Ford Fiesta ST (05-08) - Review

While the ST is great on twisting roads, it doesn't make for an ideal long distance car. The ride is firm and the Fiesta can fidget over bumps while on the motorway the lack of a sixth gear means the engine revs are high at 70mph and it's noisy as a result. The seats offer excellent support though and are surprisingly comfortable on longer journeys while four adults can just about fit in - although it's not particularly spacious.

Choosing the ST doesn't mean you have to sacrifice practicality - it has the same 60/40 split folding rear seats as the standard car and an identical 253 litres of boot space, which is on par with most small cars. Inside there's a decent-sized glovebox and a few storage areas for odds and ends. However it's only available as a three-door and access to the rear seats isn't particularly easy.

The dash has a functional feel but it's starting to show its age. The material used on the dash top is tactile enough but elsewhere it feels cheap and scratchy. The ST does get some silver-plastics but they don't feel upmarket and there's little to lift the fairly ordinary cabin. Even worse is the fact that there's no reach adjustment on the steering wheel and the drivers seat is set a little too high - plus there's no off clutch rest for your left foot which can become annoying on long journeys. modern look, enhanced in 2005 with soft-touch plastics in one of several contrasting colours. Aluminium detailing adds sporty visual spice to the ST. It's an easy car to get comfortable in thanks to the height adjustable seat and steering wheel and good basic ergonomics, although it lacks a clutch foot rest. The only real gripe from the driver's seat - and it's an issue on all three-door Fiestas - is the seatbelt, which is an awkward reach over the shoulder as it is so far behind.