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Used test: Ford Fiesta ST vs Vauxhall Corsa VXR interiors
The Fiesta ST was our recommended buy when new, but Vauxhall's Corsa VXR has more power and is a cheaper used option. So, which should you choose now?...
Interiors
Driving position, visibility, build quality, practicality
Whatever your size, you'll find a decent driving position in the Ford Fiesta ST . The range of adjustment from the steering wheel and seat, plus the amount of headroom on offer, is excellent for such a small car.
You sit slightly higher in the Vauxhall Corsa VXR and its seat doesn’t slide as far back, and that can prevent very tall drivers getting comfortable. It’s also disappointing that there isn’t a footrest next to the clutch pedal.
Both cars have Recaro sports seats that impress in different ways. The Fiesta ST’s fit more snugly around your sides and as such offer better lateral support, particularly around the shoulders, but the Corsa VXR’s are more comfortable over long distances.
The Fiesta’s main bugbears are its dashboard ergonomics and quality. Its small infotainment screen looks old-fashioned compared with the Corsa’s 7.0in touchscreen and isn’t as easy to use. Most of the switches and buttons feel a bit low-rent, too, although the ST’s dashboard is soft to the touch.
By comparison, the VXR’s interior looks smarter and more modern. Chrome highlights and gloss black surfaces help differentiate it from lesser models in the Corsa line-up, and the materials throughout the cabin – with the exception of the cheap-feeling air-con controls – feel that bit more premium.
However, it’s a pity that, apart from the seats and aluminium pedals, neither car looks overtly sporty inside.
Head room is similarly generous in both cars’ rear seats, although the Corsa has marginally more rear leg room. However, the VXR’s front seats don’t tilt forward as freely as the ST's, making it trickier to get into the back to start with.
Annoyingly, too, after letting someone in or out of the rear in either car, the front seats don’t return to their original position; you have to reposition them manually each time.
The two cars have similar-sized boots that will easily swallow a couple of weekend bags and 60/40 split-folding rear seats for those occasions when you need to carry bulkier items.
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