Ford Fiesta ST 2018 UK first drive

There’s no point stringing this out: on British roads, this car is sensationally good fun with just a couple of small caveats.

It starts with the basics. The pedals are well positioned not only for general comfort but also for heel-and-toe shifts. The standard Recaro bucket seats — and it seems amazing to even say this, given Ford’s track record with ergonomics — are positioned adequately low and offer generous support not only for the hips and waist but also the shoulders. You’re left in no doubt that this car is intended to be flung down B-roads, and although they’re trimmed with leather in top-spec ST-3 cars, you might actually prefer the pared-back cloth of the entry-level ST-1 model. The shape is the same either way.

The steering wheel is of a good size but slightly thick, and once on the move its motion is heavier and a touch more elastic than that in the previous car. It has heft, in short, and with the lower driving position it lends an uncharacteristically serious tone to proceedings.

Glance at the transmission tunnel (the lever itself remains oddly far down, as though Ford’s development engineers have atypically long arms) and you’ll notice a mode select button. This is a first for the Fiesta and switches the powertrain between Normal, Sport and Race, with throttle response, ESC and exhaust tone altered accordingly. In Race, you’re permitted 60deg of yaw before the electronics kick in; this, come to think of it, is two-thirds of the way to being entirely sideways.

Here’s the thing, though. With a hearty one in 10 Fiestas sold expected to wear the red ‘ST’ badge on its grille, Ford has prioritised upping the car’s ‘usability’. To this end, those frequency-selective dampers work well, because out on British roads the car doesn’t crash like it used to, particularly at its trailing axle. The ride is still firm, mind, and notwithstanding a hint of float that's forgivable in a supermini, movements are very closely controlled.

Ford is quite rightly proud of the fact the Fiesta ST is the only car among its peers to feature a rear axle that’s stiffer than the front. In fact, this little hatch packs the greatest rear roll stiffness of any product in the Ford Performance range (14,000Nm per degree, since you asked) and that, fundamentally, is where the magic lies.

Yes. In ST-3 form and with the box for £850 Performance Pack vigorously ticked. You might also go for the £600 LED headlights that, if nothing else, look superb.

Casual drivers who simply want the plushest day-to-day Fiesta money can buy might rue the firm chassis, but because it’s so central to the car's dynamic appeal, it won’t bother Autocar readers. Neither will the quick steering, which enhances the car’s suitability for city driving. Improvements in fuel economy also leave us wondering if there’s anything with four wheels rather than two that’s this fun and any cheaper to run.