Ford Fiesta ST v Volkswagen Polo GTI 2020 Comparison
Ford’s new baby hot hatch is finally here, but is it a better track-day proposition than VW’s Polo GTI?Horses for courses
There’s a certain buyer that’s attracted to the niche hot hatch sector. Those unafraid of straying from the mundane SUV or dual-cab ute.
Maybe it’s the desire to rip through the back streets on the way home from work, or fang around the local racetrack every other week.
Either way, nowadays there's a hot hatch for any budget – from the cheap and cheerful right up to the $90K-plus Mercedes-AMG A 45 S.
We’re here to test the more affordable end of the spectrum. The all-new saucy three-cylinder Ford Fiesta ST against the proven Volkswagen Polo GTI fitted with a (de-tuned) version of the larger Golf GTI’s 2.0-litre turbo-four.
Both five-door hatches have 147kW of power and a host of safety and driver assist technology. However, the Ford Fiesta ST is a six-speed manual-only affair, while in Australia the VW Polo GTI comes exclusively with a six-speed DSG auto.
Despite this, the Fiesta ST and Polo GTI are sold at a similar price point – about $32k plus on-road costs.
We’ve tested both cars on previous occasions, and each has had plenty to offer. So, this time, we thought we’d see how they handle a track day.
Our pick was Pheasant Wood Circuit, a tight and technical layout nestled halfway between Sydney and Canberra, near the small town of Marulan.
Priced to please
Although the Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Polo GTI both start around the same price point, there’s actually big differences between them.
Standard track-ready equipment on the Fiesta ST includes a Quaife mechanical limited-slip front differential, body-hugging Recaro seats and 18-inch wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Sport rubber.
It also gets a bunch of creature comforts including heated seats, a heated steering wheel and heated windscreen – all for $32,290 before on-road costs.
The Polo gets 17-inch wheels as standard, although ours is fitted with the optional Brescia 18-inch shoes – just one part of our test car’s optional extras list that adds another $7300 to its price tag.
These extras include a Sound & Vision Package ($1900), Driver Assistance Package ($1500) and Luxury Package ($3900) – which adds gear such as a panoramic sunroof, tinted windows, LED headlights, heated seats, wireless phone charging, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and more.
Tallying up all those inclusions, our Polo GTI test car’s final price comes in at $39,790 (plus ORCs).
In terms of cabin presentation, the Polo GTI feels like the premium pick, while the Fiesta feels more driver-focussed, with (Ed: hooray!) a lower seating position and chunkier steering wheel, akin to the thick-rimmed wheels found in today’s BMW models.
A thoughtful and minimalistic layout surrounds a clean 8.0-inch infotainment screen in the Polo, while the Fiesta feels a little busier with more buttons on the dash and steering wheel. The Fiesta’s touch-screen is also 8.0-inch. Both cars get Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus navigation standard.
The pair also get auto up/down windows on every door and 60/40 rear split fold seats. When it comes to rear-seat amenity, neither gets air-vents or an armrest.
The VW offers two USB ports, map pockets and a door pocket with a drink bottle holder on either side. There’s a decent amount of head and leg room, with enough space to comfortably seat four adults.
In the Ford, leg room is just as good, but there’s less headroom and inferior under thigh support compared to the VW. The Fiesta’s door pockets are also smaller and there’s a small storage bin on the rear of the centre console, instead of USB points like the VW.
As for boot space, the Ford’s trunk is technically larger at 311 litres (Polo’s is 305 litres). In the real world, the Volkswagen’s is longer but the Ford’s is deeper. Both hatches get a space-saver spare tyre.
The full package
Buyers get a lot of safety and technology in this comparison. But in terms of value for money, the 2020 Ford Fiesta ST’s safety and driver assist features makes it the top safety choice.
Standard equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, auto high-beam, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, speed sign recognition, emergency brake assist, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors, reverse camera and forward collision warning.
The 2020 Volkswagen Polo GTI has the almost the same equipment, however, blind spot monitoring, parking sensors and rear cross traffic alert come at a $1500 cost option via the Driver assistance package, which also adds adaptive cruise control (Fiesta gets standard cruise control), park assist and front and rear manoeuvre braking.
