Wonderful dynamics, first-class packaging, strong torque and miserly consumption
Steering wheel set too low, space saver spare
The Mondeo has been sold on and off in Australia since 1995 but it has only been with the release of the current shape in 2007 that sales have moved beyond the marginal category. Petrol and diesel variants are offered. But the previous petrol engine was probably the Mondeo’s weakest point. The arrival of the new EcoBoost unit which delivers more power and torque with better fuel economy should push Mondeo sales to even higher levels.
Design
From any angle the Mondeo is an elegant car with beautifully proportioned lines. Like most contemporary front-wheel drive vehicles, it has a fairly long frontal overhang but not disproportionately so. Wide, low and sleek, it looks smaller than it is and the designers have used the hatchback configuration to create a remarkably rakish appearance. The interior is beautifully executed, although seeming just a touch dated compared to the latest Kias and Hyundais. The Zetec is especially well equipped for its price points. It just about goes without saying that it carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating and is crammed with airbags, including a driver’s knee bag. You get dual-zone climate control, a cruise control system that is fussier than a Falcon’s or Territory’s, an especially elegant leather wheel with deep chrome highlights, a pleasing Sony sound system and durable, easily cleaned cloth trim. Some touches such as the beautifully sculpted chrome door handles are worthy of the luxury car class. The elegant alloy wheels suit the Mondeo magnificently.
Accommodation
We find it astonishing how much space Ford’s designers have packaged into this elegant shape. The Mondeo is actually wider than a Falcon. Open the hatch and there is a bewilderingly large luggage area and when the rear seats are folded away, the Mondeo transforms itself into a superb load-hauler. Standard features include dual-zone climate control, cruise control, front and rear fog lights, premium sound system and 17 X 7.5 alloys. Like all Mondeos it has a raft of safety features including stability control, seven airbags – including driver’s knee bag and full-length side curtain bags. It enjoys a five-star ANCAP safety rating. One criticism – and it has been common to Falcons for some years now – is that the steering wheel is set too low and it compromises the driving position especially for taller drivers.
Performance & Economy
This engine delivers almost 50 per cent more torque than the old 2.3 Duratech unit. The Ford engineers have combined low-boost turbocharger technology with direct injection and have patented their blend under the hardly catchy name EcoBoost. Because lighter throttle openings bring instant response, fuel economy benefits. The new engine offers fuel economy gains in the region of 16 per cent with an official combined figure of 8.0 litres per 100 kilometres but light-footed drivers should see even bigger gains. The six-speed DSG-style PowerShift transmission works in impressive harmony with the effortless engine. You immediately notice how much more eagerly than its predecessor the Mondeo EcoBoost responds to the throttle. Low-boost turbocharging, which was pioneered locally by the Audi A4 1.8 Turbo (110 kW, 210 Nm) in June 1996, has long been an outstanding way of extracting strong torque without the need for high rpm. We are reaching the point in automotive history where torque converter automatic transmissions are making way forever for dual-clutch manual gearboxes that masquerade as – and effectively are – automatics. The biggest criticisms they face have to do with initial acceleration and some jerkiness of takeup. Starting from a standstill (especially when going uphill), there’s a brief delay but even with a rolling speed of about 2 km/h, the response is good. There is no jerkiness.
Ride & Handling
The steering is an ongoing joy and is matched by the kind of precise handling expected of just about any car above the bargain basement in 2011. Ride comfort is uncompromised by suspension settings which favour crisp, responsive handling. Is there any other mid-sizer that drives as well as a Mondeo? The steering feel, doubtless engineered into the car to suit the demands of one Richard Parry-Jones, former Group Vice President – Global Product Development, an outstanding driver and vehicle analyst who oversaw the driving dynamics of all Ford vehicles from the late 1970s through to 2007 when he retired from the company.
Conclusion
The Ford Mondeo is a driver’s car that just happens to be highly functional and spacious beyond the class norm.
Ford
