The Most Overrated Car Of The Decade? Ford Fiesta ST (Mountune MP215) Review 

I’m a 55 year old petrolhead and this IS the best hot hatch ever produced and trust me I’ve owned most of them...

You're spot on, with a limited slip diff they're pretty unbeatable.

I fell in love with my ST when I first drove it in mid 2015 and I'm still in love.

I live in the US. Small cars aren't very popular here in the land of "bigger is better." The most stolen cars are Hondas, some other mid-sized cars and various pickups. One of the things I like about mine is that few people know it's a performance car at all. They just see a Fiesta, and look away. I don't worry about it getting stolen for 2 reasons: It's not in demand at chop shops, and most Americans can't drive a stick shift. There are videos of people trying to steal manual cars, then giving up because they don't know how to drive them. I got this car for the combination of good fuel economy, practicality, reliability, and of course, the fun factor. Any Fiesta handles well, but this thing is another level. It corners as well as many far more expensive cars, and it makes enough power to keep things interesting without burning too much gas (or petrol, as you would say). I have the MP215 kit, mountune shift kit and rear motor mount. This has made the car accelerate faster and makes changing gears quicker and more precise. Huge improvements, and not that expensive. I'd recommend those changes to anyone, however you drive it. So, around here, the FiST is a rare car. you almost never see them. Hot hatches are almost unheard of, except around car guys. Performance cars are just Mustangs and the like. I think a lot of those people might like the FiST if they tried it, but it doesn't look cool or have a V8. Oh, well. I'll just keep this car as long as possible and enjoy the giggles it gives me on any twisty road. It's my little secret.

I'm 56 and I have owned over 100 cars. I have some Euro twin turbo V8 and V6 cars that are awesome. But this I bought as just something fun and... to be honest it just makes me feel young again. It's an absolute hoot and nothing I know delivers more smiles per buck. A true modern classic.

Yeah, here in the states I'd say this car is the most UNDERrated car out there.

I bought my 2017 ST when i turned 22. I bought the car with the mindset that i would upgrade later to a more "adult" car, boy did i change my mind, i love it and have no plans to trade up any time soon anyway.

On paper it looks the closest to an old school hot hatch in the modern era, FWD, small, manual, quick but not stupidly quick, relatively inexpensive( ish), good looking. What’s not to like?

I came from a bmw Z4 3.0si coupe to my ST. I don't regret it one bit. The bm made me look back at it when I walked away. But i couldn't drive it like the fiesta, and the fiesta always makes me smile every time I hit a corner or drive down some good A and B roads.

Now you know what we Fiesta ST owners have known for some time... the FiST is an exceptional little automobile. I have the US-spec car, which includes the much larger infotainment screen, Ford SYNC, etc... thus solving the tuning problems you noticed. It’s also a 4-door, since we didn’t get the 2-door in the States, but the added practicality is a fair trade-off. By the way, I’m 62 and retired... but I have a long history with sporty hatches, my previous car being a Cooper S... before that a GTI, a Civic Si, etc. My Fiesta still ticks all the right boxes for me, getting on three years now, and I’m still nuts about it. Of course Ford, in their wisdom, are dropping all passenger cars except the Mustang here in the US, so we’ll never see the Gen 8 Fiesta over here; all the more reason to treasure what we’ve got. Thanks for an excellent review!

Love it Jay! I was giggling with delight like you when I had my first drive with it as well. Turned in my M235i for this fun little car. Don't care that it’s slower. Don't care that it has econobox roots. It's bloody fun every single damn time.

That ST is basically the same as mine, except I got the Mountune exhaust too. I've had it nearly 5 years from new and can't see any point in changing to a different car.

If I had the garage space, this would be my choice for a small hot hatch. Definitely the best in class by a significant margin. And if you gave me the choice of a Focus RS or the Fiesta ST, I'd probably take the Focus, sell it and buy the Fiesta and a bunch of track days.

Every time someone gets in my ST they smile, great fun car. Fantastic review !

The second I drove one three years back I knew I needed to get one... 3 months later I had this very same one with the MP215. Absolute belter of a car and still puts a smile on my face everyday. Looking at getting rid in the near future for an S3 Saloon, but I know it wont make me as happy as this!

* Almost 2019 and the FiST is Still Kicking Ass, The LEGEND Continues . . .

