Ford Fiesta ST-3 (Mk8) | PH Fleet
Duster out, Fiesta ST in. Of course Ben is back in a hot hatch...
I seem to be stuck in a cycle, and I can’t be the only one. I buy a car that I’ve lusted after for years, it costs a bloody fortune to run, and then I try (and fail) to be sensible. I was spending far too much money on preventative maintenance for my Audi RS3 out of fear that something would go wrong, and despite having done everything possible, it was keeping me awake at night.
Having two project cars was financially unviable for me (this is going to go well again), so it made sense to sell the aging Audi with 70,000 miles on it and buy a nearly new Dacia Duster for not far off the same money with a nice long warranty. Don’t get me wrong; I love the Duster, and wish I could afford to keep it on the fleet as a workhorse, but the temptation to switch into the other car I was considering against the RS3 at the time was too strong.
Enter the Mk8 Ford Fiesta ST-3 Performance Pack. When our long term press car joined our fleet back in 2018, I had high hopes. I’m probably in the minority that was left underwhelmed by its predecessor. Matt and I tested a Mk7 Fiesta ST200 against ‘my’ long term Peugeot 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport earlier that year (prior to our Mk8 ST arriving) and for me the French hot hatch wiped the floor with it.
The Fiesta’s seating position was too high, the ride too harsh, the interior felt cheap and plasticky with far too many buttons. The 208, on the other hand, had far superior damping, a more sophisticated interior with lower, comfier bucket seats, and a proper mechanical limited-slip differential to haul it through corners. Perhaps in isolation I would have enjoyed the Fiesta more, but up against the 208, my expectations had been crushed.
Thankfully, that was not the case for my first drive in the Mk8 ST. It was everything I’d hoped the Mk7 would have been, and then some. Like all STs, our long termer had the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-pot producing 200hp, which it dispatched to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential to chomp at apexes thanks to the optional Performance Pack. On the outside it looked a little less boy racer and a bit more grown up, and inside the interior felt generations ahead of the Mk7. I absolutely loved it, and had been plotting to buy one ever since.
I’m amazed it has taken this long, really, and given that the Fiesta is now dead (boo), values for well-specced, low mileage examples like WR21 ELH have held strong the last few years. Before you ask – no, it doesn’t have a wet belt. Unlike the Ecoboost, the ‘Dragon’ 1.5-litre triple is chain driven. The oil pump was originally chain driven on earlier models, but this changed to a wet belt in 2019, however the oil pump is under considerably less strain and after exhaustive research, the only issues I could find were with the earlier chain-driven oil pumps.
I’ve been watching the market closely for years now and would only settle for my ultimate spec – Ford Performance Blue metallic paint, Performance Pack with the Quaife limited-slip differential, LED headlights and the B&O sound system for banging out those Fast & Furious tunes in a McDonalds car park near you. WR21 ELH popped up in the PistonHeads classifieds with full Ford service history and all the right boxes ticked, so I swiftly had it delivered so I could test it thoroughly on my local roads. Suffice it to say I’m absolutely besotted, and it’s even better than I remember from seven years ago. I only wish I bought one sooner. Naturally I’ve got lots planned with it, but more on that next time!
FACT SHEET
Car: 2021 Ford Fiesta ST-3 Performance Pack
Run by: Ben Lowden
On fleet since: November 2025
Mileage: 33,381
Last month at a glance: Stone Cold STunner
Ford have really dropped the ball in exiting this market.
They made an interesting change on the facelift version swapping out the previous Recaros for Ford branded seats. Having tried the originals, the new ones are probably the best seats I’ve seen at any price point and way superior to the seats in my 3 Series.
I’ll echo the comments about the previous ST. I traded mine in for a then mint-low mileage Corsa VXR Nurburgring in about 2016. I preferred the Corsa in every way which no one agreed with, of course
Anyways, I’ve been eying up these Mk8 ST’s myself as they’re down to about 11k now for a ST-3 with the Performance Pack.
My Cousins, I can’t recall seeing a 3rd in that colour!
I thought it excellent fun to hustle about, and the only thing I didn't like was the aggressive regenerative braking, which really messed the car coming into bends (basically like hitting the brakes at precisely the wrong time).
Anyway, I've been thinking what to replace my 2014 Suzuki Swift Sport with, and figured, if the Fiesta ST is all that the Titanium X is, without the annoying hybrid bit, it'd be a fantastic car.
I wonder though; those performance seats look massive. Would they be in my daughter's face (or prime for kicking) if I fitted a child seat in there? She fits in fine in the Swift, but that's an incredibly well packaged car.
What I think is often missed, is that the MK8 was designed when interiors still had physical buttons for everything, even if you buy a late 2023 car. Additionally, being pre-2024, if you switch any of the ADAS off, they remain off when you restart the car.
The only addition I've added is a QuadLock wireless android auto adapter (inside the armrest) so I don't have to plug my phone in.
What I think is often missed, is that the MK8 was designed when interiors still had physical buttons for everything, even if you buy a late 2023 car. Additionally, being pre-2024, if you switch any of the ADAS off, they remain off when you restart the car.
The only addition I've added is a QuadLock wireless android auto adapter (inside the armrest) so I don't have to plug my phone in.
te. Definitely didn't live up to the hype it received.engine was quite cool for what it was. Brakes were abysmal. Even with uprated pads. And the seats were hateful.
I thankfully only paid 14k for mine. I would be thoroughly disappointed if i spent anywhere near the 26k some folks were shelling out on new ones.
I was glad to see it go.
But that's the beauty of cars, they tick different boxes for different folks. Whilst its an old girl, I am very much enjoying my current Megane R26 far more!
i think the 5 door looks more awkward but appreciate you need the practicality
At the time I was karting everything around for Sunday Services too and the marquee wouldn't fit in a Fiesta, but luckily I now have Adam to do that. The sacrifices I make for all of you 
Would have an Edition if I ever bought another.
Interesting you think the seats were too high. I'm almost 6ft and have no issues.
Yes the ride is firm but show me a HH that isn't.
Yes the interior of the MK7 is a bit naff in places but one thing you must remember is cost.
My 1 owner 65 plate ST3 with FFSH and tracker, Ghost2 and Mountune 215 package cost 7k from a dealer last year.
If I'm paying 2x or 2.5x that of course I would expect it to look and feel better.
It's all about VFM.
And I believe the MK8 is around 100kgs heavier? Which is a bad thing.
That said I do still think the MK8 ST is a great car, but could I justify the extra expense for one...............................
I had an ST Line followed by an ST Performance Pack Mk8. Loved both of them, but it was an interesting contrast driving them back to back. The ST feels like a much more grown up car than the ST Line and the powertrain is really stand out on it.
I used to get discounts on Ford’s through my previous job, so all were great value and I swapped the Fiesta for a Focus ST Track Pack just over two years ago as I wanted to consolidate down to one car and save some cash for a bit (the Fiesta was a daily to a GT4 as a weekend car). I still miss the Fiesta’s character, although even for me, the ride on motorways was tough to deal with. The actual compression and rebound choices are fine, but the dampers lack travel so you end up being fired into the headlining on big motorway undulations. The A14 in particular was almost verging on hilarious at times…
The Fiesta is definitely the more accomplished B Road car compared to the Focus which is bigger and more accomplished but with higher limits. The Fiesta felt more aloof on track and rather soft and pitchy. The Focus on its KWs by comparison is very well controlled and capable….just a shame it’s powertrain is the week point (I’m on my second engine after it melted two cylinders at the Nurburgring!). Such a shame both are discontinued now.
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