Ford Fiesta ST – Big Thrills without the Frills

The hot hatch concept has always been accepted particularly based on the European demographic.  But since its early adoption in North America, the ST symbol has been very well received and quickly established automotive identity in the performance realm.  I am particularly referring to the Focus ST revealed just two years ago.  Embodied with ego, cherished with practicality, the hot hatch was the car that filled the missing gap of what the Euros embraced.  Sharing the same genetic blueprint as its older brother, the miniature Fiesta ST exploits both power and performance within the vicinity of a miniature 5 door hatchback.

What’s the Hype?

Small engines are great for overcoming fear of inclining numbers at the gas pump.  What’s not so great is power output.  But some how, Ford’s witchcraft department brew up a formula that outputs a meaty 197 horsepower and 202 ft. lbs of torque from a 1.6 liter engine!  Despite the turbo charger working aside its miniature four cylinder engine, the Fiesta still manages to provide a fairly linear torque response with minimal turbo lag.  And did I mention this thing can corner?  Thanks to Ford’s proprietary torque vectoring control system, the Fiesta inspires confidence and control around corners while other FWD cars suffer from torque steer.

The Drive

It doesn’t take long to reveal the inner beast of the Fiesta ST.  The low rally-inspired driving position teases torque potential with abundant lateral support and frictional leather material holding you tight against the Recaro bucket seats.  Acceleration output surprisingly produces  minimal turbo lag with torque saturating at the upper 5 – 6k RPM range.  Along with the acceleration thrill, engine orchestra can be enjoyed thanks to the on board Sound Imposer Box channeling engine tone from the intake system into the cabin space.

Steering and handling is responsive and obedient with the Fiesta ST.  Expecting the unexpected, the Fiesta ST delivers precision and control around apexes thanks to the aid of the Torque Vectoring System that applies brakes to the inside wheels to abstract FWD understeer.  In part of the explanation to the fine control around corners, Ford boasts about its Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) that filters oscillation and adjusts steering sensitivity based on vehicle speed.

If you don’t know how to drive manual, start learning.  The Fiesta ST only comes in a six speed manual gearbox.  I think that’s a good choice.  The bio-mechanical control is what brings out the thrilling experience of driving the Fiesta ST.  Mechanical leverage induces an awkward shift throw, but overall, is precise, smooth and easy to drive on an everyday basis.

Amenities Department

Whether or not there’s any downtime in the gas pedal, the Fiesta ST offers plenty of amenities to keep drivers and passengers entertained.  The entertainment package in the Fiesta ST comes with Ford SYNC voice control activated system coupled with MyFord infotainment touch screen.

Smartphone connectivity to the Ford SYNC system can be seamlessly paired by either connecting one of the two available USB ports to your phone, or wireless Bluetooth.

The Fiesta ST is a small car, and to keep all cabinetry components consistent, the infotainment screen had to be shrunken down to 6.5″ as opposed to the conventional 8″ screen on its bigger brother, Focus ST.  An initial visual impression required squinting and familiarity with the system, but once accustomed to the user interface and graphical layout, it’s not too big of a visual impairment.

Ford SYNC is really the Apple Siri system for cars, and it works.  Navigation system can be activated by simply stating the address in a single line.   Other features with the Ford SYNC system includes the ability to find the nearest everyday amenities, call specific contacts on your smart phone and even read your SMS messages through the car speakers.  Only pet peeve on our part is a slightly slower response compared to our favorite Kia/Hyundai UVO infotainment system, and voice activated command resets when shifting into reverse gear.

Other amenity upgrades enjoyed on our test drive is the Sony sound system which produces better sound response even while at high engine revs, quality interior and leather panels used throughout the interior cabin space, and well laid out dual climate controls.

Driving Experience and Final Thoughts

The Fiesta ST is all about delivering that satisfying driving experience without taking on too big of a penalty at the gas pump.  If driven conservatively, the Fiesta ST can achieve up to EPA estimated 26/35 MPG fuel economy averaged out at 29 MPG.  These numbers qualify for bragging rights around even the most environmentally conscious hippies.  Equally, the 197 horsepower and 202 ft.lbs of torque with a 0-60 mph sprint in 6.9 seconds will do good at the race track.

Suspension and steering system is carefully crafted by the combined efforts of Ford’s SVT High Performance Racing team.  The result is precision handling and cornering while negating the physics of torque steer susceptible to conventional FWD configurations.

But just like any high performance sports car, this grin factory doesn’t win every aspect of an every-day practicality score card.  Its massive grip-hugging Recaro bucket seats can be uncomfortable to some especially on longer commutes.  Being a 5-door hot hatch certainly helps with convenience and storage, but trunk space is limited and drivers will often have to deal with 3rd plus passengers dueling for shot gun seat.

But overall, it’s not a lost cause.  The Fiesta ST is easy to drive with a forgiving clutch pedal, hill assist, and smooth gear shift box.  Road noise is minimal with good sound isolation and the Fiesta ST includes a plethora of digital entertainment and amenities to satisfy even the most demanding drivers and passengers.  And it’s more functional than you think.  Fitting four average size adults contained minimal fuss with room for baggage to spare in the trunk.