Ford Fiesta (2012-2017) interior
The Fiesta has a fantastic driving position and the interior is full of handy storage bins, but it looks old fashioned and there’s barely any head or legroom in the back
Style
The Ford Fiesta’s cabin feels quite old fashioned. It might boast a soft, squidgy dashboard but the door trims and centre console feel cheap and flimsy. Both the VW Polo’s and Skoda Fabia’s cabins look and feel significantly more solid. Not helping matters is the cluttered jumble of buttons on the centre console of Zetec and ST-Line models that look like an ancient Nokia mobile phone. The buttons are tiny and their fiddly layout makes something as simple as changing the radio station a real pain, especially on the move. Don’t think the upgraded Sony system is any more intuitive to use – its smaller buttons look flashier but they’re even more fiddly.
Sporty mid-range ST-Line models feature a few neat mood lights in the cupholders but, overall, the Fiesta’s last-decade design can’t hold a candle to the Vauxhall Corsa’s far more modern cabin.
A few nasty plastic pieces inside mean the Fiesta doesn’t feel as nice inside as the VW Polo or Vauxhall Corsa
- Cash
- £11,512
- Used
- £4,995
Infotainment
Watch our Ford Fiesta interior and infotainment video review
All Fiestas come with a 4.2-inch, non-touchscreen display as standard, but it’s both smaller and slower to respond than the slick unit offered in the VW Polo.
Unfortunately, the Fiesta isn’t available with the same Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring systems as the Corsa, nor does it come with satellite navigation as standard. As a result, you can’t mirror your smartphone on the infotainment screen, so the only way to get satellite navigation is to fork out an extra £400 for Ford’s own built-in system. This option does bring with it a larger 5.0-inch screen – still smaller than most modern mobile phones – and a more modern selection of knobs and buttons that really help lift the Fiesta’s drab interior. Despite this, the sat-nav is still quite tricky to use and you’ll tear your hair out the first time you try to put in a postcode.
Thankfully, the Fiesta’s standard stereo system helps it claw back a few crucial points. It might not come with DAB digital radio functions as standard, but it sounds almost as good as the upgraded system’s eight-speaker Sony unit.
If you’re buying a Fiesta for a younger driver then it’s worth knowing that all Fiestas come with MyKey technology as standard. This feature lets you limit the car’s top speed, and even set a cap on the volume of the radio. It might sound a little like Ford’s taken a step back to 1984, but it could be perfect if you’re worried about your son or daughter turning your brand-new car into a hedge-bound missile or a mobile rave.
- Cash
- £11,512
- Used
- £4,995