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Car Reviews

First Drive: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST - the sharp hatch that packs a punch

Ottawa, ON - The “One Ford” concept of operating as one unit around the world has reinvigorated the Ford brand. One of those cars that have found their way back into the North American market was the Fiesta. It’s been gone for three decades, but it has made major strides in the subcompact segment since its re-emergence in 2010. 

2014 Ford Fiesta

 

Now in the five-door hatch’s sixth-generation, Ford is launching the sporty ST version. This Fiesta that dawns the Sport Technologies badge will be available in the fall at dealerships throughout Canada. 

 

Initial Glance

 

Ford wanted to separate the Fiesta ST from the regular Fiesta and they started with the grille. The regular Fiesta has a wide-mouthed grille made up of horizontal bars, but the ST gets a nice honeycomb treatment as seen on its big brother, the Focus ST, that betters its appearance.

 

The Fiesta also receives a lower front spoiler, a larger rear spoiler with a dual exhaust system, and 17-inch alloy wheels that are paired with Bridgestone Potenza tires.

 

 

To see what colour options are available all you need to do is think of a rainbow with the addition of the optional Molten Orange paint. The colours might make you ready for a Fiesta, but the ST version also gets you pumped to hit the open roads.

 

A Look Inside

 

Reeee-ca-rrrroooo!!

 

OK so the Fiesta is not from Switzerland and doesn’t sell cough drops, but the two-tone leather Recaro front seats come standard in Canada and get you instantly excited. You know you’re in a sporty car when you see those seats and the ST badge near the head rest.

 

They might not be the most comfortable seats, but they strap you in for what hopefully is an exciting ride. Ford set-up a handling course for us to test the Fiesta ST, so I witnessed the benefits of the Recaro seats, as my body didn’t shift throughout my sharp cornering runs.

 

Outside of the Recaro seats and ST badging found on the seats and steering wheel, there’s not much else that separates the ST from its regular model. The pedals are made of alloy creating a shiny touch, but the rest of the dash and entertainment console is underwhelming. 

 

A 6.5-inch touchscreen is given to the ST with the latest version of MyFord Touch coming standard. MyFord Touch has been improved with simplified voice commands, upgraded voice recognition and a redesigned navigation screen.

 

 

Under the Hood

 

The Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine that provides a power boost of 198 hp and 201 lb.-ft. of torque. When compared to its competitors the MINI Cooper S (181 hp & 178 lb.-ft. of torque), the Sonic RS (138 & 148) and the Fiat 500 Abarth (160 & 170), the Fiesta ST stands well-above in both horsepower and torque production. 

 

 

The ST is a front-wheel drive vehicle that’s mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It’s a fun little motor that get you from 0-100 km/h in close to 6.9 seconds and has a new torque vectoring system to control wheel spin. 

 

It might appear small, but it packs a lot of punch in its small frame. And if you’re thinking of testing it out on track or just having some fun, the ST has three stability control modes to fit your driving style: full-on, partial-on, or full-off.

 

On the Road

 

If you’re thinking about buying the Fiesta ST (available in the fall) – the look and feel is nice to hear about, but the true measure of this rally car is how it drives on the road and especially on the track.

 

The Fiesta ST naturally receives an upgraded suspension that has stiffer springs compared to its regular version. The stiffer suspension along with the torque vectoring system and stability control system mentioned earlier, are all set-up for less body roll and cornering action. 

 

What surprised me the most on the handling course was its steering. The steering was instant and directed the Fiesta exactly where I wanted it to go avoiding all of the pylons in the process. The curves were no challenge at all and it stayed flat and on course without any bumps along the way. Even though, the Fiesta is a front-wheel drive car, understeer is not something you have to worry about in this ride. The ST was light and nimble, but felt controlled throughout leading to a thrilling ride. 

 

 

Little small hatches that can really motor are some of my favourite types of cars. The added grunts you get from the sound symposer make you feel like you’re driving something three times its price and two-times its engine. Accelerate down and you will hear the crackling engine noise that the symposer sends into the cabin. 

 

 

Just a quick note of what you should already know – similar to the Focus ST, the Fiesta ST only comes with the six-speed manual transmission. Ford has placed a gearbox that’s easy to manoeuvre and can accommodate those novice gear shifters who want the ST, but are worried about buying a car with a manual transmission.

 

I didn’t take it off the handling course, but Ford boasts that the Fiesta ST delivers 5.6L/100 km on the highway and 7.8L/100 km in the city. Fuel economy won’t be a reason for purchase, but it sure helps to know that it’s not bad on gas. Just remember these numbers are tested during sensible drives, not ones that have you driving at 5,000 rpms.

 

In Summary

 

I’m glad to see that Ford is bringing these small hatches to Canada, so we don’t have to be jealous any more of our European friends. For as small as the Fiesta is – it’s an adrenaline rush waiting to happen. It seems to suffer from a short man’s syndrome, where it feels the need to show off in an attempt to gain recognition and that’s a good thing when it comes to cars.

 

The Fiesta ST will be available this fall and will start at $24,999. It might seem like a big jump considering the base Fiesta S starts at $14,999, but you’re getting a totally different car with the ST. When you look deeper into price, you will notice that the Fiat 500 Abarth and Chevy Sonic RS are roughly the same price at $23,495 and $23,560, respectively. While, the MINI Cooper S starts at a much higher price of $31,150. When you consider the horsepower, torque and of course those Recaro Seats – the Fiesta St looks like a better deal than the other options out there. 

 

If you’re a fan of speedy hatches – you need to test out the Fiesta ST before any decision. It has a superb combination of good looks, speed and handles like a pro. 

 

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