Ford Fiesta ST 2020 Review

Unlike in Europe, where there are three grades of 2020 Ford Fiesta ST available, Ford Australia has opted to import just one well-equipped version of the ST, which is available now for $31,990 plus on-road costs.

This is a strategy the company employed in the previous-generation Ford Fiesta ST. It basically ticks all the option boxes for you – indeed, the only options available here are a $2500 panoramic sunroof and $650 metallic paint.

An increase in technology and performance add-ons hikes the price $4500 over the previous model but overall it’s money well spent.

The most differentiating features over the previous model are the new Ford Fiesta ST’s five doors and larger 18-inch wheels. Shod with wide (205/40R18) Michelin Pilot Sport 4 boots, normally reserved for high-end sports cars, the Ford Fiesta ST exhibits a subtle muscular stance while delivering plenty of grip.

The big tick is the standard mechanical limited-slip differential. It works exceptionally well and, in my opinion, performs much better than any gimmicky electronic device.

In the cockpit, manually adjustable sports Recaro (heated) seats set the racy tone, while a high-res 8.0-inch touch-screen incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (along with built-in navigation) dominates the dash.

Tunes are supplied courtesy of Bang & Olufsen through a 10-speaker sound system. Heated steering wheel and windscreen functions are also present along with launch control (limiting pre-launch rpm to 3000rpm) and three driving modes: normal, sport and track. Each mode progressively ups the ante in terms of throttle response, engine noise and chassis control.

Boot space is a pretty reasonable 311 litres and practicality is further boosted by a 60:40 split-fold rear seat.

There’s a provision for top tether and ISOFIX child restraint mounting and, like most cars in this segment, the Fiesta seats two adults in the rear comfortably but three across the back would be a struggle.

The 2020 Ford Fiesta ST has a five-star ANCAP rating and is packed with the now industry-standard advanced safety features such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, speed sign recognition, rear camera and parking sensors, along with antilock brakes and stability control.

Although designed to help the Ford Fiesta ST turn with less understeer, I’d call its Torque Vectoring function a safety feature. I’d argue the better a car handles, the safer it is and the Fiesta ST is a cracking drive.

In addition to the safety tech, there’s some quite cool technological tidbits such as the pop-out and retractable door protectors that protect the edges of each door.

This is something I’ve never seen before but I like it.

The engine can also ‘drop’ a cylinder to save fuel when full power isn’t required or when cruising. And, for the record, this feature either doesn’t work or is impossible to detect.

Interestingly, the Ford Fiesta ST lets you ‘flat-shift’ (stay on the throttle when depressing the clutch) changing up the gears – a feature I wish I tried on the track to shave off a tenth or two.

The 2020 Ford Fiesta ST bucks convention and is now powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. That might sound a bit ho-hum on paper but in reality it performs like and has power figures similar to many four-cylinder units.

Outputs for this little angry monster are 147kW and 290Nm – up from 134kW and 240Nm in the previous generation.

I think it’s a masterpiece of engineering .It exhibits a syncopated engine note reminiscent of a five-cylinder Audi TTRS, albeit not quite so raucous, and is also very smooth.

Typically the fewer the number of cylinders the rougher an engine is, as there’s less opportunity to even out the firing sequence, but in the case of the Ford Fiesta ST, you’d be hard pressed to distinguish its three cylinders from four.

The turbo triple’s willingness to pull from low in the rev range is its most impressive attribute and pushing a relatively lightweight 1200kg feels effortless.

Increasingly rare in 2020, the ST is only available with a six-speed manual transmission. It works well and its spread of ratios is spot-on.

Ever the racer, I couldn’t help but cut a couple of laps around Queensland's Norwell Motorplex to really push the Fiesta ST to the limit and I can tell you it didn’t disappoint.

Back in 2016 we tested the Ford Focus RS, the Audi RS3 and Mercedes-Benz AMG A45 around Norwell and although not a fair comparison, it does provide some perspective.

The AMG was then the slowest with a 64.52sec lap, next was the Audi with a 63.97 and the quickest was the Focus with a 62.83.

The little Ford Fiesta ST rocked the circuit with 65.77sec lap. Now I have to say, to be so close in lap time with half the power, a third of the price and without four-wheel drive is pretty impressive!

A well-driven Fiesta ST could really embarrass a few prestige vehicles at the next track day.

Sitting inside the 2020 Ford Fiesta ST leaves little doubt that you’re in a vehicle fit for purpose. The seats are snug fitting like a racing seat and the ergonomics are better than I expected.

The much maligned high seating position found in most Ford vehicles, although there, is getting closer to a lower optimum in the Fiesta ST. I would, however, love the gear stick to be a little taller and closer to the steering wheel as I felt like I was very inefficiently reaching for the floor as I swapped cogs.

The purposeful feel continues via feedback from the wheel. This hatch definitely commands a little more attention as the steering wheel tugs, pulls and responds to every little bump and road camber.

Sure, it requires a slightly firmer grip on the wheel than your average commuter hatch, but it’s certainly not uncomfortable and the more you live with it, the more normal it feels.

The electronic power steering is well weighted and the ratio quite fast, exacerbating the well-sorted Ford chassis’ go-kart-like sharpness.

If you’re not a previous ST owner, expect your new purchase to have a ‘racy’ feel – it’s the price you pay for sharp handling.

Don’t get me wrong – the Ford Fiesta ST is still very well-mannered and easily liveable as a daily driver. But it is definitely even more at home zipping around corners on the track and the punchy three-cylinder turbo engine seems to deliver performance beyond its claimed figures.

As noted above, the ability of the engine to pull from low revs in any gear is its most surprising attribute and offers the driver some flexibility in gear selection, particularly on the road.

Track-day enthusiasts on a budget, rejoice! The 2020 Ford Fiesta ST is as fun as it gets for around $35K on the road and it’s pretty quick too.

We hear the word ‘engaging’ a lot but this rocket typifies the word perfectly. It proves you don’t have to break the bank to get some serious performance.

Indeed, the Ford Fiesta ST is a hot-hatch in every sense of the word and one in which I’m battling to find any serious faults.

The turbo triple really appeals to me, and the old racing adage – to go faster just add lightness – sums up the Ford Fiesta ST and its philosophy perfectly.

Although still succumbing to the dreaded front-drive understeer when pushed over its limit, it is a high limit and on the way the Fiesta’s feedback makes you feel like you're part of the car.

The claimed economy of 6.3L/100km maybe a stretch, though – it’s almost impossible to resist giving it a blast through the gears to feel its sudden push and hear its growl and crackle on over-run.

It’s easy to see why the Ford Fiesta ST has such a cult following and the new generation will only build on it.

I’m sold. Sign me up…

How much does the 2020 Ford Fiesta ST cost?
Price: $31,990 plus on-road costs
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/290Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.3L/100km combined (ADR Combined)
CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star Euro NCAP