Is Ford’s latest Fiesta ST king of the current hot hatch crop? Jonathan Musk finds out…

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SECTOR Supermini   PRICE €22,100-€25,100   FUEL 6.0l/100km   CO2 136g/km

For the first time in a Ford Performance vehicle, a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo “EcoBoost” unit is used to pump out an impressive 200hp and 290Nm torque. This translates onto the tarmac as 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds onto a top speed of 232km/h. Despite the available performance, fuel economy is a rated at 6.0l/100km on the combined cycle and CO2 is just 136g/km.

Straight line speed is only fun if the car is able to handle its power and fortunately Ford has equipped the Fiesta ST with patented force vectoring springs and an optional Quaife limit-slip differential (LSD). ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’ driving modes control performance level and are far from being a gimmick, transforming the ST from fire spitting hot-hatch into neighbour-friendly mode at the touch of a button.

Inside, there’s not much to differentiate the ST from a regular Fiesta, aside from close-fitting Recaro seats that may prove uncomfortable for larger individuals. Three- and five-door variants are available and each trim variant comes equipped with Sync3 infotainment and a 6.5-inch touchscreen display (or optional 8.0-inch screen). Additional styling packs add different 17-inch alloys, while the top-of-the-range model sports 18-inch rims and a few useful extras such as a rear view camera and rain sensing wipers.

Racecar-like hard suspension maintains the ST’s sporty appeal, though it does have the propensity to want to throw you into the nearest hedge. The engine is surprisingly flexible and offers plenty of low-down torque and without any noticeable turbo lag. Cornering is kept under control thanks to Torque Vectoring Control and Torque Steer Compensation systems.

The Fiesta ST is astonishingly good, slightly marred by an overly skittish ride more suited to race than road, but is otherwise hard to fault. It’s also economical and with prices starting from €22,100, the Fiesta ST is something of a bargain.