Sometimes
it feels like Europe has all the fun. For decades there's been a plethora of
subcompact hot hatcbacks terrorizing their narrow mountain roads. We have the
v8 monsters but there's just something so satisfying about taking an over
boosted lightweight little hatchback. it would appear that four degrees hot on the
heels of their frenzy compact Focus ST.
The Fiesta
ST is ford's 1.6 liter ecoboost with four-cylinder engine that in this
application is jacked up to 197 horsepower and 202 pound-feet of torque. Sending
all that power to the front wheels is a conventional 6-speed manual transmission
and like it's big brother Focus ST. This car utilizes an electronic front
differential. More than just a hot hatchback. Ford is designed to Fiesta st to
be efficient as well with official fuel ratings of 26 miles per gallon city and
35 miles per gallon highway. However I have a feeling most owners of this car will
be well into the boost and a lot will achieve nothing close to these numbers. Pricing
for the Fiesta ST begins at just over 21,000 dollars but go a little crazy
checking off option boxes and the Fiesta can easily approach 27,000 dollars.
To be a
proper hot hatchback the Fiesta ST needs look the part. So Ford has given it a
new front grille, a new hood, and a new lower front splitter. There's a new spoiler,
a new rear diffuser, and what Ford calls a fascia extension. All Fiesta ST will
ride on a choice of two different 17 inch wheel packages wearing low-profile
205 with summer tires. That combined with a 15 millimeter lower ride height
gives the st a mean-looking stance. As subtle as all these vehicles may seem it
works together to create a vehicle that is recognizable as now your everyday
fiesta thanks to the added aggression.
Inside the
st you'll find a few unique upgrades, like the leather wrap steering wheel, the
leather-wrapped shift knob aluminum pedals, and the ambient lighting found in the
fiesta titanium. Upgrade to the recaro seat package and you will get two tone
partial other super supportive sculpted seats. Its being rather slim these seats
fit me snug and may be an issue for those with other body types. The Fiesta ST retains
the usual 5c configuration even though space in the back is quite tight dominating
the center stack is a 6.5 inch touch screen featuring ford latest version of
myford touch. Aside from a push-button start. The rest of the interior is very
similar to the fiesta titanium which means. It's far more upscale than you
would usually find in a subcompact vehicle.
It doesn't want the size of the
engine in the ST fool you. It makes a lot of power the 1.6 liter turbocharged
engine. May make a little less power than the Hyundai Veloster turbo, but there
isn't a wait for it to come on like there is not Hyundai. When it comes to cornering this car blows it the
water board is modified the steering. The Fiesta ST to be more direct and more
communicative to the driver and it really works and much like its bigger brother
the Focus ST. Allroad information is transmitted to your hands quickly. The rear
suspension this car has been stiffened up and you can really feel it in the
corners. Now to help you negotiate the bends this car like the Focus ST will
break inch wheel independently to help rotate around a little bit quicker. Now
the downside to this distance pension is a harsh ride it will actually rattle
your teeth over bigger bumps. Like most high-performance boards lately this vehicle
has a sound symposium which will pipe engine noise through the firewall directly
into the cabin. I think the sound in this vehicle is actually louder than in
the Focus ST and it's quite pleasing.
The Fiesta ST two main competitors are the mini cooper s and
the chevy sonic RS but with only 138 horsepower. It's hard to consider the
sonic RS a hot hatch and the Mini Cooper is far more expensive and more premium
than the Fiesta ST. that leaves this variety little hatchback in a market. Its
own providing good value and a ton of fun the Fiesta ST does live up to the
hype a theme that seems to be happening with Ford sporty products lately. In
fact I prefer this vehicle over the larger Focus ST due to its lighter weight
and cheaper price.
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