THIS year is certainly a stellar one for hot hatches and here we have one of the top dogs – the Ford Fiesta ST.

Fast Fords have been immensely popular for years and that isn’t about to change – get ready to see plenty of these on the roads.

First off, it’s a stunning looking car.

The aggressive styling and lower chassis combine to give it a real pocket-rocket look and the tester in red from English Ford at Poole that I drove looked fantastic.

Other touches include that all-important ST badge and on the inside you get Recaro bucket seats that hold you in all the right places when you’re flinging the sporty Fiesta around corners.

You get 182PS from a 1.6, four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, with economy claimed at a combined 47.9mpg and CO2 at 138g/km – despite the fact that you’ll be at 62mph in 6.9 seconds and the ST can hit 139mph.

And it’s plenty to put a big smile on your face.

The power feels immense and the sporty exhaust gives a wonderful throaty roar when you put the pedal down.

Thanks to sports suspension the ride is fun and firm and you feel plugged in to everything that’s going on. Handling is top notch and great fun when you get a chance to let the ST loose. Enhanced brakes make sure you stop when you need to as well.

The standard ST gives you 17in alloys, the bodykit and rear spoiler, DAB audio, ST trim inside, chrome dual exhaust pipe and lowered suspension.

The ST2 adds halogen headlights, heated Recaro seats, an uprated Sony stereo, start button and privacy glass, while five-spoke alloys, red brake callipers and illuminated scuff plates can be added as options.

I’m going to go against the grain a little compared to most reviews I’ve read on the ST, which puts it ahead of cars like the Peugeot 208 GTi and the Clio Renaultsport.

But for me the 208 GTi was an even more rewarding driver’s car, with what feels like more raw power.

However, the Fiesta ST comes in at a good couple of thousand pounds cheaper and still gives you plenty to smile about.

At £16,995 for the standard car and £17,995 for the ST2, it is exceptional value in the fun-per-pound stakes.

This year, we are spoilt for choice for sub-£20,000 hot hatches.

Enjoy.

For more details visit foraymotorgroup.co.uk.