Is the 2018 Mazda 6 Faster Than A Ford Fiesta ST? Watch Episode 1 Here [Video]

Sure, the 2018 Mazda 6 is a quick car thanks to its new turbo engine, but is it faster than a Ford Fiesta…ST?

As most of you are aware by now, we traded in TFL’s long-term Ford Raptor for something a bit…smaller. Indeed, we ended up getting a brand spanking new 2017 Ford Fiesta. Yes, about as far away as you can get from a Raptor in the Ford family. However, this isn’t just any Fiesta! It’s a Fiesta…ST. The hot one, with a 197 horsepower, 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that also pushes out 202 lb-ft of torque. It’s a hot little hatchback that’s fun to toss around on the track, without a doubt.

But that got us thinking – how does it compare to your average, everyday family car? To that end, today’s episode is the first in a new series where we pitch everyday cars against this turbocharged pocket rocket. The objective: to determine if certain cars are faster than a Ford Fiesta…ST.

Today’s contestant is the 2018 Mazda 6, recently updated with turbocharged goodness. Its 250 horsepower 2.5-liter engine with 310 lb-ft of torque is a clear winner on paper, but is it really that simple? On paper, the larger, more luxurious Mazda weights 840 pounds more than the featherweight Ford. While the 2018 Mazda 6 also has a quick-shifting six-speed automatic, the Ford Fiesta has a crisp six-speed manual. And, from an engagement perspective, at least, manuals are better. They just are. Plus the Fiesta has red brake calipers, which instantly makes a car several seconds faster around the track.

Join us by watching the video above to see which of these two turbocharged contenders come out on top. Will the Mazda win in a drag race, and can it hang on in the corners to throw down a faster hot lap? We take both cars to IMI Motorsports Park in Dacono, Colorado to find out!