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When Ford announced it would cease production of the Fiesta, more than a few old Fiesta owners shed a tear. But the real shame was that no Fiesta meant no follow-up to the Fiesta ST - undoubtedly one of the best hot hatchbacks to hit the road over the last couple of decades.
The last couple of Fiesta STs have both been crackers, first the four-cylinder turbo car launched in 2012, and then the three-cylinder follow-up in 2018. It’s the latter we’re focusing on here but both are cut from the same cloth, with agile handling, plenty of power, and an infectious character that we’re really going to miss with no future Fiestas in store. Best of all, they were hugely popular when new, which means plenty of choice on the used market, and some very tempting prices too.
Entertainment is the name of the game with the Ford Fiesta ST. It’s a car that always seems to be up for a laugh, and keen pricing made it accessible to a wide audience too - something sorely lacking from the modern hot hatchback market. If there’s one consolation, it’s that the ST’s popularity means there’s a huge choice of pre-owned cars out there, for some pretty tempting prices.
The model we’re looking at here was launched in 2018, and traded its predecessor’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine for a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo. It was just as powerful though, with a 200PS output, and the burbly exhaust note gave it some character. The Fiesta ST’s highlight though is its chassis - it’s responsive, agile, and engaging, with razor-sharp steering.
None of that comes at the expense of the regular Fiesta’s practicality either. Not that the little Ford is the most spacious car in its class, but three- and five-door options, a half-decent boot, and a well-built cabin all contribute to the ST’s appeal. As does a relatively low thirst for unleaded, with 40mpg easily in reach if you don’t drive everywhere with your right foot buried in the carpet.
The Fiesta had a few strong rivals at the time, including cars like the Peugeot 208 GTi and Renault Sport Clio 200 and 220. More recently, the Volkswagen Polo GTI, Hyundai i20N, and MINI John Cooper Works all squared up to the ST, but the Hyundai’s really the only one that gets close for fun factor and ability. The ubiquity of the Fiesta means it may be difficult to beat on price though.
With a healthy budget to spend we’d make a beeline for the Performance Edition. The orange paint and the ten-spoke alloy wheels are nice, but it’s really transformed by the standard fitment of the Performance Pack and adjustable coilover suspension - it both rides and handles better than the standard car. Not that any other ST is bad, and you’ll be more than happy with whichever model you go for. All use the same engine too, so there’s no straight-line benefit to spending more.
As the Fiesta ST is itself a kind of trim level in the regular Fiesta range - albeit a fairly special one - the lineup is fairly simple to understand, with a couple of different equipment options and option packs. Expect to pay more for the special Performance Edition, thanks to its high level of equipment, and unique paintwork and wheels.
The Ford Fiesta ST’s dimensions are:
The Ford Fiesta ST’s boot size is:
You’ll pay a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’ for all Ford Fiesta STs, with a bill of £190 per year for the 2024/2025 tax year.
There’s only a small spread of insurance groups across the Fiesta ST range, with the ST-2 and ST-3 Fiestas coming in at group 28, while the Performance Edition raises this to group 30. This is similar to several other cars in the class, with a VW Polo GTI spanning groups 26-28 for example.
£14,795
£18,280
What is the most popular colour for Ford Fiesta ST ?
What is the most popular gearbox for Ford Fiesta ST ?
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What is the average mileage for Ford Fiesta ST ?
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How many Ford Fiesta ST cars are available for sale?
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