Ford Fiesta ST: early 2022 Australian release date for torquier i20 N rival

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2022 is shaping up to be a bumper year for hot hatches, with the facelifted Ford Fiesta ST poised for an Australian release date around March priced from $33,490 before on-road costs.

Although the 7th-generation Fiesta only launched in Australia in December 2019 in range-topping ST guise which went on-sale globally in 2018 and the car it is based on was released in Europe in 2017.

That means it’s mid-life refresh time for the plucky Fiesta, which is sold in Australia only in high-specification, sporty ST guise. A $1200 price increase will accompany a number of changes for 2022.

The Fiesta will continue to be available in ST specification only, teamed with a five-door body shell and six-speed manual transmission. A three-door option is available overseas but is not sold locally.

Alongside the equipment changes, Ford has restyled the Fiesta’s front end situating the badge within the grille. There are also new LED lighting features and the pictured ‘Mean Green’ paint colour.

Ford’s entire performance car range will undergo changes in 2022, with the larger Focus ST hot hatch (from $47,490) and Mustang sports car (from $52,590) both receiving updates in the new year.  

Ford Fiesta ST: new equipment

Externally, the updated Fiesta ST receives new adaptive Matrix LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, refreshed paint colours, and the option of a contrasting black roof for $500.

Inside the cabin are new bucket seats with alcantara centres and leather bolsters that feature 12-way power adjustment including lumbar.

There’s also a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display replacing outgoing analogue dials. The new digital pack incorporates a programmable shift light, and information about the launch control program. 

Otherwise, the interior is unchanged with five seats, and technology like an 8.0-inch central touchscreen running Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment software with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite navigation, and even a ten-speaker premium B&O stereo are standard.

What about the performance upgrades?

For 2022 the Fiesta ST gets a 30Nm bump bringing peak outputs to 147kW of power at 6000rpm and 320Nm of torque between 1600-4000rpm from the carryover 1.5-litre turbo petrol three-cylinder. 

That bump brings the Fiesta ST’s on-paper torque comfortably higher than the 275Nm mustered by the Hyundai i20 N ($32,490), though the Korean challenger hits back with 5kW more than the Ford.  

Otherwise, the Fiesta ST retains similar performance upgrades to its chassis as before including a limited-slip differential, though the spring and damper rates have been retuned for improved response.

The Fiesta ST also competes against the soon-to-be-refreshed Volkswagen Polo GTI ($32,890), and – on size terms at least – the Toyota GR Yaris ($49,500) – though that turbo three-cylinder hot hatch has AWD and 200kW of power, and is in some ways a better match to the Focus ST.

Ford Fiesta 2022: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Fiesta ST: $33,490 (up $1200)

The available options are:

• Black roof: $500
• Premium paint: $650