2014 Ford Fiesta ST: In The Shadow Of Greatness

It’s no stretch to state that Ford is on a roll with its small cars, debuting well-received new versions of the Focus and Fiesta hatchbacks and sedans over the course of the past few years.  A similar renaissance is underway within Ford’s performance division, and while the Mustang remains the muscle behind the Blue Oval’s efforts, it’s no longer the entire game plan as the ST brand has managed to transform public perception of what constitutes a fast-and-fun automobile.

The most recent addition to Ford’s ST family is the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST, a hyper-active hatch built on the base Fiesta’s already-athletic bones.  At first it might seem like the centerpiece of the Fiesta ST is its turbocharged engine, but after spending more time with this hellacious half-pint I’ve come to realize that it’s more about the package than any one part when it comes to appreciating what Ford has accomplished with this car.

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Underrated / Overrated

That’s not to say that the 2014 Ford Fiesta’s turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder motor isn’t the spoon that stirs the subcompact’s coffee.  Officially, Ford is advertising output of 197 horsepower and 202 lb-ft of torque, but dyno results from a number of publications as well as a few independent tuners peg the engine’s real performance at close to 190 horses and 221 lb-ft of twist…at the wheels.  This means that somebody’s lying, and for once, the truth is better than the advertising copy.

The Fiesta ST sends its raucous power to the front axles via a six-speed manual transmission, and while there’s no limited-slip differential on hand to corral the car’s explosion of acceleration once the engine reaches 3,000 rpm, Ford has installed a traction management system that makes minimal use of the brakes to deal with wheel spin.  Torque steer is present, but unobtrusive, and the sprint to 100 km/h takes roughly seven seconds to accomplish from a standing start.

Taut, But Lacking

Seven seconds is respectable, but far from fast, especially in a modern context.  What’s more impressive about the Ford Fiesta ST’s drivetrain is just how torquey it feels at a variety of speeds, making it easier to tap into its power reserves in comparison to similar sporty hatchbacks like the Fiat 500 Abarth.

One would assume that such a responsive engine would be a perfect match for the Fiesta ST’s stiff chassis and relatively light curb weight, but the sum of its parts don’t quite add up to quite the expected level of fun.  Yes, the hatchback goes where you point it without much complaint, but after having been wowed but just how easy – and rewarding – it was to toss the larger Ford Focus ST through the corners I was underwhelmed by the personality of the more diminutive ST model.  There’s no doubt in my mind that the Fiesta ST is the pick of its admittedly thin class, as it dynamically trounces rivals such as the previously-mentioned Fiat as well as the Chevrolet Sonic RS, but it does so with such seriousness that I was unable to squeeze too many smiles per mile out of the vehicle when driving at 9/10ths.  This was true even on an autocross course, where I found myself fighting understeer more often than cutting apexes in the Fiesta ST.

A Better All-Around Performer

The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST isn’t my pick for an afternoon at the track but it’s much more enjoyable on the street, which is the context within which the majority of buyers will find themselves sampling the automobile.  The revised powerband and more focused suspension tuning are a welcome addition to the Fiesta’s bag of tricks, and so is the vehicle’s sweetened soundtrack (which benefits from intake sounds piped through the firewall into the cabin).  The Fiesta ST is as engaging to drive in traffic as it is on the highway, and I appreciated the versatility of the platform as well as its ability to keep the car’s ride from getting too harsh on Montreal’s truly terrible road surfaces.

Practical, If Schizophrenic, Interior

Like most high performance models based on affordable small car platforms, the Ford Fiesta ST’s passenger compartment provides a mix of both the upscale and the mundane.  The sea of plastic that defines the Fiesta’s interior paneling is pleasantly styled, but remains plastic nonetheless, contrasting against the available MyFord Touch LCD screen and leather-wrapped Recaro sport seats.  The hatchback is functional enough with its fold-down rear seats opening up substantial cargo space. Drivers will have to deal with a few ergonomic miss-steps inside the Fiesta ST however, including a center console placement that makes it almost impossible to deactivate the parking brake with one hand (a significant impediment to hooliganism).

Not Quite Up To The Family Standard

In a world where the Focus ST didn’t exist, I might be more apt to be swayed by the not-inconsiderable charms of the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST.  Lest it seem unfair to compare the subcompact to its compact sibling, consider the fact that the price differential between these two models is not so much a chasm as a crack in the sidewalk, and that the Focus ST brings not only a more pleasing overall approach to rapid transit but also a larger and more useful interior.

Despite toiling in the shadow of the Focus ST that came before it, on the subcompact performance scene the Fiesta ST stands alone, trouncing both the rough and unruly Fiat 500 Abarth and the smoother but less energetic Sonic RS.  Unquestionably an upgrade over the base Fiesta, it’s still rather hard to recommend not investigating the Focus ST if you are looking to spend this much money on a hot hatch.