Subtle update helps to keep Ford’s small hot hatch competitive – but there’s a catch On sale Now Price from £27,245
Lawrence Cheung Lawrence.Cheung@haymarket.com
WHEN IT COMES to sweets, the sensation that comes from popping candy is unmatched. No other confection explodes on your tongue in quite the same way, yet it’s also very affordable. The Fiesta ST has always had a similar appeal; you get a fizzy three-cylinder engine and an exhaust that crackles excitingly, as well as sharp handling that puts a huge grin on your face. Best of all, it doesn’t cost the Earth to run.
And it’s now been updated for 2022. Tweaks include a new front grille, redesigned 18in alloy wheels and a couple of brighter paint colours – including the Mean Green you see in these pictures. The changes inside are less dramatic, but more on that later. In the meantime, we’ll cut to the chase with some great news: the Fiesta ST is just as much fun as before, yet it has been made usefully easier to live with.
The ride is more settled than before and rounds off bumps a bit more smoothly. And while there’s still plenty of noise on the motorway (especially with the optional panoramic roof fitted), the engine and exhaust have been made a touch quieter – even though the latter remains appropriately theatrical, with those crackles on tap in Sport mode.
The Fiesta ST’s spirited handling is still alive and kicking. Its steering is pleasingly weighty, quick and precise, and the way the car pivots around its front wheels makes it feel eager to enter corners, before the limited-slip differential helps maximise front tyre traction on the way out of them. Plus, the steering wheel no longer fights you so much under hard acceleration, so the experience feels more controlled and secure.
The muscular 1.5-litre engine continues to produce a hearty 197bhp, propelling the Fiesta ST from 0-62mph in 6.5sec, while the six-speed manual gearbox remains a joy to use, thanks to its slick shift action and stubby lever. As before, you can sharpen up the accelerator response and slacken off the traction control by cycling through the drive modes (Normal, Sport and Track), but the button has been conveniently relocated from the lower centre console to the steering wheel.
Elsewhere, the ST’s interior is largely unchanged, but the new front sports seats won’t go unnoticed. They replace the Recaro-branded ones fitted previously and bring adjustable lumbar support and an extendable seat base to improve overall comfort. A large, 12.3in digital instrument p
