MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM

You have to climb all the way up to our test vehicle’s ST-3 specification on the Fiesta ST’S showroom ladder to get a car equipped with a factory sat-nav system.

Entry-level cars get a 6.5in touchscreen infotainment system and mid-level ST-2S get an 8.0in screen. But when both lower-end systems include Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring as standard — and particularly since Ford’s navigation system isn’t all that great — you can easily do without.

The SYNC3 system can be voicecontrolled, and works fairly well when given clear instructions. Finding your way in and out of Carplay mode can be tricky, with no ‘home’ button on the row of shortcuts just underneath the main screen, but that apart, usability is decent.

Our test car was fitted with Ford’s optional B&O Play premium audio system (£350). It increases the car’s speaker count from six to ten.

The sound quality is impressive enough but the system wouldn’t be high on the list of things we would spend extra on.