Should you buy a used Ford Fiesta ST Mk8?

Yes, it’s a corker! A former Parkers Car of the Year winner and runner up in our 2021 Thrill-seekers category, the Ford Fiesta ST displays a staggeringly broad range of abilities and sense of outright fun that belie its modest price tag. With the Fiesta range ending in June 2023 it’s a close call between this, and the facelifted Fiesta ST Mk8.5 – but the final generation means no three-door or sunroof option, and the seats are less aggressively sporty.

The VW Up GTI and Suzuki Swift Sport are cheaper options, but neither can challenge the Fiesta ST for the title of best small hot hatchback. However, it does have a challenger for best hot small family car, in the shape of the Puma ST; it has the same engine and character, with more room for kids and cargo.

The Ford Fiesta ST makes light work of everyday driving and, in ST-3 spec, comes with most of the in-car technology you’ll ever need. Find an exciting piece of road, however, and it transforms into a thrill-a-minute sports car. Devilishly agile and more than capable of embarrassing a far pricier supercar on a narrow, bumpy road, its ability to put a smile on your face is unmatched in this price range.

Its ability isn’t a result of a dual personality toggled by various drive modes, either. Instead, the Fiesta ST always feels raring to go, yet reigned in enough to make it usable on an everyday basis. You’re always aware, however, that the fun is only a prod of the throttle pedal or turn of the steering wheel away.

Our long-term test car covered impressive distances weekly (averaging around 43mpg) and although the firm ride won’t be to everyone’s tastes, it seldom feels unnecessary or over the top. Controversy around the three-cylinder engine has largely faded away, and it’s now considered one of the Fiesta ST’s strongest assets. Powerful, flexible and frugal, it feels exceptionally well-matched.

What we like

The ST-3 version is generously equipped and adds to the car’s range of abilities, Ford Sync 3 is easy to update and live with, and the handling with the Performance Pack is impressive – it should be the first thing you look for when buying a used Fiesta ST.

What we don’t like

The adjustable suspension on the Performance Edition, or rather, needing to remove the wheel each time in order to access the settings. Not all models have the Performance Pack’s limited-slip diff, and it would be nice if the car remembered your preferred default driving mode.

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