Ford Fiesta ST

We loved the previous ST, so can the latest version still win our hearts?

MODELTESTED: Ford Fiesta ST-3 PRICE: £21,495 ENGINE: 1.5-litre 3cyl, 197bhp

HERE we’re testing a three-door Ford Fiesta ST in ST-3 trim, which is the top-spec model and costs from £21,495. That means it matches these rivals on price, but the entry-level ST-1 costs £18,995.

Design & engineering

THE Ford Fiesta has grown in size in its latest iteration to add more usability and practicality, and the ST version enjoys the same set of changes under the skin. But the important news for this model is that it uses a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 197bhp.

Ford’s global B small car platform underpins the Fiesta, so there’s Macpherson-strut front suspension and a torsion beam at the rear. With extra bracing, the ST is more rigid than the standard car, and even the torsion beam and steering rack have been beefed up for this performance model.

Plus, the ST features a new system called Ride Control 1 (RC1) that passively adjusts the damping to stiffen the suspension during hard cornering, while remaining supple when you’re driving normally.

A key option for the ST is the £850 Performance Pack, which adds a Quaife limited-slip differential, launch control and a shift light on the dash, although most of the cash goes towards the clever diff that improves traction. All models come with three driving modes as well; the Normal, Sport and Track settings change the throttle response, active exhaust and sound settings, as well as loosening the ESC system’s grip on the chassis.

The Ford also gets some interior changes, including leather sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and some ST logos around the cabin. Quality inside is good, but the Fiesta is no match for its more premium rivals here on that front.

Driving

AS a driver’s car, the ST has a superb basis in the brilliant Ford Fiesta. By adding more power and upgrading the suspension, the company has again created a fantastic hot hatchback.

Most of the ST’S brilliance can be attributed to the chassis: it’s agile and adjustable, while still riding reasonably well over rough roads. It’s firm, but it remains nicely controlled.

Clever damping builds plenty of confidence to corner hard, but it’s not so harsh over bumps that it upsets the car’s balance mid-bend; although of the three models here, the Ford’s ride is the hardest.

The front-wheel-drive Fiesta turns in with real enthusiasm, working both axles to rotate itself around each bend. It feels natural and fun, but is also serious enough to satisfy even the biggest driving enthusiasts.

Even better is the steering, which is quick and precise and offers the most information of the three cars here. There’s lots of traction out of corners as well, thanks to the optional limitedslip differential, although it avoids being so tied down as to lose some of the fun factor.

Further, the six-speed gearbox is more precise and satisfying to use than in a normal 1.0-litre Ecoboost Fiesta, and is more involving than the MINI – just.

While the Fiesta’s chassis shines brightly, the engine under the bonnet doesn’t quite match its predecessor for character. The new three-cylinder unit doesn’t relish revs as much as the old fourcylinder motor did, or even the four-cylinder engine in the MINI here. Still, the Ford unit has plenty of pull: the low-down torque means real-world performance is very strong, and the new engine has an entertaining exhaust note.

The Fiesta was the fastest of our three contenders in each gear, going from 30-50mph in third and fourth and 50-70mph in fifth and sixth faster than either the MINI or Volkswagen. But it lagged behind the faster-shifting DSG Polo from 0-60mph, taking 7.1 seconds, compared with the VW’S 6.5-second time.

Practicality

THE Fiesta’s 311-litre load bay is larger than both rivals’, and the total space with the seats down (1,093 litres) beats them, too.

It’s available as a three or five-door (£650 extra), the same as the MINI, but the Polo is five-door only. We’d recommend those versions in both cases, as it’s not much extra and improves the car’s versatility.

There’s more space for passengers than in the MINI in our three-door Fiesta, because the Cooper S is rather cramped in the back. Yet both models fall behind the five-door Polo, as the German car has the most rear head and legroom, and better access.

Ownership

FORD fared the poorest of these three brands in our Driver Power 2018 survey, taking 16th place in the makers’ chart.

Autonomous braking isn’t available on the ST, because you can’t specify the various Driver Assistance Packs that Ford offers on lesser Fiestas. However, the hatch earned a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating in 2017, matching the Polo and beating the MINI’S four-star score from 2014.

Running costs

THE Ford’s downsized engine meant it was the most economical of our three cars, managing 33.8mpg overall. But the hot Fiesta is predicted to suffer the heaviest depreciation of these superminis, retaining 42.1 per cent of its list price over three years or 36,000 miles, according to our experts. That means you’ll lose £12,452.

The MINI’S lower price means you’ll lose an estimated £10,660 over the same period, but that’s also thanks to the Cooper S having a strong residual value of 48.3 per cent. The Volkswagen fares a little better than the Ford, with the Polo holding on to a predicted 42.7 per cent of its original price, and losing £12,335 over a three-year ownership period.