2018 Ford Fiesta ST passenger ride review - verdict
Our first taste of the much anticipated new Ford Fiesta ST, three months before it goes on sale, suggests that another superb Ford hot hatch is just around the corner...
We're as frustrated as you that we can't deliver a proper verdict and star rating for the new Fiesta ST just yet. Hot hatches are primarily about handling, and there's no way we can be confident in how it handles from the passenger seat.
However, we can speculate as to how things will shape up based on the information we have. For instance, the ST is likely to start from around £19,000 when it goes on sale in the UK in June with three trim levels: ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3. That's quite a jump from its predecessor's starting price, but still comfortably undercuts a Peugeot 208 GTi and Renault Clio RS.
And, although we're yet to have confirmed fuel economy figures, if Ford's estimated CO2 figures are anything to go by, it's a fair bit cleaner than those rivals, too.
Together with Ford's punchy new three-cylinder petrol, a more comfortable ride and the fact the ST doesn't seem to have lost its ability to put a huge grin on your face through corners, it all suggests we're in for a real treat and a potential class leader when the time comes to drive it.
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Rivals:
Ford Fiesta ST
Price (from) £19,000 Engine 3cyl, 1497cc, turbo, petrol Power 197bhp at 6000rpm Torque 214lb ft at 1600-4000rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual 0-62mph 6.5sec Top speed 144mph Official economy tbc CO2, tax band 114g/km (est), 21%
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