We say a sad goodbye to the St-line
The nation’s biggest-selling car leaves the Autocar fleet with its head held high – and ours downcast at its departure
WHY WE RAN IT To determine whether the country’s best-selling new car is as worthy of that title as its brilliant predecessor was
When we first said hello to our shiny new Ford Fiesta St-line in May, we did so with trepidation. This was a stylish, sporty hatchback with a respectable 138bhp, but it cost £19,495 when our car’s options were accounted for, making it £200 pricier than an entry-level ST. Before even getting out of the starting blocks, it faced a bit of a struggle to justify treading on the toes of its more focused cousin. Not to mention elbowing its way into the premium end of the hatchback realm. Was our car an example of a Fiesta that’s too expensive for its own good?
Things got off to a good start. Now as much as then, the latest-generation Fiesta’s smart cabin design and premium-feeling interior surfaces really reward forking out on higherspec trim. In particular, the St-line’s soft perforated leather steering wheel and well-bolstered seats feel like they’ve come from a car in the class above and the optional (£350) 8.0in touchscreen, complete with Apple Carplay, is as intuitive and reactive as any in this class.
The latest Fiesta platform is also more practical than before. Okay, so there are a few minor issues – such as the high lip on the boot floor that prevents flat loading and those snug seats being potentially too close for comfort for larger drivers – but the Fiesta is unquestionably easy to live with. Key pros in our experience include the decent leg room in the back, even with the three-door access of our car, and the excellent B&O premium sound system (part of that £350 infotainment package), which, to these ears, is the best in this class.
Even if you’re not impressed by the car’s more premium cabin (although we’re yet to find someone who dislikes it), catch a glimpse of the Fiesta’s reflection in a shop window and you’re more likely to be convinced. Dressed in sporty St-line bodywork with a set of optional (£600) 18in wheels, our car has not stopped looking the business. So much so that it has turned heads as effectively at the end of our tenure as it did at the start, even though in that period the new Fiesta has gone from rarity to commonplace on UK roads. For an St-line owner, it provides a welcome, albeit illegitimate, ST experience. Not sure ST drivers would feel so positive, mind.
With so much to love, the Fiesta had us smitten in the first few hundred miles. That was until we gauged how much fuel it was using. The 1.0-litre Ecoboost unit, even in punchiest 138bhp form, is claimed to enable 57.6mpg combined and 47.1mpg in town. But the urban figure was closer to 30mpg to begin with, meaning this little triple had
a drinking habit comparable with a luxury saloon’s. Economy thankfully improved, with the daily commute more consistently returning 40mpg, but it plateaued there and average motorway economy never rose beyond the mid-40s.
This, we concluded, was because the 1.0-litre runs on the boil at about 70mph, with the six-speed gearbox’s final ratio leaving it spinning at 2750rpm, right in the meat of its peak torque range. The motor feels more eager than a triple should at these speeds, but the downside is it’s also thirstier, plus there’s no standard cruise control in the St-line to help out. For a motorway cruiser, the 1.5 TDCI diesel remains the option of choice – but you knew that already.
What does come as a surprise – a pleasant one– is the 1.0’s enthusiasm to rev. With peak torque arriving from 1500rpm, you might expect it to run out of puff pretty quickly. But maximum power is at 6000rpm, so you’re rewarded with pleasing thrust when you let the rev counter needle rotate towards the redline.
It’s even easier to enjoy that powertrain because the latest Fiesta has a fine chassis that’s able to entertain as well as it can deal with city bumps. But the St-line gets slightly firmer damping rates, which you can feel from the get-go and provide the car with enhanced agility, although there’s an equal reduction in ride comfort as the pay-off. We never tired of the ride, although it’s true that for most, a standard-spec Fiesta chassis would be more than up to the job. Only when you really get on it does the St-line’s set-up bring worthwhile improvements, such as quicker steering response and better body control.
Which brings us to the earlier question. Does the St-line justify the cost? Yes and no. The base Fiesta is such a good platform that dishing out for the extras would only make sense if you really care about the sporty bits they bring. We’d hedge that for most, a mid-spec Ecoboost with 99bhp and standard suspension would more than suffice. Little wonder St-line accounts for just 20% of sales. At the top end of Fiestadom, a Titanium is the better all-rounder. Plus, with ST prices so close, if you’re lucky enough to have cheap insurance, the hottest model will surely be too tempting. However, for those with higher premiums seeking to stand out from the (very large) Fiesta crowd and be presented with occasional, genuine driver kicks, the St-line does make sense. Like the whole Fiesta range, it’s lovable, usable and very easy to live with – and a marked improvement over the previousgeneration model. Mark my words: ours will be sorely missed.
Like the whole Fiesta range, this car is lovable, usable and very easy to live with