Review of the new Ford Mondeo range

As modern cars go, Ford's Mondeo is one of the better known. There's a good chance that most people will have heard about it but it's less easy to predict what they'll have heard. On one hand, the Mondeo is regularly held up as the epitome of the unremarkable family car. It's the transport of choice for 'Mondeoman', the hypothetical Mr Average that the Labour Party famously targeted in the 1997 general election. But while it's gently derided in some quarters, the Mondeo is strongly appreciated in others. Large, comfortable but also keen-handling, the latest model's talents have gained it major critical acclaim. Today's facelifted version looks even better equipped to convince the doubters.

Times aren't particularly good for the Mondeo and other D-segment family cars. Small 4x4s and compact MPVs, as well as premium small cars and compact executive models, have all tempted drivers out of traditional middleweights like the Mondeo and Ford had to think long and hard about how to woo them back. This Mondeo, launched in 2007, was an impressive response and although it's unlikely to return the sales levels a Ford family car could have generated in the good old days, incremental improvements have kept it intensely relevant.

The current Mondeo engine range looks stronger than ever. The highlights on the petrol side are the 2.0-litre EcoBoost units with their lightweight aluminium construction, direct fuel injection, variable cam timing and a turbocharger. There are 200bhp and 237bhp versions of this engine and both are combined with Ford's PowerShift automatic gearbox, an advanced dual clutch transmission with six-speeds.

The diesel engine range will continue to generate most of the Mondeo's sales with the 2.0-litre TDCi unit proving particularly popular. Buyers get 113bhp, 138bhp and 161bhp versions of the engine to choose from and all are compliant with the latest emissions regulations. Ford is also offering a 2.2-litre TDCi diesel with 200bhp that achieves very strong performance.

"It's not perfect but it's closer to perfect than all its key rivals"

The Mondeo always feels a quality product. The slick steering, the weighting of the pedals and gearchange and the excellent damping are reminiscent of Lexus rather than Ford. Minus points would include rather poor visibility due to the chunky pillars and the sheer bulk of the car when parking. Once you learn to trust the front end, handling is excellent with a very clever ESP stability control system. Given the car's roadholding levels, the wide front seats lack a little in terms of lateral support but they're great for sitting out long journeys.

The looks of the Mondeo are safe rather than groundbreaking but it's an attractive car that disguises its prodigious size effectively with some well-judged detailing. Many of the key styling features are replicated across the Ford range including the trapezoidal front grille which has been made bolder on the latest cars with a more slimline opening above. LED daytime running lights also feature and the bonnet has more sculpted shape. At the back, the rear light clusters also feature LED technology.

Take a seat inside the car and you'll notice high quality materials and finishes. As with the outside, dynamic lines and styling curves are evident, plus the low profile instrument panel provides very generous space for front seat occupants. The latest 'flow-through' dashboard and centre console give a cohesive look to the front of the cabin and Ford's user-friendly touchscreen control interface features on upspec models. Rear seat headroom and legroom are particularly impressive, with the Mondeo really making use of its considerable exterior dimensions. The boot is on a similar scale and the rear seats drop down easily to increase the available capacity.

Hatchback or estate bodystyles are offered and equipment levels are generous. Even the basic variants get air-conditioning, cruise control, a leather steering wheel, a CD stereo with an MP3 connection socket, seven air-bags, ABS with Electronic Brake Assist (EBA), power front windows, remote central locking, a quick clear heated front windscreen and electric heated door mirrors.

Ford has upped the technology count on the car in recent times and some high-tech features are now available. There's a Lane Departure Warning system, a Blind Spot Information System, a rear-view camera to help when parking and a speed limiter. Music fans will be attracted by Ford's Premium Sound System with a 265-watt, eight-channel amplifier and a 17-litre subwoofer.

Today's Mondeo might be large but it treads quite lightly from an environmental and cost point of view thanks to come clever fuel saving technologies. Ford's regenerative braking system is fitted. Dubbed 'Smart Regenerative Charging', it uses kinetic energy recovered when the car is coasting or braking to charge the battery. There's also an Eco mode and an Active Grille Shutter which closes off the air-flow through the radiator grille when possible to improve aerodynamics.

The 2.0-litre TDCi 140PS diesel that most people buy delivers an impressive 53.3mpg on the combined cycle, plus CO2 emissions of 139g/km. This version was once in pricey Vehicle Excise Duty band G, but the efficiency improvements Ford have made have moved it down to band E. That'll save you around £135 over 3 years on your tax disc, while the better fuel consumption will, says Ford, reduce your running costs over 60,000 miles by £658.

Even the pokey 203PS 2.0-litre SCTi EcoBoost engine delivers on its promises here, capable of 35-40mpg on the combined cycle even with an automatic gearbox and CO2 returns well under the 190g/km mark. Ford has even thought about reducing accident costs: this 'sacrificial panel', a body-coloured plastic section of the tailgate that absorbs knocks to save the steel pressing, is another example of fanatical attention to detail. Insurance ratings start from 12E on the 1-50 groupings scale.

The Mondeo has a very tough target to aim at, with all manner of different vehicles attempting to grab a mouthful of a pie it, and its D-segment contemporaries once had to themselves. As a result, Ford had to step out and take some risks with the design of this car. They did and it paid off. The latest models improve the Mondeo package further with updated engines, sharpened looks and enhanced environmental credentials.

By most measures, the Mondeo is a great example of what a big company can do when it aligns its resources and focuses on a target. It's not perfect but it's closer to perfect than all its key rivals and that's as much as anyone can ask.

TOP 5 MONDEO DEALS

The results below show the top MONDEO deals on buyacar

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 163 Titanium 5dr diesel estate
Price £18,964 Read Mondeo Reviews	Save £5,816
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 163 Titanium X 5dr diesel hatchback
Price £19,526 Read Mondeo Reviews	Save £5,769
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 163 Titanium X 5dr Powershift diesel hatchback
Price £20,754 Read Mondeo Reviews	Save £6,136
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 163 Titanium X 5dr diesel estate
Price £20,464 Read Mondeo Reviews	Save £6,081
Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Titanium 5dr diesel hatchback
Price £17,576 Read Mondeo Reviews	Save £5,119
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