A wise man once told me that, in terms of vehicle dynamics, it takes less than one hundred metres to suss out whether a car deserves a five-star rating. This piece of long-forgotten advice sprung to mind as soon as I sunk into Team GRR’s Ford Fiesta ST long-termer for the first time. It was immediately clear: this was a serious bit of kit. Needless to say, I was giggling in anticipation!
GRR Garage: A fresh pair of eyes on our Fiesta ST
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Stepping over the lairy Ford Performance sills, it became immediately apparent the cabin has been given the refresh it desperately needed. The Recaro seats suck you in and hold you tight. The antique button dash of old is replaced by a slick, touchscreen, infotainment system paired with an impressive Bang & Olufsen speaker system. This is all well and good, but it’s not the most attractive part of the Fiesta ST refresh. The handling is where the party starts, and what better test track than the uneven, slippy, unpredictable road surfaces surrounding Goodwood? Clutch down, engine start button engaged, and we’re off!
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For a hot hatch coming under the £25,000 mark, first impressions are astonishing. Acceleration is frantic, with minimal, if any, turbo lag. With a lead foot through first, second and third there can be some fight from the steering wheel, but it's not bad – it keeps you alert and engaged more than anything. The Quaife LSD, included in the ST Performance pack, helps the engine’s power deploy effectively, minimising unnecessary wheel spin.
The engine’s torque is impressive, pulling from around 1,600 to 4,000rpm, but you have to shift at 5,500rpm, when it starts to run out of steam.
The six-speed manual ‘box is a joy to use (the shift is short, fast and slick, and the ratios perfectly matched), whether you’re driving in anger or on a sedate drive-your-mother-home pootle, a task I endured whilst in possession of this Blue Oval beast. Five-door hatches tend to lack the visual impact of their snappier three-door brethren, but not this Fiesta. And reality is, that it's oh so much more convenient.
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Sport mode sees and the engine note change from a thrum to a grumbly three-pot rasp; more baby five-pot Quattro than Smart. Imagine the Cheshire Cat grin when you hear a little crackle on the exhaust when downshifting. Throttle pedal response and power-steering are also given an extra edge. It’s hard not to get a kick from the ‘for use on track only’ warning when in Track mode.
Ford has definitely gone the extra mile to ensure the springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and steering components work in unison, giving good feel and a cracking turn in. The ST talks to the driver on the way up to the limit, with a firm and responsive brake pedal giving confidence in the twisty backroads of Chichester. Critically, this is where the fun lies. Joy is a car that interacts with its driver, something manufacturers can so easily forget, going for big power and ultimate grip at the expense of handling finesse.
Ford have made this Fiesta ST more capable than its predecessor, that much is clear, but it’s done it without losing the thrill you should feel with a proper hot hatch. It may still be still a Ford wild child, but it's acquired a strong intellect.
Ford Fiesta ST? Bang for your buck. Great fun. Five-star car.
