Ford Fiesta ST: carsales Car of the Year 2020 contender

Why is the Ford Fiesta ST a carsales COTY contender?

The latest, seventh-generation Ford Fiesta was launched in Europe in mid-2017, followed by the Ford Fiesta ST flagship in May 2018.

But it took another two years for Ford’s smallest hot hatch to arrive in Australia – in April 2020 – and the ST is the only version of what would have been our third-generation Fiesta to be sold here.

That leaves the blue oval brand without a mainstream light-car contender for the first time in decades in Australia, where the Korean-built, Mazda 121-based Festiva was Ford’s popular range-opener from 1991, before it was replaced by the European-sourced Fiesta in 2002.

Ford Australia will do similar with the larger Focus, which by the end of this year will only be available Down Under in ST performance, ST-Line flagship and Active crossover guise. The only other passenger car Ford sells locally is the Mustang.

So the replacement for one of our favourite light-size hot hatches has been a long time coming and carries a lot of weight on its shoulders, but the new Fiesta ST is Ford’s most formidable answer to a shrinking number of accomplished pint-size front-drive hot hatches in a once-popular genre.

In the absence of the discontinued Peugeot 208 GTi and Renault Clio RS200, and excluding the much pricier new all-wheel drive Toyota GR Yaris, the ST’s only remaining direct rival is its arch-enemy, the Volkswagen Polo GTI, which the feisty Ford trumped in our comparo in June.

That’s why the new Ford Fiesta ST is a worthy contender for the 2020 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle, which also includes two other new Fords: the Fiesta-based Puma small SUV and the redesigned Escape medium SUV.

Like its slick Euro rival, the Ford Fiesta ST will attract upwardly mobile singles and young couples that care about driving and performance, but are limited to a budget of about $35K.

Despite the fact both pocket rockets – the Fiesta ST and Polo GTI – come to Australia with five doors as standard this time round (the Ford is available as a three-door in Europe), we doubt many family buyers will be in the market for either model, and the Ford narrows its target market even further by lacking an automatic transmission.

While the Polo GTI is five-door/dual-clutch auto-only like the old Clio RS, the Fiesta ST comes exclusively with a six-speed manual, making it more of a purist’s hot hatch in the eyes of many and limiting its appeal to enthusiasts.

Originally priced at $31,990 plus on-road costs, the Ford Fiesta ST now costs $32,290 plus ORCs – $600 less than the VW Polo GTI.

It may lack an automatic transmission – and three model variants to choose from, as in Europe – but the ST is offered in one well-equipped spec with just two options: a $2500 panoramic sunroof and $650 metallic paint.

So while it’s $4500 pricier than the old Fiesta ST, the new model comes with an array of standard equipment upgrades, including two extra doors, larger 18-inch wheels with grippy 205/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber and a mechanical limited-slip differential.

Inside, there are heated, manually adjustable sports Recaro front seats, 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment with embedded sat-nav and Apple/Android phone mirroring, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound and a heated steering wheel and windscreen.

There’s also a five-star ANCAP safety rating thanks in part to autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot warning, speed sign recognition, a reversing camera and parking sensors, plus the usual array of airbags and stability control.

But the engine-room is the real talking point here, courtesy of a cracking new 1.5-litre turbo-triple that cranks out 147kW and 290Nm – 13kW/50Nm up on the old model and 30Nm down on the GTI.

Maximising its performance is launch control and three driving modes – normal, sport and track – which progressively up the ante in terms of throttle response, engine noise and chassis control.

Aside from its advanced safety and technology, and cool features like fuel-saving two-cylinder operation and pop-out door protectors, the combination of a lusty turbo-triple and just 1200kg of kerb weight has enamoured many carsales reviewers.

“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,” said our resident road tester and Bathurst 1000 champ Luke Youlden when he drove the Fiesta ST in June.

“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…”

Later that month in a comparo with the VW Polo GTI, Alex Lawrence said: “Both the 2020 Ford Fiesta ST and the 2020 Volkswagen Polo GTI have positives and negatives, and where one shines on track, the other feels like a better everyday driver.

“Where technology and cabin layout are concerned, the Polo GTI trumps the Fiesta ST. But it comes at a higher cost.

“And if it’s a throaty exhaust note, a chassis tuned to feel like it’s on rails or meaty steering with proper feedback you’re after – the Fiesta ST should be on your list.

“For traditional hot hatch buyers, it’s the new turbo-triple Ford Fiesta ST that comes up trumps every day of the week.”

Ford Fiesta ST at a glance:
Price: From $32,290
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/290Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined)