One of the biggest surprises of this showdown was how ably all of these cars attacked corners. The Fiesta was nothing less than we'd expected, with quick, accurate turn-in and ample feedback through the steering wheel. But it still can't quite match the Mini's kart-like composure around corners. Engineered by BMW, the Mini is not only perfectly weighed-out with a wheel at each corner and a good center of gravity, but it's also somewhat sophisticated — for one it's the only car here with multi-link rear suspension.

For what it is, the Fiat proved mighty impressive around corners, feeling light-footed and agile with very direct turn-in. The C2 gripped well, and dived into corners with little complaint, but hardly felt as agile as its three rivals. The little Citroen did impress with its ride quality, as did the Mini, which feels far more supple than its Cooper S sibling. The Ford and Fiat were on the firm side, but that's what you'd expect from a fast and agile hatchback at the end of the day.

Stepping inside the cars

As far as interiors go, the Mini clearly illustrates that there's more than just a brilliant chassis built into its steep asking price. Its funky-retro design, meticulous and distinctive detail and classy materials make everything else here look like a half job. Then again, if your tastes are more sober, you might find it a little overdone.

Step into the Fiesta, and it's a mixed blessing. Leather-bolstered racing-style bucket seats and ST logos embroided on the seatbacks and branded on the steering wheel set a sporting mood, but the hard-surfaced, cheap-looking dashboard materials and uninspiring design are a letdown.

The Fiat takes the cheap, bland and shiny theme a step further and some of the panel fittings also invoke suspicion. The Citroen's cabin is somewhat better, but stops somewhere short of being classy. It may be distinctive in design, but we felt some of the details bordered on just plain naff.

Ford and Fiat have made a good effort to provide supportive seating for the front occupants that not only holds your thighs and back in position during hard cornering but also makes for a comfortable journey. The Citroen's seats are not far behind, while the Mini's chairs are comfortable, but lack upper-back support.

Chances are, you're not going to be buying one of these cars if interior room is a priority, and nothing here really excels in this area. But if space is a factor, the Ford is the most generous provider, followed closely by the Fiat. However, putting your mates in the back of the Mini or Citroen is a good way to test the strength of your friendship, especially if the occupants up front are tall.

Luxury features

The basic luxury features are fitted to all of these cars, while the Fiat surprises by fitting cruise control and climate control as standard. Only the Fiat and Citroen have traction control as standard. All have four-star EuroNCAP passive safety ratings, and four airbags are fitted to all but the Ford, which makes do with two front bags. We knocked the Ford down a notch in our own rating for skimping on too many safety items, especially in light of the car's performance potential.

Wrapping up

When you weigh up the pros and the cons of each of these cars, it's still much of a muchness despite the price differences, yet when all's said and done, we feel the Fiesta ST is a deserved winner here. This simply because it wipes the floor clean with its accelerator pedal, yet still handles like a bomb, looks great and leaves little wanting in terms of comfort. It's an excellent buy for the money. Page: 2 of 3 - back | next