Ford Fiesta Vignale 2017 first drive

The latest Ford Fiesta is the first to get treatment from Ford’s premium division, Vignale. Like Ford’s other posh models, this new range-topping variant gets a hefty list of standard kit as well as a swankier cabin.

The adjustments to the exterior are discreet, with a new chrome grille insert up front and standard 17in wheels the most obvious changes. But inside, passengers sit in standard leather seats (heated in the front) and the driver holds a leather-wrapped wheel with heating. The dash and parts of the door cards are also wrapped in leather.

As standard, Vignale models get a panoramic roof, an 8.0in touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there's a powerful 657W 10-speaker B&O Play premium sound system. Driver assist features including a 4.2in TFT instrument cluster, traffic sign recognition and auto high beam lighting are also thrown in.

No changes have been made to the car’s drivetrain or chassis, so it comes with a choice of the same 1.0-litre Ecoboost and 1.5 TDCi diesel engines as the rest of the range. The structure itself is also unmodified, although Vignale has added extra soundproofing.

You won’t be surprised to hear that Ford’s top Fiesta is the most comfortable. The leather seats are supportive and feature excellent adjustability, while the steering wheel’s leather wrap makes it soft and squidgy in feel.

Receiving Ford’s highest-resolution touchscreen as standard ensures that the Vignale is, in infotainment terms, one of the best-equipped cars available for less than £25k. The Sync3 system is a marked improvement over the old one, with intuitive menus and a simple, attractive design.

This premium feel continues across the cabin, with leather strewn over the dash top and door armrests. However, there are still hard touch plastics within easy reach, the most noticeable of which is the interior door handle.

Once moving, the effect of the car’s thicker soundproofing immediately becomes clear, with our car’s optional 18in wheels sending very little road noise into the cabin. This heavily contrasts with the regular car (and sportier ST-Line X), which can be dominated by tyre noise on certain motorway surfaces.

The 1.5-litre TDCi engine powering this test car is set to remain a niche choice in Britain, where the Ecoboost 1.0-litre is expected to continue to dominate Fiesta demand. But despite its predicted lack of sales impact, the diesel is a strong offering with punchy mid-range grunt and genuine pace.