Ford announced a slew of upgrades today to its ever-popular European-market Fiesta hatchback, including the only trim we care about, the high-performance Fiesta ST. We drove one back in 2019 and loved it, which is why we pay so much attention to the car despite it not being sold here. Well, it looks like Ford went ahead and ruined the front end.
Before you hop in the comment section and harp about how the Fiesta ST was never pretty, we agree, it never really was. But its looks up until now were simple and inoffensive enough that it didn't really affect our opinion on the car. Now though, with the Ford logo mounted in the grille to help the design better align with the rest of the company's lineup, it looks like a downsized, uglier Ford Edge crossover. It's the sort of questionable design move that reminds us of when Chevy inexplicably switched up the Camaro's fascia by moving its logo onto the bumper before switching it back just one model year later.
Fortunately, the rest of the changes Ford made to the Fiesta ST for 2022 aren't nearly as bad. The biggest change is the 10 percent increase in torque from the 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder, from 214 lb-ft to 236 lb-ft. Power remains the same at 197 horses. Ford claims a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph, both unchanged from the outgoing model. Other updates include a new set of front seats with an integrated headrest and a 14-way adjustment grid. Ford says they've been designed specifically to provide better support during high-performance scenarios, while also being comfortable on the road.
What do you think of the new Fiesta ST's looks? Are you a fan, or do you like the old design better? Let us know in the comments.
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
