Nimble, nippy, agile, manoeuvrable.

Take your pick – all these words readily spring to mind when analysing the Fiesta ST.

If Ford’s hot hatchback was a footballer, it would be Lionel Messi. Like the pocket-sized Barcelona star, it’s small, stylish, sure-footed, changes direction in an instant, and has a sharp turn of pace.

Since the Blue Oval first introduced this go-faster Fiesta around 15 years ago, Ford has been up there with the best in the supermini-shaped hot hatch segment.

To keep things fresh, engineers have made some significant changes to the third-generation ST.

Out goes the turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which helped the previous incarnation of the car to win a string of hot hatch awards.

In comes a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, but don’t worry too much about the loss of a cylinder because this punchy three-pot still pumps out nearly 200bhp.

Overhauled suspension helps the ST handle more keenly, the body has been stiffened to boost agility, while there’s also an option of a limited-slip differential to help propel the front-wheel-drive machine out of corners.

And then there’s the steering. Ooooh the steering! So fast that any steering input is met with an instantaneous change of direction. Even the most subtle tweak of the wheel translates onto the road below at lightning speed.

The six-speed manual gearbox is equally slick, characterised by a snappy lever and nicely-stacked gear ratios.

Another new addition is the selectable Drive Modes - which enable the engine, steering and stability controls to be configured to Normal, Sport and Track settings.

Adjusting these modes also brings into play the Fiesta’s electronic sound enhancement technology, which pipes engine noise into the interior, meaning you can hear the pops and growls from the sports exhaust more clearly.

Those who desire a swift start can call upon launch control which, while designed to add a little more fun to the experience, is unlikely to get much real-world use from drivers wanting to preserve both the clutch and passenger patience.

It was during one such start that I lost my house key down the side of the seats as the force pinned me backwards.

As you’d expect from a hot hatch, the suspension set-up is firm, but you can certainly live with that stiff ride because the ST is so enjoyable to drive.

In terms of looks, the ST’s sporty design shares much in common with the ST-Line version of the regular car. Notable differences are the honeycomb grille at the front with eye-catching red ST badging, the sporty front bumper, a distinctive alloy wheel design, a lower stance, and a twin exhaust system.

Once inside, you slide into deep, figure-hugging Recaro bucket seats. Elsewhere, there’s faux carbon-fibre trim on the dashboard, a chrome effect gear lever and other sporty features.

The basic ST-1 trim level comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, while the ST-2 and ST-3 cars have a larger 8-inch unit, which is easy to use and boasts clear graphics.

In terms of running costs, the ST’s downsized engine, compared to the four-cylinder norm in this class, stands it in good stead for fuel economy. That is underpinned by a clever system which allows the new engine to shut down into two-cylinder mode once you slacken off the accelerator. When I first heard of this, I couldn’t help thinking it might be a little off-putting, but I was reassured to find that the deactivation and reactivation of the third cylinder is virtually unnoticeable.

I conclusion, the ST looks set to retain its crown as the king of the supermini-sized hot hatches. It brings a smile to the face without breaking the bank.

The lowdown

Engine: 1.5-litre, three-cyl,turbo

Power: 197 bhp

Torque:214lb/ft

Top speed:144 mph

0-62mph:6.6 secs

Fuel cons: 44.9 mpg on test