Absolutely loved mine! Still regret the day I swapped it for the Focus ST.... One of the worst decisions I have ever made in my life! Up there with selling my Technics SL1210 MK2's.... 😩

To answer the questions: the steering is electrically assisted and they made about 22,000 of them. So to put that into context that’s a fair amount, but no where near as many as some of the dull ‘exclusive’ expensive SUVs of today, like a Range Rover sport for example (Nearly 30,000 of the current gen one of those and they cost £65K!). The ST also outsold the Clio RS of the same vintage by a 6 to 1 margin, but it’s pretty obvious why. I’ve had mine nearly a year now, couldn’t be happier with it!

When something is overrated, the definition is that it doesn’t deserve the respect and response it has been given… in the fiesta stmk7… it’s very well warranted, a good solid car at good solid value that puts a ton of smiles on your face.

I actually bought a Fiesta ST following your review of this car the next day (watched a few weeks ago). You're spot on. Mine is completely standard, 2015, 60k miles, full Ford service history and it's one of the most (if not the most) fun car I have ever owned. I have only managed a few essential trips but great car. This is against Porsche 911's, VW Golf R's, Ford Focus ST (2015), Mercedes SL500 - to name a few of my interesting mix. The only thing you didn't mention (and if you don't mind me saying, surprised you didn't), the seats are made for people with a very low BMI :-D I need to lose a few stone to feel completely comfortable I think!

Sold a Scirocco 2.0TSI at the beginning of the year for one of these, did a few mods, remap induction kit, short shifter and a fair bit more and i absolutely love it. So much better than the Scirocco its a blast to drive.

Great video Jay. I work at Dunton, the managers car park has gone from a sea of Mondeo's to being covered over in Fiesta ST's. It's a ton of bang for your buck and everyone loves them.

I’ve had my FiST for four years, and I still love it to death. They’re not as common here in the U.S.; you see the Focus a lot more. My car is still stock, and I haven’t gotten bored with it at all. It’s seriously a great car.

They are fantastic cars I'm 41 wife is 50 soon and we always have a smile in our St 215

The Ford fiesta rules in sub compact cars and is a solid build car and fun to drive..i love mine. 😊

Absolutely brilliant Jay! Now, jump into the new 3-cylinder one whilst this is still fresh in your mind and compare the two. I'd love to know what you think because it's a possible next car for me. Cheers! :)

I had a go in the MR230 version, basically a more aggressive MP215. And I believe this does void the factory warranty, but my god did it drive well. I actually burst out laughing like a lunatic after I’d finished driving it. So damn good. If I didn’t require something a bit bigger, that would be my choice every single time.

I love my fist I was going for a rs and the price blew my mind and I was gonna get the focus they didn’t have it and they said they have a fiesta st and I said a what the hell is that and they let me drive it and I bought it immediately

This is what you need to do to understand a fiesta ST: Go a bit too fast into a corner. Trail brake to stop the front from understeering. Enjoy the rear sliding out, correct steering a bit and punch it out of the corner. Its even more fun on cheap all seasons.

Wonderful video and you captured the essence of this joy-to- drive car! I'm running Cobb Stage 2 at the moment with an MBRP exhaust which is teeth chattering loud on my 2018 FiST. Soon to replace that with a Milltek resonated exhaust (black tips) and the Cobb downpipe for Stage 3. Underneath. I have TB Performance bracing and ST XTA coilover shocks. I'm 58, so this car is not just for teenagers!!

I’ve had my FiST for five years, and I love it now more than ever. The only major change I’ve made to it is putting r888r’s on it, and the fun factor hasn’t worn off at all. I do plan on modding more in the future, but it really doesn’t need it. If you’re thinking of getting one, get it. Truly an amazing car!

Perfect car for the UK B roads, love mine !

I loved mine, I had stage 2 Revo it made about 245bhp and about 270nm, it was one of the first to be fitted with the RS spoiler and TRC splitters, sat on eibach 35mm drop on team dynamic 1.2s took most the interior out and had summit strut braces front to back. I first fell in love with it as it reminded me of my brothers R5 Turbo and cousins Williams back in the late 80's early 90s, classic hot hatch feel, the Boomba Racing Ultimate Shift Package finished it off for me, it was such a great car bullet proof engine that loved to be revved and pulled hard through every gear. I always felt with the rear seats removed and a few other bits taken out that 245bhp was plenty no engine hop thanks the rear engine mount being replaced but the power went down nicely, traction control was off as my right foot new how to be sympathetic when required but equally planted when it should be, great b road car. I took it to demon tweeks for the tune and NKE Performance for the bolt ons and auto specialists for diagnostics. I sold it due to my son being born and a few attempted thefts but Id definitely get another one although id leave it standard as its great cheap fun out the box

I'm glad you thought the same. I've always had big power cars and this reminds me of my very first saxo vts. It's the kind of car you borrow off your daughter on a Sunday and have a blast on it. Well done to ford on this one.

