The most frugal Ford Mondeo yet offered, delivering emissions of 114g/km and now available in Business Edition trim with equipment to squarely target the fleet market.
Its list price is £1600 more than the spartan, entry-level Mondeo Edge in Econetic trim, and £600 more than the Zetec Econetic. For your extra pounds, you get a good value package of additional equipment including an upgraded navigation system with DAB and MP3 functions front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and privacy glass.
The standard-fit 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and chrome trims give it the kind of driveway appeal that can sometimes lack in fleet big-hitters.
There’s no lack of urge from the Dagenham-built 1.6-litre TDCi unit. There’s a small amount of diesel rumble at start-up but, for the most part, it is smooth and quiet on the move. Power tails off from around 3500rpm, which is when the engine’s clatter begins to drift into the cabin. Back off, or shift up and it regains its composure.
The ride and handling balance is perfectly judged. Over a variety of road surfaces and speeds, the Mondeo’s suspension soaked the worst of the bumps but still retained a huge amount of body control. Despite the basic architecture dating back to 2007, the steering is still among the class best. Some may find it a little light around the first few degrees of lock, but there’s a delicacy that’s hard to beat.
It’s easy to dismiss the Econetic model as a cost-conscious purchase, but the simple fact is that most buyers won’t need any more. As an everyday family car or motorway hack, the 113bhp unit is more than adequate. It feels relaxed at motorway pace, with plenty in its pocket for overtaking.
Standard equipment included in the Business Edition trim makes the Mondeo an easy companion. There’s pretty much all the kit most drivers really need. Leather trim might be nice, but after a six-hour drive, things can get a bit sticky. Plus it’ll hurt your benefit-in-kind rating.
Yes. If you’re choosing your next company car, this is the Mondeo to go for. And even if it’s a private purchase, there is much to recommend, not least the promise of 114g/km and 65.7mpg. The question is, has Ford undermined the rest of its Mondeo range with such a competent all-rounder?
I've read loads of road tests of Mondeo's over the years and this is the first one that mentions that the steering is light around the first degrees of lock. I'd go further than that, I think it makes the car feel very twitchy at motorway speeds where constant adjustments are needed to keep in a straight line. It can be very tiring on a long journey because I found if I switched off even slightly for only a couple of seconds the car would be drifting out of the lane.
I drove one of these new 1.6 eco engined Mondeos a couple of months ago but it really wasn't as good as I was expecting given all the praise it has received. Sure it was quite refined and a little quicker than the 1.6hdi I had in my old C5, but if you are used to a 2.0 diesel it will still feel very slow.
TBH havnt particularly had an issue with this myself; Intresting you blame the steering for wandering out of the lane when the driver "switches off" for a couple of seconds!!! Maybe you should be paying attention?
I've driven the 2 litre diesel a couple of times (08 reg) and thought that wasn't exactly quick.. Can imagine this feeling underpowered..
No, checking with other colleagures who had the same car at the time and most complained about the overly twitchy steering and its tendancy to wander about at motorway speeds.
I had two (company cars, first my choice the second most definately not) and the newer, facelift model seemed much worse than the older 2007 model I had. The post facelift model was better built, though, the 2007 model being a pile of crap.
EDIT: I do over 30k miles a year and do pay attention, thanks, but any driver doing a high mileage (or otherwise) will have moments where their mind wanders, even if for a second or so. My point is that with the Mondeo you have to be 100% constantly which doesn't exactly make for a relaxing drive over a long journey. Even my current car, an E90 3 series which has much sharper and more responsive steering than a Mundaneo has a degree of dead play around the centre so it isn't constantly reacting to the smallest movement of the steering wheel.
I haven't driven a Mondeo, but my new Focus is remarkably stable on the motorway - far better than a 3 series, though Ford are useless at balancing the wheels. Perhaps electric power steering has some advantages. As for this Mondeo, I've got the same engine in my Focus which is doing 56mpg, so good luck getting 65mpg in a Mondeo.
I can't say I'm surprised. I always found the 3-Series to be very twitchy on the motorway. It would also react quite badly to small bumps in the road and felt very unsettled.
If I were in the market for one of these, I'd be tempted, but I'd go off and buy a Mazda6 2.2D Business Edition instead. Sure, you only get the 129bhp version of the engine, but that's still a lot more power than this Mondeo. And whilst it may be a little less economical, it's much better looking, better to drive, faster and better value, and therefore, I think it's a better all-rounder.
EDIT: I do over 30k miles a year and do pay attention, thanks, but any driver doing a high mileage (or otherwise) will have moments where their mind wanders, even if for a second or so.
Fair enough, I see what you mean.
Its never been an issue for me, and I usually pick up on that kind of thing. Intresting youve gone from Mondeo to E90, I went the other way, and found that my Mondeo is better build than the BM (just my experience) which had, by 2 years old, rattles from the boot, rear seat, roof lining, centre console and dashboard. As for the steering, which was very good in the E90, was spoiled by the run flats which meant the car tramlined and twitched on every road imperfection. I think RFT's are better these days (I had mine 05 - 07) but my experience was, except on the motorway, that the E90 on balance was the worst riding/handling car Ive ever had, which from a BMW was disappointing to say the least. Engine (straight six petrol) was fantastic though.
I had two Mondeo's, one was an early 2007 model which was a complete disaster, it never broker down but the quality was dreadful. The 2011 one I had for three months was much better made and was generally better to drive, too. Neither was as well made as my 3 series, although that in turn doesn't feel as solid as the Audi I had before. haven't had a problem with my BMW but it is only a year old.
As I mentioned in another thread, I don't really have a problem with the RFTs, no tramling etc. It doesn't like particularly rutted roads which can see the ESP light flashing away and it is really bad over speed humps but other than that it's fine. Mine is running on Continentals, was your on Bridgestone by any chance? I've read (and experienced in my father in laws 335i) that they are really bad.
I went the other way, and found that my Mondeo is better build than the BM (just my experience) which had, by 2 years old, rattles from the boot, rear seat, roof lining, centre console and dashboard. As for the steering in the E90, was spoiled by the run flats which meant the car tramlined and twitched on every road imperfection.
I couldn't agree more. I've found the 3-Series to be a very badly built car with a poor interior that doesn't take long to fall to bits. I found the Mondeo to be a much better car overall. Lee23404's just being a badge snob.