• Simple layout and appealing style
• Some cheap plastics if you look…
• … but quality present where it counts

You don’t expect surprises or confusing controls in a Ford, and this Fiesta was about as accessible as you could get. The interior layout is clear and reasonably uncluttered, with a few variations of material for different trim levels. Charcoal grey plastics dominate and they’re complemented by similar hues (or lack thereof) for the fabrics. It felt professional and solid, which for a small car of the time was quite welcome.

Higher trim levels featured a 12.3-inch fully digital dashboard, but every model received the same 8.0-inch infotainment system. Pleasingly, you also got proper heater controls, a traditional handbrake and a good driving position with a wide range of adjustment. Little touches, like the button on the indicator stalk to switch lane keeping assistance on or off, made the Fiesta a thoroughly intuitive car to live with.

Infotainment and tech

When launched, the Fiesta was one of the most technically complete small cars you could buy, with adaptive cruise control, a connected infotainment system with OTA (over the air) updates and the option of an impressive B&O sound system. This evolved with the facelift, which gave all but the most basic models digital instruments and you could specify adaptive headlights. Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment software didn’t changed, but it was still an impressive system.

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Although the central screen can display heater control status, there’s a full set of physical controls, which we love because you don’t need to take your eyes off the road to use them. There are also physical buttons for comfort features like the Quickclear windscreen demister, heated seats and heated steering wheel.

Comfort

• Supportive front seats
• Passengers got more flexibility on higher specs
• Rear passengers won’t appreciate the sunroof

This was a small car, and it did the best it could with the space available. Ford’s seats are supportive but basic with few adjustments. Even so, it was easy to get a good driving position for most builds and preferences, and there was enough space around the driver to not feel hemmed in.

Visibility is good for the most part, though the thick A-pillar base meant an extra, small window ahead of the door mirror for checking the passenger side was required.