Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a small car fanatic. With ever more vehicles on the road there’s a lot to be said for having a compact car that can weave in and out of traffic. I know, occasionally, there’s a need to hire a van to move things about, or having to ask a friend to help take rubbish away, but for the other 99% of the time there’s lots of enjoyment to be had in a smaller car. Stand up Ford’s Fiesta ST200.

As the Fiesta brand celebrates its 40th year in existence, this sporty reincarnation leaves others on the starting line. At the risk of rekindling an old beer advert and showing my age, it looks good, feels good and by golly it does you good. Good to be seen in and good to drive, what more could you want? Perhaps an open top, but for those who haven’t noticed, summer days are over for the moment.

The Fiesta ST200 is going to be a firm favourite in the hot hatch sector. This update is, as may be expected, a faster and more powerful version of the ST.

The in gear acceleration has been improved and third gear has become a truly mighty tool, removing any second thoughts about overtaking, with plenty to spare.

40 years of Fiesta

In the 40 years from 1976-2016, Ford sold 4,339,149 Fiestas in the UK alone, with European Fiesta sales set to surpass 18 million before the end of the year. Over four decades, more than one in every 20 cars sold in the UK was a Fiesta. In 2014, the Ford Fiesta became the UK’s best-selling car of all time, overtaking the Ford Escort. It’s not only the best-selling car in the UK this year, it has been the UK’s most popular car every month for the last seven years.

1975
• Fiesta name chosen personally by Henry Ford II for its alliteration with Ford, its spirit and its celebration of Ford’s new connection with Spain
1976
• Production begins in Valencia, Spain in May
1977
• UK sales of the Fiesta begin
• Export of Fiesta models for the US market begins
1979
• Millionth Fiesta built for worldwide sales.
1981
• Ford introduces the new Fiesta XR2 with a 1.6-litre engine: the first 100mph Fiesta
1982
• Fiesta is best-selling car in its class in Britain and Germany for six years running
1983
• Aerodynamic new Fiesta MkII and Fiesta 1.6-litre diesel introduced
1987
• Best sales year in Britain with 153,000 Fiestas sold
1989
• Fiesta MkIII launched
• Fiesta is first small car with ABS
• Fiesta MkIII has the first Ford engine to meet pending European emissions standards due to take effect in 1996 – and 1.6-litre engine options
• Fiesta XR2i joins the range
1990
• Introduction of Fiesta RS Turbo at Turin Motor Show
1992
• Fiesta RS1800 introduced
• Introduction of 1.8-litre, 16-valve Zetec engine
1993
• Driver airbag becomes standard
1996
• Introduction of the new Fiesta MkIV with all-new rounded, aerodynamic shape and oval grille
2001
• All-new Fiesta MkV introduced. Production begins in Cologne and Valencia of the new Ford Fiesta
2002
• All-new Ford Fiesta MkV launched
2005
• 2.0-litre 150PS Fiesta ST launched: the most powerful Fiesta ever at the time.
2006
• Fiesta launched with voice activation and Bluetooth
2008
• All-new Fiesta MkVI goes into production in Cologne, Germany, Valencia, Spain and Nanjing, China
2012
• Introduction of the Fiesta MkVII, the first Fiesta to be equipped with the three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine
2013
• Fiesta ST Awarded Top Gear Car of the Year
2014
• Powershift launched
• Fiesta becomes best-selling vehicle ever in the UK, surpassing the 4,105,961 registrations achieved by the Ford Escort
2016
• Fiesta ST200 launched with a specially developed 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine that delivers 200PS – the fastest-ever production Fiesta
• Fiesta becomes best-selling car in the UK every month for seven years in a row

The enhanced interior includes partial leather charcoal Recaro front seats with silver stitching. Illuminated scuff plates incorporate the ST200 logo, alloy-metal pedals and gear control contrast dark materials with silver effect detailing. Despite all this, the interior appears a little cheap considering the price, perhaps even a little tardy, but I’ll forgive that as it’s such a beautiful machine to drive.

The ST200 offers a bolder exterior design that looks the business, available in an exclusive storm grey colour with distinctive 17 inch alloy wheels. Red painted calipers feature alongside the ST-specification large trapezoidal grille, front spoiler and side-skirts, body-colour rear diffuser element and large rear roof spoiler. All very swish.

Straight or bendy roads, all are consumed with equal vigour, making the car great fun to drive. Blindfolded drivers could be forgiven for thinking the ST200 was a far more expensive sports car: it’s that delightful and addictive.

Sprinting from 0 to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds and delivering fast in-gear acceleration, the hatch has enhanced suspension and steering to elevate its award-winning handling and ride quality.

This is a car best driven on what it is designed for: namely open roads, but for sheer enjoyment, it’s pretty useful on the mundane school run. No car can be that much fun to drive every single day, but this one comes close to shattering this perception. The ST200 really is the car to beat in the hot hatch sector, costing just under £23k.

So, forget the huge people carriers, and think small, after all small is beautiful.

essence info

Website: www.ford.co.uk