Used Ford Fiesta ST 2018-present review

When driving certain cars, you can tell straight away that the people behind their creation cherish the act of driving. The Ford Fiesta ST is one of those cars. It takes the standard Ford Fiesta – a small car that's inherently good to drive – and ups the ante with truly thrilling performance and handling. 

We first saw the ST badge on a Fiesta in 2004, but the praise really started coming thick and fast when it appeared on the 2013-2017 Ford Fiesta ST. It struck a great balance between a sharp, serious hot hatch and a playful, entertaining one. This latest car, launched in 2018, evolved the formula.

The ST trim options consist of three different flavours: ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3. Standard equipment isn’t stingy, with 17in alloy wheels, air-con, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, keyless start and cruise control all included with the entry-level trim.

With ST-2, you get an upgraded sound system, plus climate control and rear privacy glass. ST-3 adds 18in alloy wheels (these were optional on ST-2 cars from new), automatic headlights and wipers, power-folding door mirrors, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and keyless entry.

Cars granted the optional Performance Pack from the factory get the traction-enhancing LSD, plus a launch control function and shift lights that tell you when you're about to hit the engine's rev limit. 

On the road, the three-cylinder unit proves small yet mighty. A jab of the accelerator and it wakes up enthusiastically. Before you know it, you'll be at the rev limiter. Acceleration times from a standstill are pretty impressive, with the 0-62mph dash completed in just 6.5 seconds. The artificially enhanced engine noise is sporty and muscular, while the exhaust can pop and crackle to contribute some extra, rally-car-like drama.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox has a short, snappy change. There are three driving modes available: Normal, Sport and Track. Moving from Normal to Sport makes the accelerator more responsive, adds weight to the steering and increases the volume of the exhaust. Moving to Track slackens the car's traction control and relaxes its stability control for maximum driver control and, of course, enjoyment.

Inside, the driver has a figure-hugging and very supportive Recaro sports seat. There’s plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and the seat itself, so people of varying heights and shapes should be able to find the right driving position. Visibility is good, as is the perceived interior quality.

Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system is fitted as standard and comes with an 8.0in touchscreen. It offers sharp graphics, lots of features (including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a DAB radio and Bluetooth) and relatively simple menus. One gripe is that there are no physical shortcut buttons to make it easier to hop between functions.  

There’s plenty of space for the driver and passenger up front, but rear-seat passengers will find it more of a squeeze, especially if they're sitting behind someone tall. The boot trumps some of its rivals for outright volume, although dropping the 60/40-split rear seats does leave a slightly stepped floor. This ST is available as a three-door or five-door car. 

However, 2023 examples are an exception. The Fiesta ST was facelifted for 2022 and, shortly after, the three-door version was dropped from the range. Updates also include a beefier front grille, while the Recaro seats were swapped for some (similar in effectiveness) Ford Performance ones. An Eco mode makes an appearance and so does a digital instrument cluster as well.