Ford Fiesta ST

November 2006

	With sharp steering and a lively chassis, the ST raises a smile on twisty roads

After several ‘warm’ Fiestas, the ST marked a return to a genuine performance model in the spirit of the classic XR2i. The entire line-up was mildly updated earlier this year, and the ST gets the same large bug-eyed lights as the rest of the range. The lamps don’t enhance the visual appeal, but sporty details such as the mesh grille, lowered stance and thicker side sills ensure the car still looks the part.

Inside, the upper section of the dash now uses soft-touch materials, but the cabin remains dated and some of the plastics in less prominent places feel cheap. The big-button stereo is easy to use, though, and while there’s no steering reach adjustment or an off-clutch footrest, the driving environ­ment, while basic, is still comfortable.

There’s less rear legroom than in the Swift, but the Fiesta is the only car to have three back seatbelts and the boot is the biggest here. However, it’s the driving experience that counts – and the Ford doesn’t disappoint. With sharp steering and a lively chassis, the ST raises a smile on twisty roads.

Offering the best front-end grip and most com­municative steering, the ST is agile and fun. There is some kickback through the wheel on rough sur­faces and the stiff suspension set-up means the ride isn’t as supple as the MINI’s. Few rivals can match it for entertainment, however, and despite its bigger power output, traction is impressive. It’s quick, too, covering 0-60mph in 8.3 seconds.

But the engine needs to worked hard and it’s noisy towards the 7,000rpm red line, which means motorways soon become tiring. The ST scores on its fun factor, though. Is that enough to help it win?

Social Bookmarks

• Email a Friend
• Print this