Recently I had the pleasure of driving the brand new Ford Fiesta ST for a week. When it was dropped off, I was told to be gentle as it is really responsive. If you are thinking about getting one or have the chance to drive one and are told the same, I suggest you listen. It is no joke!
This is my first time driving a Fiesta or actually an ST. Looking at the vehicle you can clearly see that this is a sports car. Driving around the streets of Cape Town, I felt like I was on top of the world and I bet if I wanted to be, the 1.6 GDTI engine would get me there.
Looking at the body, the Fiesta ST has all the elements of a sports car. The honey comb grille in the front together with its bad boy style lights reminds me of the Ford Mustang, which is coming to South Africa and I can’t wait to take it for a spin or two. Unlike the standard Fiesta models, the ST only comes in a coupe which gives the car a sporty look. The lines that start from the front grille and flow to the rear remind one of the wind that will be flowing against the vehicle as you glide through it.
The rear features a double exhaust and spoiler which looks really good. The 16inch rims match the honey comb grille and ensure that the vehicle looks good while moving or when you are enjoying the view on a drive.
To ensure that those around you know that you are driving an ST, there are ST badges on the front grille and rear as well as on the seat and steering wheel. But let’s face it, those around you will know you are driving a pure beast and if they can’t hear the roar of the engine, they better get their hearing checked.
Getting into the ST, you are welcomed by Recaro bucket seats which wrap around your body and keep you in place. The centre console features a Sony radio/cd player that connects to your phone for hands free calling or playing music using Ford SYNC. You can also play your music via a flash drive which is something I love to do.
The steering wheel is comfortable in the hand and easy to grip. I also like the buttons on the steering wheel which can be used to change songs or answer a call so you can focus on the road.
The dashboard has a big rev counter and speedometer which I found doesn’t get blocked by the steering wheel and is easy to see at a quick glance.
The ST allows you to unlock the vehicle without actually taking the key out of your pocket. As long as the key is on your body you simply press a button on the door and it unlocks. Once in the vehicle, you don’t actually insert the key anywhere, which is actually a piece of plastic with buttons. Pressing the start and stop engine button turns on the engine with a roar and you are good to go.
I had a bit of a trouble getting the ST in reverse at first but quickly realised that you need to pull up the ring below the gear knob and then move the gear into reverse. Gear changes on the 6 speed gear box are quick and smooth which ensures that you don’t lose speed while upping gears which feels like a racing car.
The vehicle handles well on the roads. Turning on sports mode turns off stability control and that’s when things start to get a bit looser on the roads and you can feel the vehicle wants to drift when tugging at the wheel. It’s probably best to keep sports mode for a racing track but it is fun to play with if you know what you are doing.
The Fiesta ST comes in five colours with white or orange being my favourite!
I am quite tall and found there is enough space for me but if I sit in the back, I had to move the seats forward a bit. For an average person, you will find that there is ample leg space. You can easily fit three adults in the rear. I didn’t really have the need to use the boot but from what I can see, it is a decent size for a hatchback.
Starting from R275,900, the Fiesta ST falls into the same class as the Golf 7 GTI and Subaru BRZ. From what I have seen, the ST is a great competitor but I will try to get hold of a competitor in the near future.
Overall I really enjoyed driving the Fiesta ST. From the roars of the engine to the Keyless entry and the start and stop button, the Fiesta ST is a great vehicle to drive. I could definitely see myself having the ST as a daily commuter. Now I just need to get Ford to drop one off for me to keep.
