static

Ford Fiesta - front static
Ford Fiesta - profile

Ford Fiesta - profile
Ford Fiesta - rear

Ford Fiesta - rear
Ford Fiesta - boot

Ford Fiesta - boot
Ford Fiesta - rear detail

Ford Fiesta - rear detail
Ford Fiesta - rear light


Our Choice: Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.0 EcoBoost (100PS).

Ford Fiesta - wing mirror

Ford Fiesta - wing mirror
Ford Fiesta - dash

The interior is a big change with upmarket materials and a more modern layout.
Ford Fiesta - centre console

The cabin has ergonomically placed controls, while soft-touch materials replace hard plastic panels.
Ford Fiesta - front seat detail

Ford Fiesta - front seat detail
Ford Fiesta - front

Ford has improved the Fiesta to keep it on top of the UK’s car sales charts.
Ford Fiesta - fog light

Ford Fiesta - fog light
Ford Fiesta - rear static

The changes made to rear end styling give it a different stance on the road.
Ford Fiesta - rear seats


It feels a little bit more spacious inside with decent space in the back seats. While the boot is slightly larger too, with a wider opening than before.


Ford Fiesta - dials

Ford Fiesta - dials
Ford Fiesta - full front

The design change is evolutionary as the car used the same platform as before.
Ford Fiesta - wheel

Ford Fiesta - wheel
Ford Fiesta - front light

Ford Fiesta - front light
Ford Fiesta - transmission

Ford Fiesta - transmission
Ford Fiesta - interior


You get to choose from a basic 6.5-inch system and an 8-inch running Ford’s SYNC3 software.


Ford Fiesta - front action

Ford Fiesta - front action
Ford Fiesta - front cornering

Ford Fiesta - front cornering
Ford Fiesta - front seat

Ford Fiesta - front seat
Ford Fiesta - sat-nav

Ford Fiesta - sat-nav

Entry-level Trend cars feature 16-inch alloys as standard, plus air-conditioning, Bluetooth and a 8.0-inch touchscreen. The expected best-selling Titanium model adds rear parking sensors, cruise control and Ford’s SYNC 3 software with sat-nav. Move up to ST-Line X and you get 18-inch alloys, partial leather-trimmed sports seats and a B&O Premium audio system.

Range-topping Vignale models are positioned to rival premium superminis, and get 17-inch alloys, heated leather seats and unique interior/exterior styling accents - but as these models cost a lot to buy and won’t hold their value very well; we’d stick to a Titanium model if you want more toys.

Ford Fiesta - interior detail

Ford Fiesta - interior detail
Ford Fiesta - Apple CarPlay

Spend another £300 for and you get a ten speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.
Ford Fiesta - panoramic roof

Ford Fiesta - panoramic roof
Ford Fiesta - front red

Ford Fiesta - front red
Ford Fiesta - rear red

Ford Fiesta - rear red
Ford Fiesta - wing mirror red

Ford Fiesta - wing mirror red
Ford Fiesta - front static

Ford Fiesta - front static
Ford Fiesta - profile

Ford Fiesta - profile
Ford Fiesta - rear

Ford Fiesta - rear
Ford Fiesta - boot

Ford Fiesta - boot
Ford Fiesta - rear detail

Ford Fiesta - rear detail
Ford Fiesta - rear light


Our Choice: Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.0 EcoBoost (100PS).

Ford Fiesta - wing mirror

Ford Fiesta - wing mirror
Ford Fiesta - dash

The interior is a big change with upmarket materials and a more modern layout.
Ford Fiesta - centre console

The cabin has ergonomically placed controls, while soft-touch materials replace hard plastic panels.
Ford Fiesta - front seat detail

Ford Fiesta - front seat detail
Ford Fiesta - front

Ford has improved the Fiesta to keep it on top of the UK’s car sales charts.
Ford Fiesta - fog light

Ford Fiesta - fog light
Ford Fiesta - rear static

The changes made to rear end styling give it a different stance on the road.
Ford Fiesta - rear seats


It feels a little bit more spacious inside with decent space in the back seats. While the boot is slightly larger too, with a wider opening than before.


Ford Fiesta - dials

Ford Fiesta - dials
Ford Fiesta - full front

The design change is evolutionary as the car used the same platform as before.
Ford Fiesta - wheel

Ford Fiesta - wheel
Ford Fiesta - front light

Ford Fiesta - front light
Ford Fiesta - transmission

Ford Fiesta - transmission
Ford Fiesta - interior


You get to choose from a basic 6.5-inch system and an 8-inch running Ford’s SYNC3 software.


Ford Fiesta - front action

Ford Fiesta - front action
Ford Fiesta - front cornering

Ford Fiesta - front cornering
Ford Fiesta - front seat

Ford Fiesta - front seat
Ford Fiesta - sat-nav

Ford Fiesta - sat-nav

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment​


All models now come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, although Trend versions have to make do without Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system.The latest version of the tech adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The graphics are crisp and it’s pretty easy to use, but there are only a few physical buttons to make navigating easier when you’re on the move.

Higher-spec models add a Bang & Olufsen stereo that has eight speakers and a subwoofer for improved audio. It’s there to compete with similar systems in rivals: the Nissan Micra has a Bose set-up, while Beats audio features on a number of other supermini rivals.

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