didn't know a 3 cylinder could sound so good. these cars look great on the road

I was a MK7 owner and had it for about 5 years - never failed to put a smile on my face. The MK8 performance and feature wise is obviously superior, but I just cannot get with the styling - no matter how much I look at it. The MK7 exterior is much better. Also, Fords are becoming ridiculously expensive - over 20k for an ST-2, 25k for an ST-3? That’s just insane and it’s very telling that you don’t see many of them on the road.

BEST SPORT CAR IN CLASS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS!! WELL DONE, FORD ( AS ALWAYS)

Loved my old one, your reviews of it made me go test drive one! Moved on to a Focus ST wagon now.

Good stuff. Your channel is becoming the ‘Go to’ place for Fast Ford content! 👍

Great review and please don't change your format. It was really engaging and fresh.

Had mine on order since July. Cannot wait!

New cars interior with the old cars exterior 🤙🏾 would have been a perfect car

Watching this video again love the sound of it when you first pulled away from the gates not just the exhaust but the turbo sound was so nice think it sounds like a rallycross car such a cool car

Very nicely done as always mate. Really interesting to hear your thoughts. Good job by Ford for improving on a brilliant car

I originally liked the newer one but after seeing a few of them I’d have to say the old one is better and I think it’ll age better in the long run.

Been waiting for this review for a long time. Great stuff! Please share with us its consumption figures.

Love the review, mate. Usual high quality, no-nonsense review. If I could afford it, I’d definitely buy one alongside my mk3 RS. It just seems to be a small version of the RS. Pretty much has all you need, including the drive modes. Cheers.

Another brilliant review Gary, nice work! 👍🏻👍🏻

Thanks for this excellent video. Your videos are great, I particularly like your well balanced views and your understanding for the intended end users. Cheers very helpful. Out of interest can you recall what the build quality of the mk8 was like from a creates and rates point of view, I'm trying to ask as many people as possible this before i take the plunge as this is a big deal for me.

Awesome review mate! I’m still madly in love with my 2016 mk7 ST. Sadly here in South Africa we don’t have unleaded 98 octane which is the minimum requirement for this car, so we won’t be getting it anytime soon.

Bloody hell Gary. What's with the professional production quality videos now? You're raising the bar too high! Great video mate, so informative and great that it's from an ex owner. I toyed with getting one to join the RS and was going to leave it ...now you've got me thinking about it again!! Anyway, keep up the excellent vids, really enjoyed watching this

Good review 👍 love the channel mate, I’ve owned a mk6 and a mk7 ST, loved both and I saw the progression with the models. Problem with this is it’s going to touch the latest Focus RS money soon when they come down. I also think you can stretch the older engine further if you wanted to modify it. Just an opinion though 👍

Great video Gary filming has definitely got better. I have had my mk8 st a week now and i don't miss my mk7 at all it just feels the next level up from it. I think exterior of the mk7 has aged well and still looks good along side the mk8 but every other way the mk8 is better. I agree with you about the engine it doesn't feel like a 3pot feels like a much bigger engine. Looking forward to many miles ahead with my st

Top top video again Gary really informative... be interesting to see what the new Focus st will be like ? ..... look forward to your review off that when it comes out .... I have been told mid 2019 .... do you have any info on that ? ..... keep up the great work 👍🏼

Dear God you got this edited quick! Well done, the best video yet! (ps, your new cinematographer deserves a payrise.... :-) )

Thank you for this video. I am in the exact situation you described. I have to sell my RS which love. I had the old mk7 Fiesta ST prior to that. I am now looking to get the mk8 Fiesta ST as a cheaper but still fun car that will already feel familiar to me. This video has definitely helped me feel better about the change.

