Ford Fiesta ST review – one hell of a hot hatch

Recaro seats, go-kart like handling, and stunning looks all powered by a turbocharged 1.6 litre engine – this is one hot hatch.  EFTM took the Ford Fiesta ST for a spin – and we loved every minute of it.

Make no mistake about it, the term hot-hatch gets thrown around a fair bit these days – any hatchback with a sporty look and an optioned up powerhouse seems to grab the title, in reality there is a small few vehicles that are truly hot hatches.  The Ford Fiesta ST is one.

The 10 Minute Test Drive

Recaro seats are made to keep you stuck in your place and they do that well – very well.  You need that, it’s what gives you that first real feeling that this is going to be fun.  The not-uncommon push-button start breathes life into the apparently simple yet extraordinarily powerful  little 1.6 litre engine.  It sounds great, bubbles well under your foot and gives you what you want when you want it.

A dealer test drive will involve a few suburban streets, you’ll feel the burst of power at some stops and starts, and you’ll seek out a round-a-bout or two to get a genuine sense of handling, if you’re lucky that’s the result you’ll get.  Otherwise you’ll just have to take my word for it.

This vehicle is the fun you want on a weekend drive, it’s also that smile you need on a boring daily commute.  That commute is likely to be where you spend most of your time so a dealer test-drive on average suburban streets might just be all the proof you’ll need.

Ins and Outs

The very fact that it’s possible to make a four-cylinder car feel so great to drive is testament to the engineering that has gone into cars and in particular this hatch.  The turbo-charged beast lurking under the hood of this pocket-rocket does nothing but please.

You control it all through the 6-speed manual transmission, churning 132kW of power with 240Nm of torque.  While you are squirting around town you shouldn’t need to pump more than 6.2L per 100km.

It sits simply gloriously on 17 inch alloy wheels and inside the full Ford SYNC Sony infotainment system treats you well, but in reality the screen-size and user interface is the main thing that dates this Ford interior.  It needs to improve if Ford wants to really battle with its competitors.

All that, and the peace of mind that comes with a 5-star ANCAP safety rating

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Hip Pocket

Punch your postcode into the Ford website and you’ll come up with a drive-away price under $30,000. Having handed back the keys already and having the vehicle as an almost distant memory that price staggers me.

Sure you can get something that looks a whole bunch more sports-car like with a vehicle like the Toyota 86, but as far as day-to-day drives go, the Fiesta ST offers power, handling and comfort for those regular drives.  Yep it’s a little stiff on the bumps, you’d expect nothing less – but it is most certainly something you will learn to live with.  Good luck wiping the smile off your face

Bragging Rights

This is car-porn on a smaller scale than something like the Nissan GT-R.   It looks great rolling out of your driveway, and likewise when you pull up at your destination.  It has a sound you’ll enjoy through tunnels and when a mate jumps into the passenger seat you’ll get a little joy from the smile you’re able to deliver.

The Lasting Impression

Hot.  It’s as simple as that, this is a great car, it feels like a car should yet offers the creature comforts you’ll be sold up on when you shop around almost all the vehicles at this price range and a bit more.

The EFTM Rubber Stamp

This was an easy decision.  Ford Fiesta ST grabs the EFTM Distinction Stamp for its pure unadulterated thrill ride – the power, handling and performance make it a genuine “does what it says on the box” kinda purchase.  If you want a hot-hatch – You won’t regret owning a Ford Fiesta ST.

 

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