Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

Inline-three engines aren't the ideal choice for a performance car, but have Ford and VW managed to make it work with these two?
Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

Pros

Cons

I probably spend too much time moaning about inline-three engines. Actually, scratch that, I definitely do. I even wrote a whole article complaining that these engines - which aren’t as eager and revvy as their inline-four counterparts thanks to the crank working against a balancing shaft - are ruining the fun of underpowered cars. But what about performance cars? Can a quick car work with a cylinder count as modest as this?

Both VW and Ford seem to think it’s possible. VW this year launched the Up GTI with its teeny-tiny 1.0-litre, and a few months later, Ford followed suit with the 1.5-litre Fiesta ST. They may be from different segments, but regardless, we couldn’t resist bringing these two together to see how three-pot engines have worked out for them.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

Let’s kick off with the Fiesta since it’s the one we haven’t driven in the UK before now. At the launch in Spain it was astonishing, but over here it’s…much the same story, actually. The front end is extraordinary - turn in is super sharp and there’s a seemingly endless amount of traction on the way out of every corner thanks in part to the (optionally-fitted and highly recommended) Quaife differential, which is very rarely grabby like a Torsen or Drexler can sometimes be.

What’s happening at the rear axle is even more impressive. More than any other front-wheel drive car I’ve ever driven, you can feel what’s going on back there. It tripods constantly, and if you lift off at the right moment, the car starts to rotate beautifully. I’d love to take one of these on track and really start to play around with this tail-happy nature.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

Pleasingly, the surprisingly heavy steering delivers genuine feedback. It’s extremely aggressive off-centre, but it doesn’t take long to get to grips with that. In any case, this fits the attitude of the car - it’s an angry thing, while also being up for some fun. It’s the car equivalent of Patrick Bateman.

The only thing new I’m learning here is the low-speed ride - over in Britain with our cratered roads and speedbump infestation - it’s extremely choppy. It’s just as bouncy as the old one, if not more so.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

Importantly, that inline-three doesn’t dampen the experience. If anything, it enhances it. The 1.6-litre four-pot in the old one was never a remarkable unit, and was part of the equation you tended to not think about, so distracting was that marvellous chassis. But this 1.5 makes a throaty little racket out of its twin tailpipes, as though it’s doing its best Porsche impression. It’s a wicked noise.

It seems far punchier in the mid-range than the engine it replaces too, which is probably why I don’t mind that the ideal upshift point is a not exactly zingy 5500rpm. It’s also the most responsive three-pot I’ve ever experienced - it doesn’t have that lethargic, reluctant feeling as you rev it up.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

All this is cause for concern, though. Isn’t the Up GTI - which is in fact ‘our’ Up GTI longtermer - going to feel a trifle meh after stepping out of Ford’s slice of hot hatch perfection? That’s what I’ve been expecting, but after eagerly ploughing through the first corner this plucky little hatchback serves up a pleasant surprise.

Yes, it leans a lot more and I’m able to make in understeer immediately - where the ST’s front end just refuses to budge - but that’s the fun. The point at which you’re on the ragged edge is much lower, and yet the GTI is still capable enough to dispatch a wiggly bit of road at a decent rate. Just don’t expect wonders from the steering - it’s fast but devoid of any feel.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

The Up is an exercise in giving you just enough. Just enough grip. Just enough poke. Just enough suspension stiffness. Turning any of those aspects up any further would be beside the point - as it is, the car hits a real sweet spot that isn’t really being exploited by anyone else right now.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

As for the engine, it doesn’t - as I previously thought it might - feel gutless after sampling the ST’s mighty 1.5. With 113bhp and 147lb ft of torque it trails the Ford’s 197bhp and 214lb ft, but it still feels nicely brisk.