Enjoyed the review ! New sub. I'm warming to the tail lights finally, look better in the chunky sport versions

Currently debating whether to upgrade from my revo atage 2 st to the mk8. Was really impressed with it during a test drive last week. Has to be ST3 with the performance pack. The car feels so urgent and nice and sporty. Hand,ing is great and suspension isnt as harsh as the mk7

Its in quite a competitive market, but i think its holding its own very well. Its not the fastest hot hatch, but its got a great sound and a great feel and (as long as you don't get too carried away with the optional extras) quite a lot of car for your money. Good review!

One of your best videos to date! Great work. Would have been good to see you drive the old Mk7 as well. I love the look of those cloth seats, I'd prefer to have those in my RS than the standard seats.

I know there's some fakery to the exhaust with its pops and crackles but it does sound epic for a stock system. Excellent review dude 👏

I prefer the look of the MK7, but the MK8 exhaust is a big improvement. I’m actually looking at getting an ST so this video is very usefull

Great review, I want to see it on a road like this, bravo

Personally I love the firsts styling top to bottom it really is a shame we won’t be getting them here in Canada and the US. I’m not sure I’d go from my 18 plate Focus RS to the Fiesta but it would love to have em both. If I could find one thing I would’ve liked to see would be a dual outlet exhaust I do love the aggressive tone the new car makes but I’d love to see an outlet on either side of the bumper. Great video keep em coming.

Got to say I prefer the old one which I have, gadgets and that don't bother me cuz I just enjoy the raw driving experience, the new one looks like a proper granny car imo, good video though very informative, 👍🏻

I’m a little late but this review still relevant. Loved the Vid bro

Brilliant video Gary the new St is brilliant and great review cheers steve 👍😀

I bought a 2020 model in the same performance blue and I love the car. The blue looks amazing in the sunlight. A brilliant car to drive.

Great review mate 👍

Great vid really enjoyed it things have moved on and people will love this car more and more it really is a mini focus rs

A proper review ..nice & informative.

Great review mate, keep it up :)

Great videos I like it so much. I will expect another video like this when the new RS will come out next year. What do you think?

Brilliant review! I’ve gone from the mk6 to this. What a difference... I’ve had mine for just under a week and I’m already mad for it! Great fun

Its really subjective to what you want out of the car. The mk7.5 is an amazing platform for modifications. The mk8 is not at least at this moment in time.

Really nice review, and cool car indeed! Keep these up they're nice to watch. Any chances you can make a new Focus ST review? Cheers!

The new one has all the mod cons but I prefer the old shape mate.Just installed my RS black gloss honey comb grill today.Put a video of it tomorrow.The exhaust sounds awesome on the new one but I am guessing that’s been mapped to the car which can be done to the old one.Great video.I choose a car on Performance,handing and comfort.Don’t really pick a car on technology IE sat navs and computer screens.Seems to handle well but it should do being small. 🏁🍻

Great video. Due to not using it very much I have ended up switching my mk3 Focus RS for one of these.

I’ve got a focus st at the moment but really considering getting one of these. They seem a blast

Exterior wise... The old one is better, from any side compare to the new one. The fact that Ford doesn't change much on the look, it proof that they know, Fiesta model is good looking. I bet they tried so hard to design this new one. Interior wise.... Well... Old Fiesta is crap. LOL.

So if you have a good MK7, wait for someone to bin the MK8 & take the exhaust, engine & interior, then you have the perfect hot hatch IMO.

Great review. I would love to know how the new Suzuki Swift Sport feels in comparison to the ST, on the fun aspect, obviously the ST is more powerful.

Great review, I own a Mark 7 and so sad we not getting a Mark8 in South Africa.

good job enjoyed the review

this is the one I have been waiting for.

Great review thanks.

Fair points but I just can't see how it could look better from the rear than the MK7

Top review man 👌🏼

Ontario Canada here , loved the review quite awesome! anything different in the Canadian version of this car? im guessing not ?

Thanks for the vid. Question: How are the brakes, really? Will they do a track day with no mods?

