Ford Fiesta ST vs 208 GTi and Clio RS

Welcome to the hot hatch showdown of the year. After months of anticipation, the Ford Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTi and Renaultsport Clio 200 have all landed on British soil. And we’ve put them to the test on the road and at the challenging Anglesey Circuit in North Wales to find out which one takes the pocket rocket prize.

The long-awaited Fiesta ST is the cheapest of the trio, while Peugeot hopes its stylish 208 GTi will reignite the excitement of its eighties performance icon, the 205 GTi.

Completing our line-up is the Renaultsport Clio 200. This ditches the hardcore character of its predecessor in favour of a more hi-tech approach – it’s the only car here to feature a paddleshift gearbox and pre-programmed driving modes.

All three are powered by 1.6-litre turbocharged engines and produce close to 200bhp, so this is sure to be a close battle. But which of our contenders will emerge triumphant?

Verdict

With this trio arriving in quick succession, supermini hot hatch buyers have never had it so good. All three are fast and capable, yet each takes a different approach to creating the perfect pocket rocket.

Renaultsport has long been the king of this class, but while the new Clio is fast, it lacks the fun factor the best hot hatches require.

Pipping the Clio to second place is the 208 GTi. It’s the best fast Peugeot for years, with an upmarket cabin, composed handling and punchy engine. But in this tough test there’s a clear winner – as few cars of any kind can beat the ST for smiles per mile.

With sublime handling, perfectly weighted controls, plus a tuneful and punchy engine, it’s a joy to drive every time you get behind the wheel.