Ford Fiesta ST 2022 Review

As you might expect, the upgraded 2022 Ford Fiesta ST carries a higher price tag than before. The damage is relatively minor, the increased figure of $33,490 plus on-road costs (+$1200) slightly offset by a stronger engine and extra equipment.

New additions include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, smart matrix LED headlights that can identify oncoming cars and block the offending rays, wireless charging and the latest FordPass Connect embedded modem.

This is in addition to standard keyless entry and start, climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, auto lights and wipers and the 8.0-inch infotainment screen that features smartphone mirroring, digital radio, satellite navigation and voice control.

A 10-speaker B&O stereo is standard, however the first 73 examples of the MY22 Fiesta ST arrived in Australia with a six-speaker non-branded stereo. Customers have been given the option of cancelling their order, waiting for a full-spec car or receiving $500 refund.

The Recaro seats of the pre-facelift model have also been replaced by in-house Ford Performance seats with 12-way adjustment, including four-way lumbar support. They feel basically identical to those that came before.

Two new colours have been added, Boundless Blue and the pictured Mean Green, joining Frozen White, Magnetic Grey, Race Red, Moondust Silver and Agate Black.

Every colour bar white and red costs an extra $675, while a black roof and mirror caps can also be added for another $500.

Ford provides a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and the first four services are capped at $299. But it also provides pricing out to 12 years/180,000km, which comes to a total of $4706 or an average of $392 per service.

Despite being an enthusiast vehicle, the 2022 Ford Fiesta ST still scores all the safety equipment you’d expect, including airbags for the driver and passenger and front and rear side curtains.

Add to this active safety kit such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, emergency brake assist, forward collision warning, intelligent speed assist, lane keeping aid with lane departure warning, speed sign recognition, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors.

Even better, these aids are generally unobtrusive in everyday driving so you’re not constantly dealing with errant beeps.

Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment system isn’t necessarily cutting edge, neither is its 8.0-inch touch-screen (its bigger Focus ST brother is about to get a massive 13.2-inch widescreen unit), but both work fine, especially if, like me, you tend to just use smartphone mirroring.

Heated seats and steering wheel are two little luxuries that you never think you need until you have them, then become must-haves, at least when you’re braving a southern state winter.

Touches like this are why the latest Fiesta ST still feels good value, despite being much more expensive than the previous generation that started at $25,990 (but was much sparser in its equipment levels).

While the Fiesta is quite a small car, there’s still room in the back for a couple of adults (though rugby/basketball players may struggle), and the 311-litre boot is a decent size, expanding to 1093L with the 60/40-split rear seats folded.

A 1.5-litre three-cylinder sounds a little underwhelming on paper, but the turbocharged three-pot in the 2022 Ford Fiesta ST is one of its biggest attractions. Metaphorically, not physically, at least.

What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in performance and character. Not performance in an outright sense, as despite the 40Nm boost to 320Nm power is unchanged at 147kW, this isn’t a car that’s going to knock your socks off with its acceleration.

If you’re not fussed with raw numbers, however, there’s so much to enjoy here, like the great throttle response, broad powerband, eagerness for revs and warbly soundtrack.

Likewise, the slick, accurate six-speed manual gearbox, its short ratios making the most of the available power and ensuring you’re kept busy swapping cogs.

The standard-fit limited-slip differential puts most of the power to the ground in the dry but wet conditions need care as too much throttle will overwhelm the front tyres and keep the traction control busy. The Fiesta ST doesn’t have the traction of the Hyundai i20 N <<>>, for instance.

The engine’s diminutive size means you don’t have to pay for the performance, either. Relatively speaking. The claimed combined fuel consumption of 6.3L/100km can double under very heavy use, but is equally quite achievable if you’ve a light foot.

Combined with its enthusiastic engine, the driving dynamics of the 2022 Ford Fiesta ST make every journey a joy. You just can’t help but enjoy driving this car.

One of the benefits of its lower level of performance – compared to, say, a Hyundai i30 N, let alone a Mercedes-AMG A 45 S – is that you needn’t fear for your licence every time you press the accelerator.

The ride is relatively firm, but the Fiesta ST has clever frequency-dependent dampers that transfer plenty of road imperfections but soak up bigger hits with finesse to prevent occupants bouncing up and down in their seats.

It’s when you lift the pace, though, that it really comes alive. Just as in a straight line, the Fiesta ST is less about how fast you go through corners and more interested in how you go through the corners fast.

In this case it’s usually with an inside rear wheel cocked in the air, the car constantly squirming on its tyres with the front-end scrabbling at the road and the rear weaving along behind.

You could drive it neatly and sensibly, but it eggs you on to throw it around, adjusting the balance multiple times per corner just because you can.

It’s not the fast way, it’s the fun way.

The one area for criticism is the brakes. Ford carried over the previous Fiesta ST’s stoppers in a faster, heavier car, and while they’re fine for day-to-day use, heavy applications tax them quickly.

The 2022 Ford Fiesta ST continues to be a breath of fresh air. The price rise is unfortunate but also a sign of the times, and in relative terms, both compared to its rivals and the entertainment it provides, it’s still a bargain.

It’s the epitome of a hot hatch. It’s small and agile, making it perfect for ducking through traffic or squeezing into supermarket car parks, with plenty of room for shopping in the boot.

Once the weekend comes, however, you can head to the hills or the track and be guaranteed to be wearing an enormous smile.

How much does the 2022 Ford Fiesta ST cost?
Price: $33,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/320Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not rated