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Ford Fiesta ST Mk7 review (2013-2017) – a superb, if short lived supermini hot hatch - Interior and tech

The ST was evo’s favourite junior hot hatch, hopefully the new one will be just as fun.

Evo rating
  • Great value, deeply involving chassis
  • Interior feels older than its model year suggests

Interior and tech

The cabin design is a little fussy for some tastes and some of the plastics used feel quite low-rent, particularly those that are tucked out of sight. The things that really matter, however, such as the Recaro seats and driving position, are first rate. The seats are comfortable and supportive, with bolsters that wrap around your kidneys and keep you well located when the road begins to twist and turn.

There is just enough space in the rear for adults to be comfortable over shorter journeys, but taller passengers will begin to feel a little cramped over longer motorway trips.

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All Fiesta STs came with MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth mobile phone preparation as standard, but you had to pay an extra £400 for satellite navigation on all but the range-topping ST3 model.

The biggest issue we have with the cabin is that the stereo and various menus are unintuitive to navigate. With familiarity they do become easier to operate, but we would welcome a simpler and clearer infotainment system. Although the satellite navigation screen is small it does work well and the Bluetooth phone system is clear enough to support a conversation.

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