Performance Review: Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo - [2018]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ford Fiesta Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2018. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2019 Pininfarina Battista 1900 and the 2019 Bugatti La Voiture Noire 8.0L W16 64 Valve Turbo.This particular Ford Fiesta has a 1497cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 3 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St3's includes the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo

The Fiesta shares its Petrol St3 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo and the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Fiesta's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1262 kgs (2782 lbs) this makes the Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2023 Pagani Utopia 6.0 V12 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Ford Fiesta shares the same bhp with the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp)

In terms of power the 1497cc 12V St3 engine produces 197 bhp (146 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp).

The Turbo St3 throws out 214 lb-ft (290.1 Nm) @ 1600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ford Fiesta you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T (181.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ford Fiesta.

The Ford Fiesta has a Power to weight ratio of 156.1 bhp per ton and 169.5 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2018 Fiesta competing with the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T (181.0 bhp per ton) or the 2003 Nissan 350Z Coupe (180.9 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ford Fiesta generating around 169.5 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 (194.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (194.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.30 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.5 secs, this made the Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo as fast as the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (6.30 secs) the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (6.30 secs) the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo 5 door (6.30 secs) the or the 2016 Renault Clio RS Trophy 220 1.6 Turbo (6.30 secs). This Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo is also faster than the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (6.40 secs) the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (6.40 secs) the 2012 Subaru Forester STi tS 2.5L Turbo (6.40 secs) the and the 2011 Honda Civic 2.0i 16v VTEC Type R - FN2 (6.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Fiesta and the 2014 Seat Leon Cupra 265 DSG

When talking about the performance of the Ford Fiesta on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.93 secs @ 91.6 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2014 Seat Leon Cupra 265 DSG (14.87 secs), the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T AWD (14.87 secs), and the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (14.88 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2018 version of the Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo has a maximum speed of 144mph.

Top Speed of the 2018 Fiesta equals the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (155 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Turbo then how about the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (155 mph), the 2023 BMW i7 M70 xDrive G70 (155 mph), or the 2022 BMW 3 Series M3 Competition Touring 3.0 xDrive (155 mph).

Related Links:

2018 Fiesta Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ford

Car Comparison