Ford Fiesta ST 2.0 Review

Overall Rating

Performance, cross country pace, looks, seats, sound system, understated looks

Hand brake grip, attention from chavs

What can I say? The Ford Fiesta ST 2.0 is a fantastic little beast of a car! Firstly, to look at it; it strikes the perfect balance - it's saying "I know I'm sporty but I'm not straight off the cover of max power", which is good because it doesn't give much away, which is great at the lights, as you can best most things in it. Then there's the performance - a 2 litre four in a car this size, and when its in a car with great dynamics to start with your onto a winner. Connected to a slick shifting 5 speed close ratio box, progress can be rapid. 1st,2nd & 3rd will rip your face off - this car feels much quicker than its quoted to be (it wouldn't surprise me if it was 0.5 seconds quicker to 60), and will shock people just how fast it is when you open it up.
The handling may not be the best in class, but its more than enough to put a smile on your face, and isn't that the point of this car? I used to have a mini cooper which did handle slightly better, but it would also leave you needing minor back surgery when ever you go over a bump, which the Fiesta doesn't. The same goes for the Clio sport (I bought the Fiesta over one), it just didn't feel well made enough to last, which the Fiesta does.
The interior continues the sold feel of the car, with the only cheap bit of trim been the handbrake grip. The seats are excellent, as is the sound system. The dash is slightly dull, but in the scheme of things that doesn't really matter to me - I'm usually concentrating on the road!

The only downside with it is that every time a chav in his Nova gets alongside you at the lights, silly exhaust making silly noises, they try and race you. No contest really but it is becoming tiresome.

All in all this is a super little car, and no matter what some of the press say it isn't too far behind a cooper s or a Clio 182. It's probably the easiest to live with and probably the most fun.

buy one, you'll love it - I do!

Members' Comments onthom290783's Review

• Dean Custus on 18th Aug 2006

  I felt I must disagree with one part of your review - comparing it to the grossly inferior Cooper S. German build quality might be better in some areas but the ST has it licked in the performance and handling stakes. The ST might also lose value fast but that's good news for the second-hand buyer market. Personally I don't own an ST, but I have often driven my friends. It doesn't corner quite as well as my 1.4 Zetec but it definitely packs more punch than any Cooper S better looking too. The Mini is a very effeminate car.