Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018) Review

Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018) At A Glance

Outstanding road handling. 1.6 EcoBoost engine has lots of torque. Practical and comfortable cabin. One of the best hot hatches money can buy.

Only available in three-door form. Rear seats can be a bit tight for large adults. Interior styling feels ordinary. High incidence of clutch and DMF failure.

Real MPG average for a Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Reviews for Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018)'s top 3 rivals

Volkswagen Golf

Golf GTI performs well in every area, making it the consummate all-round hot hatch.

Peugeot 208

Big improvement on the 207 GTi. Classy interior. Fun to drive.

Suzuki Swift

Powered by impressive and spirited 1.4 BoosterJet engine, economical for a sporty hatch, good fun to...

Ask Honest John

Is there such a thing as an economical hot hatch?

"I like the idea of have a warm/hot hatch for my next car but after driving a car does 40mpg in most town driving I am worried about the mpg being too low and me spending more on fuel each month. At present I have my eyes set on a Ford Fiesta ST or a Suzuki Sport Sport, but like the look of the Volkswagen Polo in BlueGT model as it has the ACT feature. Are there any quickish cars out there? I only have £11k to spend."

The Volkswagen Polo BlueGT is a perfectly fine car, but I think you might be disappointed if hot hatches like the Ford Fiesta ST are also on your radar. The Fiesta ST is loads of fun and a £11k budget will get you a good example of an ST3 from around 2015 with such luxuries as keyless entry, navigation and cruise control. Our Real MPG data suggests owners of Fiesta ST from this era see a respectable 37.5mpg on average - around 80 per cent of its official figure. If you want something better on fuel, the Fiesta ST-Line with the 140PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is also good fun, Our readers with this model report 43.2mpg on average. While not as powerful as the Fiesta ST, the Suzuki Swift Sport is another good purchase - and could prove to be more reliable than the Fiesta, going by the reports we receive from owners. Your budget will get you one of the last of the previous-generation models. Our Real MPG data suggests you could get 42.5mpg from a Swift Sport - 96 per cent of its official figure.

Answered by Andrew Brady

How do I find out if my vehicle is involved in a recall?

"I see there is a safety recall on 2010 - 2014 Ford Focus, C-Max, Fiesta ST and Kuga for possible cracked cylinder heads, which could result in a fire. I've been unable to identify which engine is involved, do you know?"

The recall notice doesn't specify which engines are involved. The manufacturer should get in contact to discuss the remedial work with owners of affected vehicles, but if your car is second-hand or if your contact details aren’t up to date then the manufacturer might not be able to reach you. You can always ring a Ford dealership to check. For more info on how recalls work, check out our guide: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/everything-you-need-to-know/2018-01/what-to-do-if-your-vehicle-is-recalled

Answered by Georgia Petrie

What sporty, 5-door, reliable cars could you recommend?

"Our 12 year old Audi A3 2.0 TDI Sportback has done 100,000 miles, so will be going, and we need a third car to back up our Ford S-Max 2.0 Ecoboost and Porsche Cayman GTS. The front runner is a Mazda 3 2.0 165 Sport, which you report very favourably on. It will be for general/family use (we have 3 kids: aged six, eight and ten) and Drivethedeal can supply one for under £20,000. Are there any other suggestions that should be considered for a sporty, five-door, good to drive, reliable car? We wouldn't touch VWG at the moment and a Ford Fiesta ST would be nearly perfect except it may be a bit small. Secondly, if we go for the Mazda, I cannot find any mention on the Michelin site that they do 18-inch cross-climates (which the Mazda rides on)."

You can get Cross Climates in 205/60 R16, which is the other size on the Mazda 3, but the Michelin site becomes very frustrating looking for 18-inch whether you just look for tyre size or try to input the actual car. You're obviously looking for a bit of power, but we had huge fun in the low power Mazda 3, though admittedly in Northern Scotland on almost empty roads: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/mazda/mazda-3-2017-road-test/?

Answered by Honest John

Are there any small hot estates?

"I am currently driving a Skoda Fabia 62-plate 1.4 TSI vRS Estate with the CTHE engine that I have had for about a year. It has done about 30k miles from new. I am looking to replace it with something that has similar engine size and performance and I cannot find anything to match it in today's market (sub £15k). Do you have any recommendations with similar performance, preferably an estate?"

My recommendation about this car is to get shot of it as fast as you can before the engine fails. Replace with a Fiesta ST or the not-quite-as-good Polo 1.8 GTi. No hot little estates.

Answered by Honest John

On the inside of an Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018)

• Boot space is 290–974 litres
• Euro NCAP rating of five stars

Like the standard Fiesta, the ST is a comfortable and spacious car to drive and travel in, with supportive seats and an abundance of head and leg room for those sitting in the front. Most of the trim and fixtures have been carried straight over from the standard Fiesta, but there are a few telling signs that this is no ordinary Ford, with ST badges, a racing gear stick and alloy pedals.

