The New Ford Fiesta ST Is An £18,995 Bargain
Ford may have been busy overhauling its Fiesta ST with fancy things like an all-new engine and ‘directionally-wound’ springs, but don’t think the Blue Oval has used that to justify a big price hike. Far from it: at the ST’s press launch - where we’ll be driving the car later in the week - Ford announced that the ST will cost you from £18,995.
With the likes of the Peugeot 208 GTI and Renault Clio RS weighing in over £20,000 and the much less powerful Suzuki Swift Sport just a grand behind, that’s incredible value for money. It’s not like it’s sparsely equipped either: base ‘ST-1’ cars get hip-hugging Recaro seats, the ‘Sync3’ infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a bunch of electronic safety systems like lane-keeping assistance.
ST-2 trim is j£1000 more, bringing with it a bigger touch-screen, a Bang & Olufsen sound system and climate control, among other things. That’s looking like the one to go for, but if you want more gear, the ST-3 starts at £21,495, throwing bigger wheels, more safety tech and sat-nav into the equation.
Most importantly, the Performance Pack is only £850. This includes a Quaife limited-slip differential, launch control and steering wheel shift lights.
The one caveat is the the five-door model can only be had as an ST-2 or ST-3. It carries a £650 premium over the three-door.
In terms of performance, you’re looking at a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds - a useful 0.4sec quicker than the old one - and a top speed of 144mph.
Tempted?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
From the early reviews it looks like it’s gotten more comfortable, albeit losing the ragged, revvy engine of the last ST
Launch control on a hot hatch is stupid. It’s a hotch hatch, you want to burn the tyres at every hard launch!
Source: top gear 80’s hot hatch special
Im fine thanks, ill save myself £17k
I saw two base models today.
I’ll take a last gen Focus ST thanks
Meanwhile in America……..
That Ecosport makes me lose all faith in humanity
And I’m waiting for the last gen to depreciate
20k for 3 cylinders? Don’t think so.
✓ Three doors
✓ Hatchback
✓ Sporty model
✓ Small
✓ Three-cylinder
✓ New model
✓ Not a pick-up truck
✓ Not a SUV
✓ Ford
Yep, fills all the criterias to never make it see North America
Interior quality is worse.