A new Fiesta ST is on the way but that hasn't stopped the current model gaining an extra pair of doors to help with the run-out...

The Ford Fiesta ST has been one of our favourite hot hatches ever since it first arrived in 2013. But an all-new model has now been revealed, boasting 197bhp from a three-cylinder turbocharged engine. It’ll go on sale in 2018.

Despite this, a five-door version of the current feisty Fiesta has just been added to the range, designed to aid accessibility. Styling may be subjective, but we’ve driven it to see if the added practicality is worth the extra outlay. 

Visually, the five-door ST appears to ticks all the hot hatch boxes – with the same flared wheelarches, 17-inch alloy wheels, aggressive looking front and rear bumpers, rear spoiler and a black honeycomb-style grille as the standard car.

The entry-level ST has been discontinued, too, with the range now comprising just ST-2 and ST-3, as well as the limited run (three-door only) ST 200. However, while ST-2s previously benefitted from the ST Style Pack – including red brake callipers, illuminated ST themed scuff plates and grey wheels – as standard, you’ll now find it relegated to the options list.

The two extra doors make getting in and out much easier for passengers – who no longer have to clamber past the huge Recaro bucket seats to reach the rear. The slight redesign needed to incorporate the rear doors means that the rear windows are a bit bigger too, so it feels lighter inside and less claustrophobic in the back. Legroom is still at a premium, however. 

From behind the wheel, the Fiesta ST still sets the benchmark in this class. Ford freshened the car up last year for the arrival of the ST 200 – tweaking the steering and damper settings for a more responsive, yet more comfortable drive. The well-weighted steering is full of feedback, and there’s very little body roll.