Ford Fiesta ST
OUR PICK ST-3 3dr (2015/65, 49k miles, £9,999)
A DECADE on from its debut, the Fiesta ST is as brilliant as ever. Not only does it serve up a thrilling blend of speed and agility, it’s as cost-effective to run and easy to live with as more mundane versions of the Blue Oval’s baby.
When it was revealed in 2012, Ford’s engineers claimed the ST was the most exciting car they’d worked on since the legendary Escort RS Cosworth, and it’s not hard to see why. Its 179bhp engine can develop up to 197bhp on overboost, sprinting from 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds, while the grippy and adjustable handling encourages you to seek out twisting back roads. There are hot hatches costing a lot more that struggle to match the Fiesta for pace and poise.
Like all fast Fords, the Fiesta looks the part, its purposeful bodykit, tailgate spoiler and lowered ride height giving it an aggressive stance. Inside, figure-hugging Recaro seats, metal pedals and red stitching add to the pocket rocket’s go-faster appeal. Yet as with the standard car, the cabin is surprisingly practical and robustly built, while ST-2 and ST-3 versions get loads of standard kit. And although the infotainment is dated by today’s standards, it’s still easy to connect your phone to make calls and stream music.
As with all the best hot hatches, the ST doesn’t cost the Earth to buy and run. Just £4,500 will secure a high-mileage example, while you can spend as much as £18,000 on the limited-run, 197bhp ST200. All versions can manage more than 45mpg if you take it easy while, tyres and brakes aside, it’ll cost no more to maintain than a 1.0-litre EcoBoost Zetec. Provided it’s been looked after, the Fiesta should be durable and dependable, too. Even so, many examples have been driven hard, so you’ll need to keep an eye out for accident damage. Also, any performance upgrades that haven’t been done by the (mostly) factory-approved Mountune company should be treated with suspicion.
Other than those caveats, the Ford Fiesta ST is a used hot hatch without the hitches.