    2014 Ford Fiesta ST, 2014 Mini Cooper S. Click image to enlarge |
Performance
Finally! As mentioned, these cars are less than 10 hp and lb-ft apart, and neither is terribly heavy, so they both scoot around like little terriers with a bone in their teeth, and both preserve the joys of DIY shifting with six-speed manual transmissions. The Cooper S, being a more mainstream trim for the Mini brand, offers an automatic transmission as well.
    Steering wheels and shifters in the 2014 Mini Cooper S & 2014 Ford Fiesta ST. Click image to enlarge |
The Fiesta ST has the better numbers: 197 hp at 6,350 rpm, 215 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm (and that only on temporary overboost, though it’s always there when you need it) and a lighter 1,234 kg (2,722 lb) curb weight. Acceleration is estimated at 6.9 seconds to 100 km/h.
The Cooper S isn’t far behind, 189 hp at 4,700 rpm and 207 lb-ft at a low 1,250 rpm, hauling around 1,252 kg (2,760 lb), yet it essentially matches the ST’s acceleration with 7.0-second sprint to 100, and some publications have them dead even at 6.9 or 7.0.
Ultimately, you won’t find much difference racing straight up, but the Mini’s power delivery is earlier, more refined and more satisfying. It just feels stronger in the power band we use more often, the Fiesta ST packing a bigger wallop as you near its 6,500-rpm redline. That late surge is addictive, but it also arrives with a bit of torque steer that the Mini has dialed down to insignificant.
The transmissions are both excellent for sporty little cars, the Fiesta ST’s lighter of clutch and easier of throw, and perhaps a tad more mechanical and engaging, the Mini showing some polish and poise befitting its slightly more premium mission. The most notable flaw in either was the Mini’s open gate – the shifter slides over into the left-hand reverse slot too easily when muscling down from third into second. Driver error? Perhaps, but still a nuisance. The Fiesta earned some points with my wife thanks to the easy transmission: “I just love how easy to manage the gearbox and the clutch are.”
The Mini’s power delivery and drivetrain is more refined, but neither is excessively noisy cruising down the highway. Still, Jeff noted that “both cars have a fun, rorty little sound to them, the Fiesta’s voice is a little deeper and louder,” and my wife was again charmed by the ST: “Don’t even get me started on the rumbling noise it made when I took off. Wow, music to my ears. I am seriously starting to appreciate the sound. It’s definitely a head turner, not sure if it’s because of the wild colour or the noise, but either way, bonus points.”
But wait, how about the Mini, dear? “I don’t know what was wrong with me when I drove it last time, but this car is awesome! I don’t mind the clutch and the gearbox at all. Did you leave it in sport mode or something? I love the sound too.” I’d say that’s a pass for both on ease of use. The Cooper S also throws in rev-matching on downshifts so you sound like a pro and get the most out of that engine even if you haven’t yet mastered heel-toe downshifts.
Neither of these small cars had any difficulty braking, but Jeff pinpointed what we all liked about the Fiesta’s braking: “The Fiesta’s brakes seemed more sporting to me. The Mini’s had a long travel through mush to get to the braking power. The ST’s were immediate and solid.” The Fiesta ST is a performance car through and through, which has its benefits and its drawbacks.
Being performance variants, we don’t think efficiency will rate highly on many shoppers’ minds, but being small cars, it might be a factor, and who doesn’t love spending less on gas? The Fiesta ST earns an estimate of 9.0 L/100 km city, 6.7 highway and 8.1 combined from the EPA, while the Mini gets 9.4/6.2 city/highway, averaging out to the same 8.1 combined. On our test drive, which included a long highway drive out to a scenic destination with lightly traveled winding roads, then thrashing them soundly but within reason (we think), the Fiesta ST’s trip meter read 9.4, and the Cooper’s 8.1. And it’s not like we were taking it easy on the Mini – both cars were driven hard. Before stopping for photography and attacking those back roads, we noted a 6.2 for the Mini and 7.3 for the Ford, both very respectable numbers for high-speed highway driving.
This category ends up coming down to taste and depends on what you want in your hot hatch: the loud and boisterous surge of the Focus ST and its intense performance orientation, or the subtle strength and accessible power of the Cooper S with its polish. We feel that the greater flexibility, efficiency and refinement without any compromise on acceleration give the Mini an edge.
