Ford Fiesta 2008–2012 car dimensions: 3950 mm long, 1722 mm wide and 1481 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,054 kg. Braked towing is 600 kg.
The cabin offers a basic setup with cloth seats, a plastic steering wheel adjustable for reach and rake, electric front windows, and power-adjustable heated door mirrors. Climate control is limited to a standard heater and ventilation system with pollen filter. full air conditioning comes only via an optional pack on this grade or as standard on higher ones. Cruise control is not available on Ambiente. Driver aids stick to core safety items like ABS with EBD, multiple airbags including a driver's knee bag, and ISOFIX points. ESP was optional at launch then became standard from 2010. No advanced electronics like screens or camera systems appear in the base spec.
The boot holds 295 litres with the rear seats up, enough for weekly shopping or a couple of suitcases. Fold the 60/40 split rear seats and space grows to 979 litres for larger loads, though the floor is not completely flat.
Towing limits for the common 1.25-litre Ambiente 5-door sit at 600 kg braked and 500 kg unbraked. Payload is listed at 441 kg. These figures suit light trailer use such as a small box trailer or bike rack but fall short for heavier loads. No heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension is noted for the passenger hatchback versions.
Cloth seats offer basic manual adjustment with supportive front cushions and height-and-reach steering wheel. Electric front windows and central locking come standard. Soft-touch dash top contrasts harder lower plastics for a modern feel. Rear seats fold 60/40 with decent leg and head room for the class. Air conditioning arrives only in an option pack.
Combined fuel use listed at 5.4 l/100 km for 1.25 petrol and 4.2 l/100 km for 1.4 TDCi.
Service interval every 12 months or 12 500 miles.
Euro NCAP five-star adult occupant rating from 2008 test.
Standard kit includes ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, front side airbags and driver knee airbag.
ESP optional at launch then standard from mid-2010. curtain airbags optional.
Petrol versions return combined figures of 5.4-5.8 l/100 km depending on engine size while the 1.4 TDCi diesel sits at 4.2 l/100 km. Tank capacity is 45 litres across the range.
Ford specifies service every 12 months or 12 500 miles. Timing belt change sits at longer intervals around 160 000 km on petrol units.
The car earned five stars for adult protection in the 2008 Euro NCAP test with stable structure and good chest and leg scores. Standard safety covers ABS, front airbags, side airbags and a driver knee bag. ESC became standard later in the run while curtain bags stayed optional on the base Ambiente.
Keep the service book stamped and watch for suspension wear or air-con leaks on higher-mileage examples. Parts remain widely available and the car is simple to maintain at independent garages.
Length 3950 mm, Width 1722 mm, Height 1481 mm, Wheelbase 2489 mm (Fiesta 2008–2012)
Sources: manufacturer data, Ford Technische Daten, Wheelbase is, those two data-sheet transcriptions print.