Had focus RS mk 1 and 2, and now this, with the 230 kit. Simply wonderful-just don't touch the radio settings!! Also own a LF1 exige. Perfect combo. Great channel btw.

I can confirm Jay's comment on prefrence for the Fiesta. I too had the choise of the GR yaris GR 86, i20N Project C, Golf GTI. and the fords slightly bigger Focus ST. and I got the "in 2022" the 2023 MK8.5 Fiesta and serously do not regret it at all, Living in switzerland driving the mountain passes we see on all the famous car shows. I feel right at home with this subtle beast.

Love your vids Jay. And my god you look so well now. Keep up the good work

4 years late to the review here, but yes, a cracking car. My son has had his from new in Dec.15, had the Mountune fitted, and he's keeping it as mint and unmolested as possible. Absolutely loves it. Great review.

I bought a Fiesta SE new, off the lot and regretted not getting the ST at the time. I still have the SE after 8 yrs and over 220k miles. She has been a joy to drive and glad to have had her. I recently found a 2017 FiST with 9604 miles on it and will take delivery this wk. I am more excited then a kid at xmas. I love the body style and cant wait to mod her a bit.

Great review! I just bought my Oxford White 2014 FiST one week ago and I have to concede it's probably the most fun you can have with your pants on! I've had around 80 cars in my 52 years, including two SVT focuses, and many other small hot hatches including r53 cooper S, ep3 civic hatch, k20 civic si, many gti's.... and I've got to say that this one puts the biggest grin on your face, and you just look for reasons to go for a ride. Although I haven't had long enough to speak for sure on reliability, from what I've read the things can take quite the beating and always come back for more. And when things do go wrong, you're not reaching that far in your wallet. It's a Ford! I've got two mountain bikes in the back hatch with the seat down, my first tank yielded me 32 miles per gallon city driving, there's not a squeak or rattle anywhere, and there's more than enough power to entertain yourself, stock. And in my eye (Canadians don't get the two/three? door version) - even the four-door looks pretty damn good! Just enough tasteful add-ons to not be garish but still look purposeful and kind of tough! Just like the SVT focus in the early 2000s, they knocked it out of the park again. I go through usually two cars a year out of boredom..... Unless this thing nickel and dimes me somehow (highly unlikely)... I think I might have a long-term relationship here :). My advice? Drive one. I pretty much guarantee you won't be disappointed

I just test drove one today. Mate, you’re spot on with everything you said!

Great vid and editing! I have the standard fiesta st and am looking at shelling out for the mountune power upgrade but am on the fence still

Also have one and love it. When James says everyone ends up doing the same thing, I think part of that is just because as a community, owners have somewhat narrowed in on what makes these good for a fair cost, and what ruins them or isn't worth it. While there's plenty of aftermarket choices, there are some constraints... Aftermarket exhaust choice ranges from subtle but pleasant to 'rally car outside, drone box inside' with nothing that sounds genuinely 'great'. They end up looking similar as wheel choice is limited to an uncommon stud pattern and many designs don't work with the visual 'bulkiness' of the car. While an LSD would improve the drive, I imagine it would also greatly reduce the service interval of the gear oil. For normal road use, the stock setup still feels decent with a tune and stock turbo with very, very few compromises from the standard car.

Great, honest, fair review!👍

The stereo in the US is actually quite good!

I have one! I love taking it down B roads on a summers day, you'll be surprised with what other cars it can keep up with down the back roads!

I have one of these, had it nearly 4 years, longest I've ever owned a car and I'm still not bored of it, awesome car 👍

I'm 47, and from my late 20's I've had nothing but fiestas, and I'm now on my second ST. My current one has at stage 2, but it just goes. A few mods, nothing over the top, but they just make an awesome car just that much better.

Just picked up my 14 plate ST-2 today and I'm not far off 40 years of age. This ticks a lot of boxes for me, I daily drive it to work, it's fine on motorways, but then on the twisties its a monster.

Great vid! Is there any chance you could compare this car against a stock focus MK2 st? (The 5 cylinder one). Cheers!