It’s just a shame the over-zealous traction control system doesn’t even have a partially off mode. The Up has just enough power to spin up the wheels after you shift into second, at which point the electronics dramatically cut the power, frustrating your progress. And unlike the Ford engine, the Up’s doesn’t offer up a particularly exciting din. It’s more of a bored drone, really.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?
Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

Unlike when I’m in the Ford, when I drive the Up, I’m left wondering what it might be like with an extra cylinder and a little more displacement. Perhaps a lack of turbo too. The Lupo GTI had a revvy 1.6-litre N/A engine, and you can’t help but wonder what the hotter Up would be like with a similar arrangement.

Ultimately you can forgive the VW for its less-than-inspiring engine - it’s hard to imagine anything else fitting in that dinky engine bay without a massive R&D bill. It was always going to be a three-pot car, this.

Ford Fiesta ST Vs VW Up GTI: Do All Good Things Come With Threes?

For Ford though, it feels like the company took quite a risk with downsizing the ST. I can’t imagine an inline-four would have been too hard to fit, and all of its main competitors are still on four-bangers. It’s a risk that’s paid off, though, with that new engine becoming a key part of what makes this car so exciting to drive.

Perhaps, then, it’s time I relaxed my stance. Three-pots: they’re not so bad, after all…

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Comments

Nishant Dash

I mean this comparison is pretty pointless cuz they belong to totally different categories, but somehow I’m ok with it haha!

09/15/2018 - 15:35 |
24 | 2

Haha, well I’m glad you’re OK with it! It’s not really intended a face-off, more about investigating whether inline-threes can work in hot hatches

09/15/2018 - 15:37 |
32 | 0
Duggan (koalafan) (koalafan7) (Esprit Team) (Z32 Group) (Lot

No bc the Ek9 comes in 4 🤣

09/15/2018 - 15:44 |
4 | 4
drivogrammer

First 8 to 6
Then 6 to 4
Now 4 to 3

09/15/2018 - 15:45 |
32 | 2

And eventually from 3 back to 2

09/15/2018 - 17:18 |
4 | 0
Ewan23 (The Scottish guy)

I’ve got a 3 cylinder and I will say it’s brilliant sounds great, revs high, great fuel economy, reliable, what more do you want lol.

09/15/2018 - 16:23 |
64 | 0

What he said exactly. ^

09/15/2018 - 16:53 |
8 | 0

Well I used to drive a 3pot polo and now drive a 4pot passat, i definetly appreciate the rev happier engine and obviously the increased power - the 3 pot always left me wanting for more

09/15/2018 - 21:16 |
6 | 0

We own three triple cylinder snowmobiles, two of which are 700 2-strokes and the other being a 1050 4-stroke. They’re all super punchy everywhere in the rev range, get decent fuel economy, and absolutely scream up top. I agree.

09/16/2018 - 12:39 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Its either the Up GTI or trying to replicate JP Performance’s 1.8T Swapped Up

09/15/2018 - 16:36 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Or bringing this to reality

09/15/2018 - 17:21 |
22 | 0
Anonymous

Honestly like pretty much all engines, if they are developed right, they will be good no matter the displacement or cylinder count, turning it into more of a personal preference question… not saying a three cylinder would stand a chance against a good v8 but you get the idea xD

09/15/2018 - 16:45 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I agree- its not what you do, but how you do it.

09/15/2018 - 19:48 |
2 | 0
DL🏁

They are a good alternative to diesels… way more fun, don’t smell, and still are as cheap to run (maybe not on long motorway journey but in a city yes)

P.S. this segment needs more love. Great little cars. Fun, affordable and liveable with daily. What else do you need!

09/15/2018 - 19:33 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

What about Ford’s 1.0L 3 cyl? maybe a comparison between a Ford Fiesta SE 1.0L vs VW UP would be better…

09/15/2018 - 21:51 |
0 | 0
Speed24/7

Cries in American

09/16/2018 - 00:28 |
4 | 0
The White Indian 3.0

The only thing that’s good about I3s is the sound imo. Other than that, they’re gutless little engines that aren’t very smooth.

09/16/2018 - 08:40 |
0 | 0