genuinely usable performance and an
e n ga g i n g d r i v e , t h at it fe e l s g r e at e r
than the sum of its parts. It might
be ‘just’ a Fiesta underneath that
bodykit and Performance Blue paint,
but the changes made by Ford have
transformed the basic recipe intosomething special.
Ta k e t he e n g i ne. O n pap e r, t he
1.5-litre three-cylinder unit sounds
far less exciting than the four-pot
turbos found in its rivals, but Ford
has managed to extract an impressive
197bhp and tuned its engine note
into something decidedly more rip-
snorting than you’d think possible
given its cubic capacity. Okay, I
would have liked a few more pops
a nd ba n gs , w h ic h on l y r e a l l y pr e s e nt
themselves in Sport mode and aren’t
anywhere near the barking ferocity
of the Hyundai i30 N’s outbursts, but
then again,
I’m easily amused.
What was most grin-inducing was
the way it delivers mid-range shove,
pulling faster in-gear than any of its
rivals and at a rate that could surprise
much pricier cars on motorway
jou r ne y s. It ’s a l s o a n i nd ic at ion of
how far Ford has come in a relativelyshort space of time: when our
road test team figured the ST, it
d i s pat c he d 0 -10 0 mph f a s t e r t h a n
the original, head-turning 2002
Focus RS, while managing fuel
economy of almost 50mpg when
you’re being more careful.
The ST made the biggest
impression in the corners, with
direct and sensibly weighted steering
allowing for immediate shifts in
d i r e c t ion , a nd ple nt y of g r ip t h r ou g h
the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.
Would-be owners should
c on side r t he £85 0 ST Pe r for m a nc e
Pack. It’s a near-mandatory addition
w he n c ho o si n g op t ion s , s uc h i s t he
effect the limited-slip differential
has on handling. With it, a trailing
t h r ot t le a l low s for e a si l y c ont r ol le d
oversteer and a level of playfulness
rarely experienced in a front-driven
hatchback.It of t e n t o ok a d r i v e i n s ome t h i n g
else to highlight how well-rounded
the ST is, and it wasn’t ever short on
challengers. A stint in Vauxhall’s
Corsa GSi revealed how badly
ride quality can be impacted by
oversprung suspension, and while
the Ford isn’t f lawless, it’s a lot more
comfortable around town than the
previous-generation model. It proved
itself on longer journeys, too.
Y
FORD FIESTA ST
Recaro seats enh
ance
the Fiesta’s alr
eady
classy-feeling c
abinOUR CARS
FEATURED THIS WEEK
Was six months enough time for Ford’s
hot supermini to make an impression?
Af te r 90 0 0 m i l e s , w e h a ve a n a n s w e r
FINAL REPORT MILEAGE 9148
WHY WE RAN IT
To see if Ford’s hottest supermini
could successfully pick up the baton
from its class-topping predecessor
ou will have seen more
powerful cars appear
on these pages in recent
months. More luxurious.
Mor e e x p e n si v e. But not h i n g on ou r
f leet has attracted the level of interest
t h i s pluc k y l it t le Ford h a s a c h ie v e d.
It was continually being booked for
w e e k e nd r oa d t r ip s. No s o one r h a d
one eager staffer returned the keys,
another would appear pleading for a
go. And after six months of Fiesta ST
ownership, I can’t blame them.
The ST so comfortably fills its
brief as a fast, fun supermini, with
DACIA DUSTER FORD FIESTA FORD FOCUS MG ZS
64 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 24 APRIL 2 019
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