There are three trims to choose from – ST1, ST2 or ST3 – and base models are well kitted out, with air con, sport seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and Bluetooth. Spec up to ST2 and the interior improves with heated Recaro seats, Sony DAB audio and a four-inch colour display for the dashboard. The range topping ST3 adds sat nav, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and cruise control.

We wouldn’t describe any of the trim options as dramatic and some might struggle to tell the interiors apart from the standard Fiesta, but this is no bad thing. For us, the Fiesta is one of the best small cars money can buy and it’s understandable that Ford has sought to refine its formula, rather than rip it up and start over again.

The Fiesta ST is well suited to daily use, with a quiet and refined cabin that is well hushed on motorways and almost silent at low speeds. The dashboard has a wonderful simplicity that makes it a doddle to use, with simple controls for the air con, radio and infotainment system. The adjustable seats and steering wheel make it easy to find a good driving position. The driver also gets a clear sight of the road and a set of easy to read dials.

However, we are disappointed that Ford hasn't offered the Fiesta ST with five-doors and this can cause a bit of a problem when carrying adults in the back, because the Recaro seats are not the easiest things for passengers to climb over. Legroom is a bit limited for those over six foot in height.

The boot is a decent 290 litres in size, which drops to 276 litres if you specify an optional spare wheel. It might not sound like much, but there is enough space for a couple of small suitcases and the weekly shop. The cabin is also scattered with your usual mix of cup holders, cubby holes and pockets. 

Standard equipment levels:

ST1 has 17-inch wheels, an ST bodykit, DAB audio with Sync, a leather trimmed steering wheel, ST floor mats, dual chrome exhaust, ST suspension, Quickclear windscreen and air con

ST2 adds halogen headlights with LED day running lights, Sony DAB audio with SYNC, privacy glass and the Ford power starter button.

ST3 comes with keyless entry, sat nav, cruise control, automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-fold door mirrors with puddle lamps and electronic automatic temperature control.

Child seats that fit a Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Driving Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018)

• Engines range from 1.6T EcoBoost to 1.6T 200
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 29–47 mpg

The Fiesta ST is offered with just one engine - the 1.6-litre Ecoboost - which produces 182PS and 290Nm of torque. The four-cylinder engine is a huge step forward compared to the 2.0-litre Duratec found in the old Fiesta ST, with less road noise and better refinement. It also produces 20 per cent more power, while emitting 20 per cent less CO2, with 138g/km. Fuel consumption is better too, with a claimed 47.9mpg.

However, despite the gains in horsepower and torque, the Fiesta ST lags behind the competition on straight-line speed and its 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds is 0.1 slower than the Peugeot 208 GTi and 0.2 behind the Renault Clio Renaultsport. But the Ford does have a trump card with its torque - beating all of the competition with 290Nm.

Obviously, forcing all of that torque through the front-wheels presents its problems, but Ford keeps most of the torque steer gremlins at bay thanks to an electronic torque vectoring control system, which replicates a limited-slip differential.

On the road, the Fiesta ST's running gear does a brilliant job. In fact, the little Ford is almost without equal when it comes to outright performance. Indeed, with a slick six-speed gearbox providing the perfect gateway to its diminutive and punchy engine, the Fiesta ST sprints along with real gusto and is as nimble as a fox when it comes to changing direction.

The majority of power flows from 3000rpm, which means the Fiesta will gain traction in almost any gear. This makes the ST an incredibly rewarding car to drive, because you can overtake by simply dropping the throttle and not a gear.

Ford has also struck a great balance when it comes to handling. A lot of modern cars suffer from steering that's been overpowered, making the handling feel vague and detached from the road, yet Ford has spent a lot of time tinkering with the power steering system to get the balance just right.

At its zenith, the Fiesta ST is like a big go-kart, with instant acceleration and firm, responsive handling, which lets the driver throw the car into corners and power out of tight bends. The handling can also be tailored, thanks to an adjustable ESP system, which lets you switch off the computer aids.

The Fiesta ST is not a road hooligan though. In fact, if you ease up the throttle and leave the computer aids on, it can be transformed into an everyday run-around, with a practical cabin and large boot. For sure, the suspension is firm, but it never intrudes on the quality of the ride and at low speeds it feels like any other small hatch back. Things are also calm and serene on the motorway, with low road and engine noise, making the ST ideal for family transport or long runs.

If boy racing is your thing, then you can make the ST more raucous by fitting an optional power upgrade. For a fee, Ford’s in-house tuning experts Montune will provide an extra 33PS, which lowers the 0-62mph sprint to 6.7 seconds. For the majority of drivers, this will prove unnecessary, but we would recommend it to anyone who wants the ultimate hot hatch. 

Ford Fiesta ST (2013 – 2018) Models and Specs

Good

Bad

What to watch out for

Recalls

Model History

• March 2012: Ford unveiled the new Fiesta ST
• January 2013: Ford announced prices
• July 2013
• June 2016: Fiesta ST200 launched