Automotive

Two weeks with the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST

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Ford's Fiesta ST - one of the most involving and fun driver's cars of 2014 (Photo: Gizmag.com)
Ford's Fiesta ST - one of the most involving and fun driver's cars of 2014 (Photo: Gizmag.com)
Ford Fiesta ST: Interior (Photo: Gizmag.com)
Ford Fiesta ST: 17" alloy rims (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST - rear (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST - front grille (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST headlight (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST - dual exhausts (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST - steering wheel and interior (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)
View gallery - 23 images

Ford's Fiesta ST takes a no-nonsense approach to hard-driving, hot hatch fun. Its 197-peak horsepower, 1.6-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine is flexible and torquey, its chassis and running gear work beautifully together to connect you to the road and its stereo will read you vulgar text messages from your friends in a classy British accent. It's a winner. Gizmag spends two weeks with one of the real standout driver's cars of 2014.

Watch our video review below:

Last year, I went through Germany for the first time since I came of driving age. Thus, naturally, I wanted to pop my autobahn cherry. The only hire car available at the time was a meek little Ford Fiesta, which I promptly plonked on the freeway and nailed the throttle to the floor for two and a half hours straight.

The tepid result was a sustained top speed around 170 km/h (105 mph), complete domination by all manner of Audi-driving grandmothers and … that's really all I remember about it. Which is funny, because the hot hatch version, the Fiesta ST, is anything but forgettable.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)

The kick in the pants starts with a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine. Turbocharged and direct injected, it's capable of 197 horsepower (134 kW) for a maximum of 15 seconds of overboost, after which it drops about 20 percent. The idea here is limiting stress on the engine – and in the absence of autobahns, you're unlikely to keep the throttle nailed long enough to notice.

It's a fantastic engine, direct and very smooth for a turbo, with almost no discernible lag. Pickup is great throughout the rev range and the power is tempting and useable at all times. It sounds great in the cabin without being antisocial outside, by virtue of a "symposer" tube that pipes engine noise in from the engine bay. So when the revs come up and you're laying the gumboot in, it's a very involving experience.

The ST is a driver's car. It prioritizes feedback over comfort, and the feeling of connection to the road surface is fantastic. Every interaction with the main controls is a pleasure when you're driving hard, from the superb quick-ratio steering, to the snappy brakes and tactile clutch pedal.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)

The 6-speed manual gearbox (there's no auto option, and nor should there be) feels quick and super slick, although first gear feels too low, and fifth and sixth are very lazy overdrives. Second and third are where the action lives, especially on tighter roads where you can really let the ST shine.

The ST's dynamic stability control system works beautifully – throwing the car too hard into a turn and pinning the throttle will eventually cause it to lose grip, drift wide and understeer. At this point, stability control gently brakes the inside wheels, plonking you back on your line with a minimum of fuss. Well, your passengers might be fussing, there's no "Jesus bars" to hold onto.

Flipping the stability control into Sport mode gives you a fair bit more slip to play with before it intervenes, and you can turn the system off altogether if you want to play unhindered. It's an involving and confidence-inspiring car to thrash in the twisties, a barrel of monkeys that demands rough treatment and quietly un-buggers any ham-fisted cornering for you.

Standard fitment is impressive considering the price tag – auto headlights, auto wipers, keyless entry and button start, fog lights, climate control and part-leather Recaro sports seats are all well integrated. The giant Sony stereo won't blow audiophiles away, but its Bluetooth phone integration is very nicely done – it can be set to automatically dial emergency with your GPS co-ordinates after any crash that triggers the airbags, and I particularly enjoyed listening to its robo-voice reading me vulgar text messages from my buddies. Voice dialing also seemed to work better in the ST than in pretty much any other Bluetooth system I've tried.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST - steering wheel and interior (Photo: Gizmag.com)

The interior suffers a bit in comparison to, for example, the Volkswagen Polo GTi, which has a more adult and classy feel to it. The Fiesta ST feels like more of a young driver's car. It looks a bit space-shippy with its neon interior accents, overabundance of stereo buttons and molded dash. But it feels tight and solid – it's not a quality issue, just a matter of taste.

Ford rates the Fiesta ST at a miserly 6.2 liters per 100 km (38 mpg). In our two-week road test period we averaged 9.2 (25.5 mpg). That should tell you a little about how the ST likes to be driven. Yes, it's possible to drive smoothly and responsibly if you've got a soft touch, but it also begs to be thrown into corners, full throttle in second gear and pinging at the stability control, even when you're pootling around the back streets.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST (Photo: Gizmag.com)

Competition-wise you're looking at the Renault Clio RS200, which is a bit quicker, feels a touch nicer inside and has a big, pretty touch screen and a bunch of different fake engine sounds to choose from. But the Clio only comes with a flaccid paddle shift, it costs significantly more and it just doesn't have the immediate, involving sense of hard-driving fun that you get behind the wheel of the Fiesta ST. Well done Ford!

Pricing and specifications vary by region, but you're looking at US$22,195 in the US, and AU$25,990 in Australia – that's a lot of car for the money!

To see more of this hot hatch in action, check out our Fiesta ST video review.

View gallery - 23 images
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8 comments
John Parsons
Might be sensible to point out how hard the ride is in these. I was going to buy one until I had an extended test drive over normal roads and the car crashes badly.
Firm ride is to be expected, but this thing is tuned more for super smooth roads or a track - and last time I checked we don't drive on those.
Noticing more long term tests are pointing this out. Lot of cars can get the balance between sharp handling and composure a lot better than this. Swift Sport for starters handles just as well and rides miles better.
Mel Tisdale
Oh dear! I can see these leading to many a parent not enjoying what the nice police officer has come to tell them - after first asking them to sit down, of course.
Michael Wilson
I've been looking at buying a Fiesta STA as my new job has an extended daily commute of around 70 miles. Thanks for the tip John Parsons. I"ll see about taking it over some of the rougher roads in my state, to see if it is any worse than my current vehicle, which has pretty rough, crashy suspension itself.
Milton
reminds me of a Prius C with "omph". Only, if the "omph" factor ever wears-off you'd be getting a claimed 38 mpg vs a claimed 51 mpg.
Gargamoth
Manufacturers, need to make these smaller cars stronger. Depending on the vehicle you're in in an automobile accident could mean the difference of life and death. I understand car makers need to make fuel efficient cars, but they should also keep in mind repairing a car is not the same a repairing a body. So they need to make cars stronger (and the medical community needs to start cloning body parts and coming up with cures- managed care sucks!). As far as front wheel drive goes, I prefer rear wheel, they preform better. I'd like to see a Dodge Dart, Hyundai Veloster, Honda Civic and Ford Focus as rear wheel drive cars and possibly Hybrid.
Lewis M. Dickens III
It's a cinch that Dearborn will not import it to the US.
They are mortified by the guts of the British Designers to the detriment of their product.
They made the first one look like a mini Chrysler Concord, oof it looked horrible.
I wonder if they'll ever grow up.
Bill
Michael Wilson
eh? Lewis M. Dickens III? The car is already available in us showrooms. It has been available since late 2013.
Joris van den Heuvel
I'm looking at a Fiesta, but not this one. In my country you have to plunk down $35,000 for it (26000 euros). The difference is all tax.
Think I'll setlle for the 125 hp titanium. That one will still cost me more than the ST in the US.