Great review 👌

Hi Gary, I can't believe it has taken me so long to get around to watching this video! Fantastic work mate, no wonder it's been such a popular video. Well presented and lots of information on offer. In regards to the steering wheel, I much prefer its chunkiness to the older car, but that is personal taste of course. Also, just a pedantic one, launch control can be done in any mode ;) Apart from that, I pretty much echo your thoughts on the new car compared to the old car.

Good review. Well done

I loved and still do love the look of the mk7 and didn’t like the look of the mk8 at first but it’s growing on me and looks less boy racer than the mk7

Hello. Glad I watched this review. I wasn't sure whether to keep saving for the plainer looking mkVIII ST or go with my gut & find the best mkVII ST on the market (UK). Very happy that I stuck by me guns & went with me gut. I found a black mkVII ST3 with less than 22,000 miles on the clock for just shy of £14,000. I'm part exchanging my beloved Fiesta S Mountune mod (145bhp) for the ST. I pick up my new baby ST3 this week. It's the car of my dreams! No comparison when it comes to styling IMO. The mkVII wins hands down inside but most notably outside. Thanks again for this no nonsense review.

great video mate!

Good review. My st3 estate may be getting changed soon :)

Very nice. I still love my modified Mk 6 with the Mountune MR200, brakes, suspension, short shift etc, the Mk 7 was never enough to get me to change. I might take a test drive... as this one can at last have another sunroof👍

Both brilliant can't go wrong with either

Nice Video ! Learned a few new features actually compared to others and a real world comparison between its predecessor was on point for me :-)Keep it going and you should have more views for this really ! CarWow is on nearly 400k views for a drag race between these two...…….although that's a fun video this is more useful if you are actually looking to buy the car.

Great video!

when you did the sound comparison i wasn't sure wich one was wich. Would help if you pointed out wich one was the the one currently reving. love the video tho

I've owned a Mark VII Fiesta ST for over 5 years and 125,000 kilometres. The only thing I have never got used to, is looking at the back end. I didn't like it when I bought it, and it has not grown on me. Thankfully though the Fiesta ST Mark VII with the Mountune MP215 is a blast to drive, and it still brings smiles to my dial. Can you tell me... will the new one also bring that same level of smiles...?

The back of the new mk8 is a massive let down... looks very standard compared to the mk7

I'm not convinced with the 3 cylinder engine I think overall it will be down on mpg overall I think we will have to see this time next year after any problems raise the heads. Great looking car

Quality video......Love the new fiesta st.

I just wish we could still buy a bloody 3-door in Australia like you guys have. It looks sportier, and who needs back doors with a back seat that size? Also, for the life of me, I don't know why everyone suddenly loves an exhaust that bangs, pops, and farts like someone just attached a piece of down pipe to the engine of their clapped out early '90's Korean shit box. What's the deal??? Everyone knows its not anti-lag people!

The exhaust sounds soo much better. The interior is nice also. I don’t like the rear end, it looks like a VW Golf. Doesn’t matter because I can’t have one in the US anyway.

good vid nice detail first vid ive seen on your channel.but u need to sort your exposure out on your camera. got a thumbs up from me!

I miss the flared wheel arches of the old one, I wish they'd been carried over to the new one. And I wish my mk8 hadn't been delayed three weeks!

I’ve had my 2015 Fiesta ST2 since May this year and I absolutely love it. Personally I think the interior is much nicer in the Mk7 than the new one. Similarly I prefer the look of my car to the new one. I won’t deny the new one does sound a lot better when revving at a standstill, but I like the symposer growl from my car at full throttle

Gary, are you just reviewing new cars? Your reviews are very good and it would be good to see you review more hot hatches etc including some second hand stuff. I love my mk3 RS but on track my R26 is much more sensible and cheaper on consumable whilst still being great fun as per my vids.

Good review.

Great review, really seems like a mini RS.