I’ve got one of these that is going for a Stage 2 Pro map with AET Motorsports on the 19th July. It would be interesting to see know your opinion on the difference from this one. It’s got a few other bits like the exhaust, intake, intercooler and sticky tyres.

Absolutely love my st3 but I will soon be getting rid of it for something more powerfull hopefully. What would you suggest? Currently looking at mk2 rs, audi s3 saloon and m140i/m240i's?

A great review as always. .... Just one question : If you use that stretch of road on a regular basis for your reviews - why do you need a TomTom ?

Great and humble review

I like the point he made in the end about modifying your car. My Focus st handles great, first little sport car I have chosen not to modify. No need

This is the best review of the Fiesta or any car for that matter, that I've seen. "I hate myself.." Lol!

Away to test drive one tomorrow and if all goes right I’ll hopefully be picking it up in early February. Can’t wait

You configure the radio once and then you never have to touch it again, more or less. There are more buttons than there needs to be, who has to have a dedicated button for the clock(?), but you learn quickly where the most useful are located.

You got to be more brutal on the corners like fkn turn last second and the fiesta just loves it, it sits down on that front corner of the car and just takes the corner it's the best feeling and it's like the car can't wait for the next corner it is so fun I never get enough of it lol Who could say the FiST is over rated at all.... Only a VW driver would say that crap.

You need to drive the MK 8. It addresses the interior issues, and apparently drives even better. I love mine.

I own a white 3 door June 2016 ST Fiesta bought it pre owned on 26 July 2019 on 52 000 km when she had her 60 000 kms annual service due to time catching up with the kilometres. Replaced the front disks last Saturday with ATE pads and rotated the wheels and aligned all 4 wheels. It was my 55th birthday present to myself! Previous car a 2015 1.4 Fiesta Ambiente 4 door. Greetings from South Africa Pretoria. The country of the Springboks!!! Thank you for the nice review contemplating putting in better speakers to listen to Talking Heads and Fleetwood Mac!

Great review brother cheers to you

Haha I know those roads well! Decent review. Do you know if eye airfield is still open to drive on?

I know this road well, my parents living a couple hundred yards off of it. The road at 10:02 - several years back my partner was driving the other way and didn't turn at that corner, took off up the bank narrowly missing that tree and ending up 50m into the field. Interesting that you rate that road, never thought of it that way!

I love my fist ST. I wish I had the cobb programmer because I want to do more to it. but even stock its a amazing car.

I’ve just brought a 2017 one and I love it so far!! It’s got a stage one map as well as a quaife LSD and it’s bloody spectacular

Excellent road choice James. I've been using this road a lot this year as a new rider on a motorbike, like you say a really good mix to put a vehicle through it paces.

I love my little Fiesta ST. Sporty enough to be fun, but not enough to get you into to much trouble. Looks great, gets good mpg when you want it, and can hold 4 adults for a (short) road trip. The only gripe I have with it is my own fault. I bought new, but seeing how cheap these things go for used, it makes me regret not going that route.

Remember test driving a friends modded FoST and then a stock FiST back to back. The Fiesta is so alive and much more the car I wanted in early 2000’s when the Mk1RS debuted but wasn’t sold here.

nice review,i would like your opinion for the new model

I sold my mk3 rs250 Megane with over 300 bhp for my st, now running 300 bhp which makes it bloody awesome .

great review! I have one that i've given to my brother and we trade cars so I get to drive it often and it's more fun than my Jaguar F type and Cayman! maybe not to 'cruise' in but definitely more exciting on the backroads!

Thanks for the review. I've been watching a few of them recently as I'm looking to buy a new car soon. At the moment, my choice is between the Fiesta ST, Focus ST or Focus RS. I'm really having a difficult time choosing which one I should buy as they all have different things to offer. Of course, with the RS I love the power and AWD.

Absolutely loved mines, got mines when I was 18 and owned it for 3 years! Would have kept it if they weren’t so common

Great video, I love your honesty! Personally I would rather have a Peugeot 208 GTi or a Seat Ibiza Cupra 192. - The reason being that the Fiesta is still around £21-24,000 where I live (Denmark). The 208 and Ibiza are the same price, and are often newer and with fewer miles.

A 2015 Fiesta ST was my pick for my last car. He says it, great handling and peppy with good mileage too. Here in Canada this line up will be missed. It'll be a nice barn find for some kid one day. lol

Would you recommend one? (this coming from previous Type R ep3 and fn2 owner).

I was planning to buy an ST as my next car, definitely wasn't put off by the interior or how common it is, but it was how popular they are with thieves (along with how easy they are to steal) that stopped me. Great balanced review as always!

