Ford Fiesta Mountune

Is there no end to the Fiesta’s talents? Having scooped the Car of the Year trophy in our annual New Car Awards (Issue 1,075), the baby Ford has also bagged a top 10 placing in our performance countdown. And it’s not hard to see why.

While it’s not the fastest model here, the sleekly styled Ford is one of the most fun to drive. Our Mountune variant is based on the excellent 1.6-litre-engined Zetec S, but benefits from a power boost to 138bhp – an increase of 20bhp – and the addition of a raucous exhaust.

That still leaves the Fiesta as the least powerful car in our top 20, yet it punches well above its weight. And this is largely down to its razor-sharp chassis and engaging character.

On the track, the boisterous Mountune eggs you on, encouraging you to exploit its strong grip and supreme agility. The steering is direct and full of feedback, while the other controls are beautifully weighted and precise. Turn the
leather-trimmed steering wheel and the Fiesta responds instantly, slicing through bends with pinpoint accuracy. Push a little harder and the fast Ford will lift an inside rear wheel. It looks spectacular from the outside, while from the
driver’s seat the car feels solid and secure.

Adding to the drama is the twin-exit exhaust, which pops, bangs and fizzes with every prod of the throttle. The noise can become a little wearing over long distances on the road, although it’s not enough to detract from the Ford’s all-round ability. As with lesser models in the supermini range, the Mountune is a paragon of practicality, as happy on the school run as it on the race circuit.

For the money, only a handful of cars can match this Fiesta for driving thrills – and that means it thoroughly deserves its place above much more expensive and exotic machines.

CLICK HERE FOR AN EXCLUSIVE ON BOARD HOT-LAP IN THE FORD FIESTA MOUNTUNE