Item: Used Ford Fiesta ST 2013-2017
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/swift/hatchback/used-review/n959">Suzuki Swift Sport</a> has made a name for itself as a small bundle of fun. The latest version isn’t quite as successful in this regard as the earlier one, but it’s still a likeable thing, and there are plenty of older cars still available. You’ll also get plenty of standard equipment, and of course it’s still a hoot to drive and relatively cheap to run.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/sports/used-review/n17575">Volkswagen Golf GTI</a> is the go-to hot hatch for many, and deservedly. It’s fast and capable, yet also refined and easy to drive. It’s also got a roomy (being bigger than the Fiesta) and classy interior.

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If you're looking to buy a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ford/fiesta?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Ford Fiesta ST</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here.</a>&nbsp;

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<h3>Cylinder head might crack</h3>

There has been a recall issued for some of the earlier 1.6-litre engines fitted to Fiesta STs built before 20 December 2014. The problem is that the cylinder head might crack if the engine&nbsp;overheats&nbsp;and could in extreme circumstances catch fire. If your car is affected, it will need to be inspected at a&nbsp;Ford dealership to check the condition of the engine and cooling system, followed by the addition of a coolant level sensor and some software to provide the driver with an audible and visual warning if the temperature gets too high. If you'd like further information about this issue, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/ford-ecoboost-engine-recall-%E2%80%93-what-you-need-to-know/n17972">read our news story here</a>.

Reported problems are few, and owners on the whole only have good things to say. The ST didn’t feature in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey as a model in its own right, but the regular Fiesta did. It finished in a respectable 10th&nbsp;place in the small car class. Ford came 18th&nbsp;out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers in the same survey.

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Hatchback

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

FIESTA ST

The Fiesta ST is one of our favourites – a hugely entertaining hot hatch and a used car bargain.&nbsp;

Used Ford Fiesta ST 2013 -2017

<h3>MPG</h3>

Running a Fiesta ST isn't as costly as you might&nbsp;think. The on-paper claimed average fuel consumption figure is a respectable (considering the performance) 47.9mpg, according to the older NEDC tests, with corresponding CO2 emissions of 138g/km.

<h3>Road tax</h3>

Those cars registered before the tax changes of April 2017 came into force will attract a low charge, while those few registered after will pay the current flat rate of £155&nbsp;a year.&nbsp;To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2021-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a> for further information.

<h3>Insurance and servicing</h3>

The ST sits in insurance group 30, which again is good for the category of car. Ford servicing costs should be moderate, too, and the&nbsp;intervals are pretty long at&nbsp;12,500 miles or every 12 months.&nbsp;You should&nbsp;also be able to take advantage of Ford's fixed-price Motorcraft scheme at participating dealerships, with a yearly service costing £159. A timing belt is required every 10 years or 125,000 miles and costs £475, or £540 if you renew&nbsp;the water pump at the same time.

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Used Ford Fiesta ST 2013-2017

The Fiesta ST is one of our favourites – a hugely entertaining hot hatch and a used car bargain. 

There’s good news here. You can buy a 2013&nbsp;Fiesta ST with an average mileage for the year and a full service history from an independent dealer for just under £7000. These will mostly&nbsp;be the ST-1 trim, but price differentials between the packs aren’t actually that large. Spend between £8000 and £10,000 and you’ll be looking at 2014 and 2015 cars in a similarly good condition, while £10,000 to £12,000 will net you an excellent 2016 or 2017&nbsp;car.

There is only the one engine option in the ST, but there are a choice of trims, and although the Fiesta is great in any spec, if you can find a good ST-3 we’d plump for that, most especially for the sat-nav.

Our favourite Ford Fiesta ST: 1.6 ST-3

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Engaging handling </li> <li>Thrilling performance </li> <li>A characterful engine with an enticing soundtrack </li> <li>Reasonable running costs </li> <li>Not hard to live with day to day</li></ul>

A popular choice with UK buyers since the days of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the hot hatchback mixes everyday practicality with higher performance and the sort of handling and agility that’s ideally suited to British roads. A good hot hatch should be fun and, since it’s likely to be your daily drive, it should also deliver respectable running costs.

