Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford Fiesta 1.0 Mountune review

Tuning expert Mountune works its magic on the Ford Fiesta's three-cylinder EcoBoost engine

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Find your Ford Fiesta
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Customers got an average £1000 more vs part exchange quotes
Advertisement

Mountune’s MR165 kit 
makes the Fiesta EcoBoost 
more eager, but at £1,399 it pushes the price of the existing 123bhp Titanium-spec car dangerously close to that of a basic Fiesta ST. Still, if you already own a 1.0-litre Fiesta and want more power, then Mountune is 
the way to go. The MR165 kit makes a good car even better. Just be aware that this Racing kit could invalidate your manufacturer warranty.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Specialist tuner Mountune has 
been fettling fast Fords for years. 
Fiesta and Focus owners wanting more 
from their hatchbacks have long been able to upgrade their cars with performance-enhancing aftermarket add-ons.

The latest tweaks, available in the MR165 kit, benefit owners of the Fiesta EcoBoost, and can be fitted to 123bhp or 138bhp cars for £1,399. Changes include a high-flow induction kit, larger-capacity intercooler 
and a selection of higher-quality pipes and hoses. The result is 163bhp and 245Nm from the tiny 1.0-litre three-cylinder.

Best hot hatchbacks to buy now

It certainly feels quicker than both the standard-output cars on the road. Put your foot down in third gear and the turbo picks up pace at a surprising lick. You still get that characteristic three-pot thrum, but it feels far less pressured than the standard EcoBoost.

It’s still a light car, too, and from a standstill feels suitably sprightly. In a straight-line drag it’ll out-sprint a VW Polo Blue GT, and comes close to the more powerful GTI. The Fiesta takes 7.2 seconds to do 0-60mph 
– that’s 1.3 faster than the 138bhp model and a full 2.2 faster than the 123bhp car.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

But it’s not all brawn and no brain – Mountune has history and knows what it’s doing. The Fiesta was always a good base for a sporty hatch, but the firm’s engineers have made this car even more playful. 
It’s great fun to drive, and sets a
 new benchmark in its class.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Not only is it much quicker than the standard car, but you can throw it around corners with confidence. Grip is good, yet lift off the accelerator mid-corner and you can flick the back end out before the traction control catches you and puts you back on the straight and narrow. However, the 2013 Zetec S-based car we tried had no means of switching this off, resulting in frustrating power cuts on the exit of greasy corners.

In terms of styling, the package’s only changes are subtle bootlid badges. Our car came with extra boy-racer graphics down the side, but these are options. Inside, it’s standard Fiesta – both front and back.

Mountune couldn’t confirm whether the mechanical changes made any difference to economy or emissions, but tweaked cars are likely to cost slightly more to run. There’ll inevitably be a slight drop on the 138bhp car’s 62.8mpg – but if you drive this Fiesta as it’s intended, it’ll fall short of that anyway.

As it’s based on the standard model, both new and existing cars can be upgraded. The set-up can be installed either at Mountune’s HQ in Essex, or at one of the UK’s 13 other approved Mountune PRO Ford dealers. Fitting takes two hours, all the additional parts are 
covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the our team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

Vauxhall Astra review
Vauxhall Astra UK - front
In-depth reviews
20 Feb 2024

Vauxhall Astra review

Vauxhall Astra GSe PHEV long-term test: a troublesome start to life on our fleet
Vauxhall Astra GSE PHEV long termer - first report header
Long-term tests
15 Feb 2024

Vauxhall Astra GSe PHEV long-term test: a troublesome start to life on our fleet

Peugeot 408 review
Peugeot 408 PHEV - front tracking
In-depth reviews
31 Jan 2024

Peugeot 408 review

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in
Skoda Enyaq iV - front cornering
News

Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in

Skoda’s family-friendly EV with 348-mile range is our Car Deal of the Day for 26 March
26 Mar 2024