The hot hatch market is now filled with options. With everyone focusing on SUVs and crossovers, it’s peculiar to see these small cars being so popular. Two of them are the brand new Ford Fiesta ST and the MINI Cooper S. While the Cooper S has a long tradition behind it, the Fiesta’s popularity has definitely increased a lot in recent years.
The new model comes with a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter engine, a recipe that was introduced on the MINI range a while back. However, unlike the MINI Cooper versions, the Fiesta comes with considerably more power, 197 HP to be more precise, which is 18 more than old version using a 1.6-liter 4-pot. It is a bit down on torque compared to the MINI Cooper S it is racing here though, but it is the lighter car by comparison and comes with launch control.
The MINI Cooper S on the other hand, tips the scale at 1,295 kg, 33 more than the Fiesta. However, it should be mentioned that this is the 5-door version and a more even comparison would’ve been attained if the guys from Top Gear would’ve used the 3-door version, which is actually lighter than the Fiesta ST and has the same claimed acceleration figure of 6.7 seconds. As it stands though, the 5-door seen here is 0.2 seconds slower on paper, despite its superior torque (221 lb-ft vs 214 lb-ft) and its 189 HP engine.
Therefore, when it’s all said and done, the Fiesta ST is expected to win this drag race but one can’t help but wonder how fast the 3-door automatic Cooper S would’ve been by comparison. And while the specs do favor the Ford, the MINI certainly has a better sound, if that’s any consolation.
