Ford upgraded the fifth generation of the Fiesta in 2005 to improve the small car image on the market, and the results were better than expected.
The sporty, 3-door version was the base model for the sporty hot-hatch Fiesta ST, which was in its first generation. Ford tried, and succeeded, to build a desirable car among the younger generation, and with the new 2005 updates, it made it safer.

From the outside, Ford’s designers didn’t seem to work too hard. At the front, it featured better headlights with clear lenses and a slightly reshaped grille. Depending on the trim level, a set of round fog-lights, or angular ones, found their way at the lower side of the front bumper. In the base level, there wasn’t any.

Inside, Ford improved the car’s dashboard and changed some materials to make the car more pleasant for the passengers. The base trim level featured black plastic everywhere on the dashboard and door panels, with no tachometer inside the instrument cluster. The upper trim level received sport-bucket seats, two-tone fabric upholstery, and better finishes. Its CD-stereo was improved for better sound and even voice-control. An unusual feature for its class was the optional automatic climate control.

Ford already updated the technical part of the car to the Euro 4 requirements, but it tried to go past that and included the ESP on the list to make the car safer on the road. Under the hood, the carmaker installed a choice of five gasoline and two diesel engines.