Both get keyless entry and push-button start, plus tyre pressure monitoring.
There are a few stand-out features in either car. For instance, the Fiesta gets pop-out door-edge protectors, which at first sound like you’re jamming something in the door every time you close it – until you realise it’s the edges flipping in and out as the door closes.
There’s also some neat illuminated cup-holders in the Ford, while the Volkswagen gets handy heated mirrors for frosty mornings.
Pocket rockets
The 2020 Ford Fiesta ST and 2020 Volkswagen Polo GTI tread slightly differing paths to achieve their hot hatch status.
Whereas the Polo uses a detuned version of the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol donk found in generations of Golf GTI, the Fiesta ST gets power from a new 147kW/290Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo.
Both send power to the front wheels – the Fiesta using a six-speed manual transmission and the Polo, a six-speed dual-clutch. The Ford also uses a mechanical Quaife LSD, while the Volkswagen’s power metering is electronic.
How does that translate on a racetrack?
Although more involving on track, the Fiesta’s manual gear shift has a longer throw than you’d expect from a hot hatch, along with a rubbery shift action. The clutch pedal is light and means the Fiesta ST is equally amenable to around-town duties or heel-and-toe action on the track thanks to a properly spaced and positioned set of pedals.
Meanwhile, the Polo’s six-speed DSG transmission struggled to keep up on track, with the ECU often over-riding the driver’s manual shift inputs and choosing its own gears instead. Short story, we should really have the option of a manual, as in Europe.
Other than a signature hesitation on taking off, the Polo’s 2.0-litre four-pot delivers linear and progressive power, all the way up to its 6500rpm cut-off, but the electronic diff in the GTI struggles to put its power down with the same competence as the Ford. On several occasions, the inside wheel spun out of sharp corners.
The Volkswagen’s steering is noticeably lighter than the Ford’s and feels slower to react to a change in direction on track. The Polo’s brakes were also prone to some fade and a lengthening pedal after a handful of laps around Pheasant Wood Circuit. The Fiesta’s stoppers felt stronger for longer, however, they did eventually produce some fade.
Overall, the Ford Fiesta ST feels much more at home on circuit, with a faster steering rack and more meaningful weighting to its controls. Matched with excellent stability and firmer suspension, the ST instils confidence on track, especially during high-speed cornering and even when cocking a rear wheel on some tighter turns.
All told, the Fiesta ST is a car that’s easy to gauge on circuit, rewarding well-timed and patient inputs. Its Michelin tyres provide excellent levels of front-end bite, complementing high levels of mechanical grip.
The Ford’s 1.5-litre engine ultimately lacks the low and mid-range performance of the GTI, yet it still delivers accessible performance and an endearing three-cylinder thrum.
What about public roads?
The flipside of the 2020 Ford Fiesta ST’s track competence is a stiffer ride on the road. Pitter-patter bumps tremor through the cabin, while larger hits tend to shake through the car (partially a function of its shorter wheelbase), meaning longer trips on secondary roads aren’t as comfortable.
The driving position is lower in the Fiesta and the standard Recaro seats do a superb job of keeping you firmly in place, hugging your thighs and mid-section.
The 2020 Volkswagen Polo GTI’s seats are also comfortable, but if you’re keen on more than a few track days, the ST’s Recaros are definitely our pick.
Both get manual seat adjustments with lumbar support, but again, it’s the Ford that allows a lower, more involving driving position.
On public roads, both cars feel rigid, but it’s the Polo GTI that feels like an easier day-to-day proposition than the Ford. It offers a slightly quieter cabin and a ride that takes the raw edge off bumps. Even so, the Polo’s ‘Normal’ driving mode (no Comfort mode) is still a firm ride.
Both vehicles favour enthusiastic driving on twisty roads, but the Fiesta ST feels more willing to let you push it to its limits, feeling like it’s on its own little slot car track.
Which wins and why?
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.
How much does the 2020 Ford Fiesta ST cost?
Price: $32,290 (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 (ADR Combined)
CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP 2017)
How much does the 2020 Volkswagen Polo GTI cost?
Price: $32,490 (plus on-road costs), $39,790 as-tested
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/320Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 115g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)
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