Ford Mondeo

The classic is back. This year, at the Geneva Motor Show, the new Ford Mondeo made its debut. This new Ford Mondeo is a complete overhaul of the old model that first debuted in 1993. This is a Ford Mondeo like you’ve never seen it before. The all new Ford Mondeo has already made its mark on motoring in the Northern Hemisphere, scooping the Auto Express Car of the Year award overall. The new Ford Mondeo was well and truly all-conquering, being named as the best family car and the best estate car as well as the grand prize of Car of the Year.

So what was it about the Ford Mondeo that impressed the judges at Auto Express? Was it the looks? Was it the size and practicality? Or was it the overall handling? The official word from the editor-in-chief of Auto Express, David Johns, was that the Ford Mondeo “delivers effortlessly” with “aplomb”. This undoubted expert also commented that the Ford Mondeo “steers beautifully, rides with a composure and smoothness that's absent from even the best German executive cars, handles tautly and has a great range of engines”. He also went on to praise its roominess and size.

There is no way that I can improve on Mr Johns’ statements regarding the handling of the Ford Mondeo. From all the press statements and videos available in the UK prior to its launch here Down Under, it sounds like the Ford Mondeo will be sheer pleasure to drive.

The Ford Mondeo engines mentioned by Mr Johns include the 1.6 Duratec Petrol (81 or 92 kW at around 6000 rpm; 160 Nm at 4100 rpm), the 2.0 Duratec Petrol (92 kW at 6300 revs; 185 Nm at 4500 rpm) and the 2.3 petrol (118 kW at 6500 rpm; 208 Nm at 4200). These three engines are all 4-cyclinder models with DOHC, but a five-cylinder model is also included in the Ford Mondeo: the 2.5 litre petrol engine that delivers a juicy 320 Nm of torque from 1500–4800 rpm and 162 kW of power at 5000 rpm. The Ford Mondeo engine range continues with four diesel engines (two 1.8 litre versions and two 2.0 litre versions), the gruntiest of which packs a 103 kW punch at 4000 rpm, and all of which deliver a top torque of 340 Nm (with transient overboost) through the range of 1750 to 2240 rpm.

The new Ford Mondeo comes in a range of models, all of which share the superb styling that has made this model what Ford calls “an object of desire.” These models are the Edge, the Zetec, the Ghia, the Titanium and the Titanium X. All come in sedan, 5-door hatch and estate bodies, each variant and body being available with several engine options. In short, there’s a Ford Mondeo to suit your needs!

As you would expect from a vehicle that has been named the best family car, safety is superb. All models of Ford Mondeo have front, side and curtain airbags, with a driver’s side knee airbag, and pretensioned seatbelts and a seatbelt reminder system for both the driver and front passenger. And all models come with a handy first aid kit – which is useful even if you’re not in a crash.

The interior of the Ford Mondeo comes with a range of comfort and convenience features, ranging from the air conditioning (dual-zone climate control is standard on all models except the Edge, which has this feature as an option with DVD navigation), an accessory power socket, cupholders in the console and more. A useful option available on all models is the Child Seat package, which provides integrated child seats suitable for toddlers to ten-year-olds in the rear. And the adult seats in the Ford Mondeo are beautifully comfortable, especially in the Ghia and Titanium models, which are adjustable for both passenger and driver as well as featuring lumbar support. And the Titanium X has heated seats with leather trim as standard – very nice!

The latest Ford Mondeo design (above) is a beauty, and its debut is awaited with much anticipation… Bring it on.

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