Great review mate.... thank you .

i had one for a year as a daily and i bloody loved it, fantastic car and (to me) great on fuel. had a molten orange ST3 with a bluefin superchips map, felt much faster in the real world than my E46 m3. only sold it to get a golf R , otherwise i would have kept it and chucked a mountune diff on it. i can see myself in maybe 10+ years having another as a cheap runabout, but i also want another E46 m3 ha

I’ve got a ‘16 FiST and it single-handedly turned me into a true petrol head. I can’t overstate how wonderful it is to drive this car.

Yes. Almost three years ago, I bought mine and I love it. Lightweight, direct, corners quite well and is that kind of fast, that' s good enough to have fun and keep your driving licence. I'm 55 now and everytime behind that steering weel I feel like I'm 19 again. 😜👍 There are faster cars, more expensive, more luxury cars, but when it comes to have fun, get a Fiesta ST mk7 and you will be happy. 😁

Is this worth it for a first car?, I love it in every way besides the start/stop button and radio, and it looks amazing in the blue, but I do feel this generation fiesta st will meet the faith of the xr2i leaving minimal examples with like 15,000 miles for a tone of money, but should I get a zetec s?

How does changing out the speakers improve the audio reciever head functionality?

Haha made me laugh that you love it. I need to have a go now coz I’m of the same mind about it

I've been trying to decide if to get a Ds3, 208 Gti & I'm not a Ford man naturally so I get the internal struggle you had, but you gave in at 10.30, lol. I've made my mind up now too & it's the Fiesta

Hey Jayemm I live in North Norfolk in Stanhoe and I was hoping you could give me the location of the drivers road in Norfolk 😉

Hi James, what are your thoughts of the ST in comparison to the Yaris GRMN you drove earlier this year? Cheers.

Have a mp 215 and it's brill never get tired of driving it it's a fantastic b road blaster and it's quick enough they do handle very well Indeed

I live in BC, Canada and all the guys I work with all drive big pick-up trucks, or Mustangs and I even have a buddy who has a 700+whp Supra. They all made fun of me for getting rid of my Dodge Challenger RT and buying myself a Fiesta ST. In my defence, the RT is undrivable in winter and was just using so much fuel. So I thought, I need something more practical. Anyway, long story short, I like WRC and always liked the looks of the FiST, so I looked in to getting one and let me tell you. It's awesome! Every time someone sees it they ask if it's my wifes car. Then I take them for a ride in it and they love it. The mate with the Supra wants one for his daily.

Ford Fiesta's are great. I've driven the new ST-Line. Really want to get my hands and give the new ST a drive and review.

That 3 door hatch looks awesome 🇺🇸🕶👍

I've got a se 1.6 after market turbo stage 2 Cobb tune lowered with coil overs kept factory muffler factory se badging rims and put some 225 wide tires under it. Making around 280hp and it is by far the best car I have ever owned and has shocked so many people due to it looking like a standard se hatch and it can roll out on a mustang in the high 120mph range. Have had many of people follow me after a friendly pull and ask what it is. Due to it being a 4 door it confuses so many.

I'm curious as to what road you're referring to as I'm in Norfolk, also wish I could afford a Fiesta ST at 19! Would still like one but they seem to hold values very well.

What is everyone’s take on their MPG? I feel like my MPG on my 66 ST is pretty poor!? Not sure if there some sort of exhaust issue, some sort of fuel issue or engine issue but I seem to drinking petrol quicker than normal!? Also the tyre sensors always seem to go off even when replaced!? Any comments, help or advice would be helpful?

The 2 door looks so nice. Wish we had it in the states.

I thought the 10 speaker Sony stereo in my 14 FiST was great. I just couldn't deal with the rough ride. A lot of folks changed the wheels and tires and some suspension parts and say it fixes it. I would need to ride in one with those things changed. We get it for one more year here in the US.

Bought mine last week. It really is THAT good. It’s about as firm as I’d want it to be at slow speeds but other than that I can’t really fault the thing.

CPE engine mount the best thing on my st, cornering a lot stiffer, running CP 2 plus 240 bhp.

3 years later Liked the video! Hope you were able to find a turbo swapped one. I have a gen 2 garret 2860r on my 2014 and make about 300whp. Absolutely hilarious. The turbo defines the character of the car. OEM is a autocross king, hybrid is oem on steroids, and then the garret options make it into a top end car and get rid of the low end donkey kick.