The Ford Fiesta ST has had a cult following for many years dating back to the ST150 2.0 Naturally aspirated pocket rocket.

The new Fiesta ST is here, now with forced induction and more sporty styling.

Here is the rundown.

Interior:
When you ease into the Recaro driving seat and look around, there’s no doubt you’re behind the leather-trimmed ST steering wheel of a performance car.

Tech:
Ford SYNC Advanced hands-free technology lets you control your music and make and receive calls on your mobile, using simple, direct voice commands. For example, if ‘home’ is listed as a contact on your mobile, you just need to say: “Call home” and the system will automatically dial that number. You can use voice commands to play songs from a USB or MP3/iPod® too, or when you’re streaming music from a Bluetooth®-compatible phone. The system even reads your incoming texts aloud.

Practicality:
Much the same as the other Fiesta’s, but getting in and out is always a mission with 3 doors.

Ride quality and Comfort:
While the Fiesta ST offers one of the most entertaining and sporty driving experiences of any car in this segment but, there is a price to pay. The suspension is very firm, meaning you’ll feel most bumps in the road, which can get tiring on a long journey.
Lowered and stiffened suspension and large alloy wheels with big tyres mean the ST has plenty of grip in corners, while a subtle body kit, ST badges, roof spoiler and unique colours make the ST look sportier than the standard car.

Under the bonnet:
The 1.6-litre lump in the ST dishes out 134kW at 5700rpm and 240Nm from 1600rpm and it’s mated to a six-speed manual shifter. According to Ford’s sea-level claims, it’ll sprint to 100km/h in just 6.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 220km/h.

Fuel consumption:
Ford claims combined figure of 5.9 l/100km…….you will struggle to get that, especially if your right foot is “heavy”
The Price – R276,900

Verdict:
The brilliant Ford Fiesta ST is great fun to drive and exceptionally good value. Without a doubt, the Ford Fiesta ST is one of the most entertaining small hot hatchbacks on sale.
Pros: Great to drive; Good value; As practical as the standard car.
Cons: Only available as three door; Bucket seats are a tight fit; No automatic option
My pick overall in this segment is the :
Difficult to decide

Others in the segment:
Alfa Romeo Mito QV
Citroën DS3 Sport
Mini Cooper S
Opel Corsa OPC
Peugeot 208 GTI
Volkswagen Polo GTI

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