I have the 2014 US model and I love it, it has 68,000 miles on it and still runs strong, but I would have definitely bought the new one just for upgrades alone, I like the 5 door better, it’s more practical, to bad Ford pulled the plug on it in the US.

Haven't had both I think the mk 7 will be the one I miss the most in years to come

The MK7 Fiesta ST is a superb option now especially when the MK8 is still ridiculously expensive. I am currently looking at a low mileage, 2017 MK7 Fiesta ST3 for the same price as an entry level trim MK8 Fiesta (Non ST). I know what I am picking, how about you?

All the options come at a price,i owned Mk7 for a year,i would be looking at the Hyundai i30N before paying 25k for this Mk8 or wait and see what the BMW guy do'es to the Hyundai i20N?

After doing a 1000 mile in mine I just love it, it’s everything a drivers car should be, the new steering is my favourite how fast it is the rack is much nicer and overall the car is much better and the inside is leaps and bounds nicer

Iv orderd one pick it up in March my question is is it better than the focus st? Iv got a 2015 focus st had it 4 years really sad to see it go, never been anything less than fantastic... iv got serious reservations about the cylinder deactivation ... time will tell! But iv gone for the 5years warranty

I have a mk8 ST2 and the handling is the nearest I've driven to my 2002 Elise. I live on the Isle of Man, so I've put it through it's paces ;). Get one, you will not be disappointed, the ST or Elise :)

So if you had both, your RS and the Fiesta ST and was told you could only keep one which one would you keep? At present I drive a Peugeot 208 GTi which for the comfort and interior trim I love.. but in the future I am seriously considering buying a Ford but can't decide between the RS 2 door Focus or the Fiesta ST. Btw absolutely love your channel.. great content and love the honest reviews.. Stay safe buddy.

Are you not gonna comment the styling of the fenders? The new one don't have the characteristic "flare" style, which been on both the Focus and Fiesta for a long time. I'm not a Ford fan, but that was one of the first thing I noticed.

Like the look of the new one but they could have been more creative with the tail lights. Like a honey comb effect or something.

Is the new Mk VIII quicker than an MP215 MK VII ...? Is there a Mountune upgrade available for the MK VIII to get it's power north of 215...?

I’ve just recently got a MK7 and I absolutely love it (a massive upgrade from the 1L 2003 Corsa I had previously!). That being said, I specifically chose the MK7 over the MK8 as the MK7 absolutely trumps the MK8 on looks. Much more aggressive looking and aesthetically pleasing. For me the MK8 ST looks far too similar to a standard fiesta of the same age and I find them very boring looks-wise in comparison to the previous model MK7 ST

The new Fiesta doesn't look particularly exciting. I understand that the performance is a major factor - and it sounds great to drive - but otherwise it lacks character.

Good video, iv subbed.

Any problems with the longevity of the Mark 8's engine and its wet belt that drives the oil pump? I know the cams are driven by a chain in this engine (unlike the Ford 1.0 Eco-boost - neighbour's has just blown-up!), but there's still some load on the toothed wet belt of the oil pump.

I've had the last model and I'm now running the new one. The new one runs out of steam a bit too early for my liking and I'm really disappointed to see so far the new mountune upgrade isn't covered by the Ford warranty. Also found the 18" alloys to be really soft, I've several small marks on them yet I've not actually kerbed any of them, no wonder the wheels on the performance edition are saying the alloys are more durable, they need to be. Overall I agree the new one is the better car, but not by that much.

Why did you discontinue the FiST in the states, Ford?

Great review - in terms of spring rates and firmness, how does the new ST compare to the st - line models. I thought the standard non st line zetec was a bit bouncy and sloppy on the uptake - (grandad suspension as it were), so very curious as to the comparison with st-line and ST. And just out of curiosity how close does the handling get to your RS. Cheers. :)

Nice balanced review. Having seen a new ST2 at my local dealer, I think it looks more grown up from the rear than the previous model and I’m sure it will grow on people.