Ford Fiesta ST is full of thrills

As Subaru will only offer the WRX and STI in sedan formats, the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST may well be the hottest hatchback in the land. In ST form, the little Fiesta subcompact gets 197 horsepower, a suspension affording easy apex rotation, and brakes that shave off just the right amount of speed. Down a twisty track, I reveled in the perfectly responsive steering.

The only thing I found to complain about with the Fiesta ST is that the car just isn’t outrageous enough. The array of bright colors (green envy, race red, and molten orange) don’t quite bring it over the edge. Nor does the sport spoiler hanging over the hatchback.

What Ford really needs to emphasize the car’s ST-ness is something like a turbo gauge on the A-pillar, or a G-meter showing up on the head unit. The standard 17-inch “sparkle silver painted” aluminum wheels don’t have the swagger the Fiesta ST deserves.