New Ford Fiesta ST vs Rivals - Joy Division (Part 3)

7/28/2013 6:30:22 PM

Equipment and safety and security

Equipment

· Ford: 3/5

· Nissan: 3/5

· Peugeot: 4/5

· Renault: 3/5

A good hot hatch needs to look the part, and these four all have the big exhausts and the alloy wheels that mark them out from lesser models in their respective ranges.

The Juke also gives you metallic paint for no extra cost, whereas this is a $742.5 option on all of its rivals. It’s just a pity that Nissan offers only three colors compared with five from Ford, Renault and Peugeot.

Air-conditioning is standard on the Fiesta and Clio. However, the Juke and 208 get more sophisticated climate control systems that can maintain a set cabin temperature.

As a bonus, the 208 comes with rear parking sensors and part-leather upholstery. Ford also provides part-leather, but doesn’t offer parking sensors, while Nissan makes you order sensors as a dealer-fit option and trims the Juke’s seats in suede. Renault charges extra for sensors and leather.

The Fiesta is the only car taking part in our test to miss out on cruise control and automatic lights and wipers, but it does come with heated seats and windscreen.

Ford Fiesta: illuminated still plates are part of ST style pack(left) - Part-leather Recaro sports seats come as standard in ST-2 model(right)

Nissan Juke: Parcel shelf lifts up with tailgate to improve access(left) - System that lets you vary steering and throttle response is standard(right)

Peugeot 208: Red stitching and trim help make interior feel special(left) - Optional Cielo panoramic glass roof is a extra $600 on GTi

Peugeot 208: Red stitching and trim help make interior feel special(left) - Optional Cielo panoramic glass roof is an extra $600 on GTi(right)

Renault Clio: Renault is the only car here with an auto gearbox(left) - Optional RS monitor allows you to download lap times(right)

Renault Clio: Renault is the only car here with an auto gearbox(left) - Optional RS monitor allows you to download lap times(right)

Safety and security

· Ford: 5/5

· Nissan: 2/5

· Peugeot: 4/5

· Renault: 5/5

These cars are likely to be driven hard by their owners, but they all come with an electronic stability program to help you stay in control.

Front, side and curtain airbags are also fitted as standard across the board, but the Fiesta is alone in getting a driver’s knee ’bag. In Euro NCAP crash tests, this helped it score slightly better than its rivals for adult occupant protection.

Front, side and curtain airbags are also fitted as standard across the board, but the Fiesta is alone in getting a driver’s knee ’bag.

The Clio counters with the best scores for child and pedestrian protection, while the Juke performed worst in the pedestrian test by a significant margin.

Only Ford lets you create bespoke restrictions for individual drivers. For example, you can limit the top speed and the stereo volume.

Insurance body Thatcham has assessed the security of all the cars here, and it awarded the Fiesta, 208 and Clio five stars for resisting drive-away theft and four out of five for resisting forced entry. The Juke, however, could manage only three stars in the latter category.

Refinement

· Ford 4/5

· Nissan 3/5

· Peugeot 2/5

· Renault 3/5

None of these cars is quiet; big tires and the weight-saving measures necessary for turning up the fun factor in a hatchback inevitably mean the volume is increased as well.

The Clio is particularly bad for wind noise at motorway speeds, but the Fiesta is no easier on the ear because it suffers from a lot of tire noise, while the Juke and 208 both allow too much engine noise to reverberate around the cabin when you’re cruising.

Fortunately, the Clio and 208 have appealing exhaust notes when you put your foot down, while the Fiesta’s is better still, sounding forty and making you feel heroically rebellious as it booms through the top of its rev range.

The Clio is particularly bad for wind noise at motorway speeds, but the Fiesta is no easier on the ear because it suffers from a lot of tire noise

Only the Juke fails to offer audible drama when you rev it; there’s just an irritating whine from inside the car, instead of the fantastic trapping soundtrack that passers-by hear.

The Fiesta’s gearbox is best, with a short, well-defined shift action. The Juke’s isn’t quite so positive, but it’s still much better than the rubbery, notch change you experience in the 208.

You would think that the Clio would excel here as the only automatic, but because in standard auto mode the shifts can be lethargic, the engine sometimes creeps into the upper rev range when you’re just driving it gently. It’s more likeable in Renault sport mode, where the shifts are quicker and smoother.

The Fiesta’s gearbox is best, with a short, well-defined shift action.

The Clio also offers precise pedals that are easy to modulate, while the Fiesta’s are better still. By contrast, the 208’s feel mushy and the Juke is slow to respond to throttle inputs.

Ford Fiesta ST