Hi, I currently own a Ford Fiesta MK7 Titanium X Ecoboost 125BHP and I'm looking to upgrade to a newer model of Fiesta. I went to test drive a Fiesta Active X 140BHP (2020 plate) today but found the cabin to appear smaller than my existing car. I think this was maybe because the new Sync infotainment screen is pulled forward in the centre console compared to my simplistic blue screen bluetooth sync screen. Also, not sure if I was just imagining it but the rear of the vehicle seemed to have less space than my existing Fiesta.

I wasn't completely sold on the Active X model, as it didn't seem to drive differently or feel any higher up, albeit I only had a test drive for a matter of 10mins.

Is there actually less space in the newer Fiesta's than the MK7's? Also, did anyone else feel that the more recent Fiesta's felt maybe a bit more crowded than previous models? Just trying to work out if I will adjust to it over time.

I don't know about the Fiesta but as a general rule all new models of the same car are bigger on the outside but have less room on the inside than their predecessors because of the safety standards that car now have to comply with.

The mk7 and mk8 are basically the same chassis very little difference. 

43 minutes ago, bjs2013uk said:

Is there actually less space in the newer Fiesta's than the MK7's? Also, did anyone else feel that the more recent Fiesta's felt maybe a bit more crowded than previous models? Just trying to work out if I will adjust to it over time.

I've had the feeling since I got mine that the Mk 8 is a little more cramped than the 2 Mk 7s we had, also that the seats are a bit narrower. I did take some measurements which supported the theory (by a very narrow margin) and posted them somewhere on here but typically can't find it now. 

I did get used to it and don't notice now when driving alone, but some "fuller figured"  passengers do make the front feel a bit tight.

The black headlining on the "sporty" models doesn't help the feeling either.

It's not really an issue for me and wouldn't put me off another, but those who want a more spacious feel might find the VW Group superminis (A1, Polo, Ibiza and Fabia especially) more to their liking.

 

2 hours ago, bjs2013uk said:

I wasn't completely sold on the Active X model, as it didn't seem to drive differently or feel any higher up, albeit I only had a test drive for a matter of 10mins.

Can't comment from experience as I haven't tried that variant, but a friend and neighbour went from a Mk 7 Titanium on 17" wheels to an Active X on 18s. She is a lady who likes to get a move on (to put it mildly) but reported no great loss of handling etc. I did ask what the advantage was then and she said it was slightly easier to slide into the seat but that was about it, other than the looks.

She must like them as she has recently replaced it with another one!