I also wonder if the steering was improved. Has been a while since I last drove an ST so I wouldn’t like to say for sure, but here it’s responsive, quick and accurate, but you can feel it being tugged here and there as the differential hooks up. Not in a harsh way, like the Mk1 Focus RS, which would pull the wheel from your hands, but just a subtle reminder that it’s doing things.
That said, it was really wet when I drove the car, so there was more understeer and wheel slip than usual, so you could feel the tyres scrabbling much more than in the dry. Maybe that’s why the diff was doing more and the steering telling me about it more. But the Fiesta’s inherent balance and agility was still there to be felt, I think. Fords in general, and performance Fords in particular, feel like they’re rotating around their gearstick when you turn – a really central, agile feel and, in the right conditions, they tuck in eagerly, lift a rear wheel and it feels like both ends, not just the front wheels, are helping to corner. In the wet you don’t get the whole experience, but hints are there.
The rest of the ST package is as good as usual, too. It feels well built, the engine’s fine, gearshift terrific, and pedal weights all ‘right’. If there’s a better sorted fast supermini of the moment, we haven’t driven it.
Should I buy one?
This car is routinely our favourite hot hatchback, almost regardless of price and even without these modifications. Which is where the price comes into it, and the law of diminishing returns.
I guess there’s appeal to having the authentic real deal, especially as it comes with unique paint and wheels and in limited numbers, but if it were my hard-earned, I might be inclined to make do with the terrific standard car, or have a bit of a play with some aftermarket dampers and springs as my own project. But don’t let that take anything away from what is the best small hot hatch, made better.
Ford Fiesta ST Performance Edition specification
Where Warwickshire Price £26,495 On sale Now Engine 3 cyls in line, 1498cc, turbocharged, petrol Power 197bhp at 6000rpm Torque 214lb ft at 1450rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual Kerb weight 1262kg Top speed 144mph 0-62mph 6.5sec Fuel economy 40.4mpg CO2 136g/km Rivals Mini Cooper S, Renault Clio RS Trophy
Join the debate
Add your comment
I hope Ford use these
I hope Ford use these suspension setting in the facelifted car due in a couple of years
Great Car
Firmly believe this is a great car, and in 'base' spec a bargain? Agree with the article why spend the extra over a base vehicle, no difference in daily driving, only detectable (maybe) on track days. Kudos to Ford for still building these in an age when I am sure this will be outsold by its SUV/CUV/Crossover thingy 10 fold. Ford does not do much right these days, but fast Fiesta's and Focus's they do.
And Kudos to Autocar, yes this forum allows spammers, and is antiquated, and not user friendly at all, but at least they still offer it! EVO, Car magazine and nearly all the US online car magazine websites have ditched such forums for various liability reasons. Enjoy it while it lasts, I am convinced regrettably that the lack of attention to current obvious problems such as spamming is an indication this forum is not long for this world. Glad to see they are migrating to the 'YouTube' world but fear for this medium and Autocar as a publication.
Boris9119 wrote:
What?. The Fiesta in all of the various iterations, has been in the top three best selling cars in the UK for YEARS. If you're going to post, don't make a fool of yourself.
It is great that ford seem to
It is great that ford seem to be about the only ones who make a 3door car anymore.
Anyway, I think I'd just buy a standard car. Seems a lot better value. Unless you plan on keeping it for years and year in perfect condition, the you'd probably be better to just getting the base car and have a lot of fun in it