Peugeot 208 GTi vs Ford Fiesta ST

At a tenner under $30K, its sticker seems steep, especially for a manual. But there are satnav via seven-inch touchscreen, 17-inch alloys, dual zone aircon, cooled glove box, leather sports seats and GTi bling. Three-year warranty with capped serving is $270 annually.

A damn sharp sticker only makes more alluring a car driving enthusiasts still would embraced for more. There are LEDs, go-fast bits, excellent Recaro seats, My Key and Sync function. No satnav though. Seven years' capped annual servicing at $245 plus $90 for roadside assist.

The award-winning 1.6 turbo four runs via a tight six-speed manual, a leap forward from the sloppy five of lesser Pugs. Its 147kW/275Nm about equals a Mark V Golf GTI in a far lighter package. A 6.8-second sprint time betters it. Its stance is lowered, suspension and steering tautened.

Another lovely Ecoboost turbo four from Ford. This 1.6 is good for 132kW/240Nm (and 147/290Nm on overboost) and drives through a close six-speed manual. Torque vectoring on the front axle keeps it tidy. A sound symposer enriches the noise.

Natty skirts, bespoke tailpipe, LEDs, chrome surrounds and 3D chequered flag motif in the grille. Fully chic, mate. The cockpit is commodious and classy, of a quality suggestive of a far greater spend. Not as striking as the RCZ but more fluent to drive. Love the fat sports wheel.

A bit meh. The ageing Fiesta is a nice shopping trolley but it's a bit too polite for such a performance device. ST issue fitments aside, the Fiesta's econo-car origins are too evident. Subjective? Sure. Maybe butch it up in black with matching alloys. But you still won't pull, boys.

A five star crasher with the emphasis on crash prevention via responsive and tactile, meaty brakes. Most insurance claims are for low-speed or car park bingles, so dig the aluminium cross member and absorbers that reduce the cost of such repairs.

It's no good blaming the car if it all goes pear-shaped. Physics will tolerate only so much. A five-star crasher with stability control that's adjustable according to talent, it has durable discs front and back, auto dimming rear view mirror and parking sensors. No camera though.

"Surging" best describes the accelerative response, all torque instantly to foot. Entirely comfortable in town, it's also a delight on the sort of roads for which hot hatches are designed. Not hugely adjustable but very comfortable and confidence-inspiring.

Extraordinary reserves of grip encourage corner entries you'd not so much as contemplate in most competitors, such as they are. It's hardly urban unfriendly yet it seems a crying waste of time pootling about. The ST is all about push on or push off.