I've always thought the Mondeo rather staid. I need a practical car, but I like something with a bit of class. I've tended to prefer a hatchback model, too. With the latest version, I wondered whether such pre-conceptions much be in for a change after a week behind the wheel of the Mondeo in popular 2.0 TDCI Duratorq form. Even before I turned on the engine I felt cosseted. The adjustable lumbar supports on the front seats are, in my view, a masterpiece of design. They hug you in - and if you've been sitting at a PC all day, as I often do, you'll soon feel the tension in your back ease away. Yes, it would suit me very well indeed - and not just because it's comfortable to sit in.

Despite my ill-founded prejudice against the range, I have to admit that the latest Mondeo, even in standard form, offers a good all-round family package. It's roomy inside, with a sensible boot. When I first took a seat in the car, I immediately noticed the high quality surfaces, materials and finishes. As with the outside, dynamic lines and styling curves are again evident, plus the low profile instrument panel provides very generous cabin space for front seat occupants. The dashboard is clear and the major controls for the electronics systems largely intuitive although the wood veneer finishes fitted to the Ghia model I tried I could have done without. The dashboard is laid out well enough and looks good. Flicking the switches and checking the quality of fit and finish, I was surprised to find how close the cabin now is to that you'd find in a BMW or an Audi. And it has all of the same gadgets, niceties and safety standards. Not that the new Mondeo looks big from the outside or feels it behind the wheel. Despite the spacious interior, the latest model shrinks around you, much like an Audi A4 or a BMW 3 Series. Rear seat headroom and legroom have also come in for scrutiny by the Mondeo development team and these have been maximized for occupant comfort and safety. Our Road Test Editor is 6'4" and he was easily able to fit comfortably in the back seat behind a front seat virtually all the way back on its runner.

Even though the version I tried was a 130PS 2.0-litre TDCi rather than the top flight 140PS version, it seemed well up to the job. The car itself will, I believe, appeal to a lot of women who like a challenging drive as well as a something looks good. Use the traction control, though. I'd no idea what it would do, but it stopped the car scrubbing all its power away in disconcertingly wheelspin when trying to get out of T-junctions in the rain. An orange light on the dashboard tells you that it's on (though you can switch it off - but why?). Though the 2.0-litre TDCi version tested here is not generally recognised as a performance saloon, nought to sixty in 9.3s seconds for the 140PS variant means that this is still a fairly fast car. Its top speed, after all, is 130mph, which is as quick as I'll ever need. On to safety. Now, there's ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, a collapsible pedal structure that stops you injuring your legs in a front-end impact, anti-whiplash head restraints, and ISOFix child seat points in every model. The twin front airbags analyse the severity of a crash and deploy accordingly and can detect if there's a passenger in the front seat (in which case, that airbag won't go off). Side airbags are also standard of course as are side curtain airbags, which offer protection from side impacts along the whole length of the passenger compartment.

If I were choosing from the usual company car options list, I'd find it hard to look beyond the latest Mondeo. It does everything I need a car to do, and a lot more besides. Then there's that welcoming hug every time you climb in...