Ford Fiesta ST buyer’s guide

How brilliant hot hatch can be yours used from £9,000

FORD is no stranger to budget performance cars; its XR and RS brands are rightfully revered by driving enthusiasts. While the manufacturer’s most extreme showroom models continue to wear RS badges, the ST brand has picked up where XR left off; we first saw it on the Focus ST of 2002, and since then we’ve had one desirable ST model after another.

Most accessible of the lot is the Fiesta ST, which offers all of the usual Fiesta brilliance but with added verve. Indeed, the ST is our favourite small hot hatch, due to its lively handling and scintillating performance. Even better is that while the baby sportster provides grin-inducing motoring, you don’t need deep pockets to buy or run one.

History

THE original Fiesta ST arrived in November 2004 with a normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine. Nearly seven years later, Ford revealed a thinly disguised concept of a new ST based on the all-new (seventh-generation) Fiesta. When the Mk7 ST was launched in spring 2012 it was fitted with a 1.6-litre turbo. At first there were ST-1 and ST-2 derivatives, but by spring 2013 there was also an ST-3. As with the cheaper editions, this came in three-door form only.

All STS use a 180bhp engine, but in June 2016 the hottest Fiesta ever was launched: the three-door-only, special-edition 197bhp ST200. The final revision to the range came in October 2016, when the ST-2 and ST-3 could be ordered with five doors.

Which one?

THE ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3 are all mechanically identical, with a six-speed manual gearbox. There are two options for extra performance: the ST200 or a Mountune upgrade. The latter is offered by dealers, and boosts power to as much as 227bhp.

Entry-level cars have unique 17-inch alloys, along with DAB, bodykit and chrome-tipped twin exhausts. The ST also sits 15mm lower than the standard Fiesta, and gets a heated windscreen. The ST-2 adds projector-style headlamps with LED daytime running lights, part-leather heated Recaro seats, an upgraded hi-fi, privacy glass and keyless go. Meanwhile, the ST-3 has nav, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, climate control and electrically folding mirrors.

Alternatives

AS with the Fiesta, the Renault Clio RS200 has a 1.6-litre turbo. However, whereas the Fiesta is manual only, the Renault just has a disappointing dual-clutch auto. The Suzuki Swift Sport gives reliable fun on a budget and it’s superb value, too, although its normally aspirated 1.6 lacks the ST’S performance.

A closer match is the Peugeot 208 GTI, with its 197bhp 1.6 turbo; its chassis trails the Fiesta’s but with prices from less than £9k, you don’t need deep pockets to buy one. The Audi S1 is also worth a look, but its prices are higher. And while the build quality is superb, the drive isn’t as invigorating as the Fiesta’s.

Verdict

FORD has consistently shown that mainstream needn’t mean ordinary, and the Fiesta ST proves the point. The brand was overwhelmed with orders as soon as it went on sale, and it’s easy to see why.

Affordable, practical, sharply designed and more fun than many cars costing several times the price, the ST brought fun to the masses. Its desirability keeps residuals strong, but while you’ll need at least £10k, there are plenty to choose from; a third of all European sales have been in the UK.

As with any performance car, you need to check a potential purchase hasn’t been abused, but buy a cherished one and you’ll have fun on tap for as long as you want it.

“Fiesta ST is our favourite small hot hatch, due to its brilliant handling and scintillating performance”