The Golf GTI remains one of the best hot hatches on the market, along with its main competitor,&nbsp;the&nbsp;equally as responsive and cheaper to buy Hyundai i30 N. But there are some terrific options for even less money than both of these cars. We're big fans of the Ford Fiesta ST, which is definitely one of the best hot hatches ever and certainly one of the most fun to drive. It's full of character and its engaging handling makes it a bit of a hoot at all speeds.&nbsp;

If you’ve got a bit more money to spare, there are even faster cars available, such as the Honda Civic Type R. This latest version is sublime to drive, either on road or on a track, as it's so sweetly balanced. It's also incredibly quick in a straight line&nbsp;and round a corner, and yet it's as practical as a regular Civic.&nbsp;

Hot hatch

The ST will have been used vigorously by some owners, so as well as taking care to do proper visual checks on the car when you’re buying it, it’s vital to check for obvious signs of misuse.

Look at any smoke coming from the exhaust, for one – this shouldn’t be too dark – and check the oil on the engine dipstick and the quality of the coolant. Check for leaks underneath the car, if possible, and also for worn tyres that might need expensive replacement.

It's always advisable to insist on a full service history, preferably with a Ford main dealer.

Every so often, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/hot-hatch">hot hatchback</a> comes along that simply grabs the market by the lapels. There have been <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/peugeot">Peugeots</a> that have done it, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/honda">Hondas</a> that have had a go, and of course lively <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/sports/used-review/n17575">Volkswagen Golf GTIs </a>aplenty. Fast <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ford">Fords</a> have always enjoyed a certain reputation here too, often producing some of the lairiest and most outlandishly fun cars in this class, and without a doubt the Fiesta ST is one of them.

The recipe is simple enough: you take one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/used-review/n952">Fiesta</a>, drop in a more powerful engine, add sporty bodywork and fancy bucket seats, uprate the suspension and brakes and add in some wider wheels and sticky tyres. Job done. And in the case of this second-generation ST, the results are rather&nbsp;wonderful. It was a popular car that sold well and stayed in production until 2017, when it was replaced by an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta-st/hatchback/used-review/n19133">all-new version </a>based on the latest Fiesta.&nbsp;

Under the bonnet is a lively turbocharged 1.6-litre Ecoboost engine, which drives the front wheels through a slick six-speed manual gearbox. A power output of 180bhp is a large figure for what is a small and relatively lightweight car. It’s good enough for the Fiesta ST to feel splendidly quick, sprinting from&nbsp;0-62mph in just 6.9sec – supercar-fast not so many years ago. If that still isn't impressive enough, there is always the ST200 version, with altered gearing and a bit more power (197bhp) for a faster&nbsp;acceleration time&nbsp;of 6.7sec.

Approach a corner and things get even more thrilling. The steering is quick to the point of being razor-sharp, but it never becomes wearing, only more delightful. Grip is tremendous and the handling’s a delight, with a rare adjustability&nbsp;that makes it feel especially playful.

The payback for this handling finesse is a very firm, jiggly ride at low speeds, although&nbsp;it gets&nbsp;more comfortable the faster you go,&nbsp;and it gives the ST exactly the sort of body control it needs to fulfil&nbsp;its function as a spirited hot hatch. If you're worried about the ride, try an example from&nbsp;2015 onwards, because some subtle alterations were made to the rear suspension&nbsp;that improved comfort&nbsp;ever so slightly.

The interior is&nbsp;relatively spacious and has some extra sporty touches over regular Fiestas,&nbsp;although it still comes with&nbsp;a&nbsp;confusing array of small buttons for the stereo and a desperately small 4.2in infotainment screen. The driving position is set rather high, but it comes with comfortable Recaro sports seats as standard, and they hold you in place well. There’s plenty of fore/aft adjustability to accommodate a taller driver, too.

There’s a reasonable amount of space in the back for two – or three for short hops – and there’s enough space in the boot for a couple of suitcases&nbsp;or a large weekly shop. If you're after the most practical Fiesta ST, you'll need the rare five-door model that was introduced in the final year of production (2017).

There are potentially three trim options to seek out. The ST-1 trim gives the Fiesta ST-style 17in alloy wheels, a body kit, rear spoiler, rear diffuser and honeycomb mesh grille, as well as a DAB radio and fabric-upholstered Recaro seats. The mid-range ST-2 adds partial leather and heated front Recaro seats, keyless ignition and a Sony stereo system, while the ST-3 models get sat-nav, cruise control, climate control,&nbsp;keyless entry and automatic wipers and headlights, plus an auto-dimming mirror.

If you're looking to buy a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/ford/fiesta?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Ford Fiesta ST</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here.</a>&nbsp;

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Used Ford Fiesta ST 2013-2017 review

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