Ford Mondeo Estate (2014-2022) Review

The Ford Mondeo Estate is meant to be the Mondeo of choice for families who need extra luggage space. But its 500-litre boot is smaller than the 541-litre one in the standard car. This might make you think that you’re better off buying the cheaper Mondeo hatchback or looking elsewhere. But there's more to say...

Despite the figures, the Mondeo Estate is the most practical version of Ford's large car, with extra space freed up by a roof that remains flat right up to the bootlid, rather than curving down gently, as it does in the hatchback.

If you need maximum load space, though, and drop the rear seats and pile everything up to the roof you have 1,605 litres to play with, which is around 170 litres more than you get in the hatchback with the rear seats folded.

Even so, that’s less space than a Skoda Superb Estate, Volkswagen Passat Estate and Mazda 6 Tourer. Even the boot of the far smaller Skoda Fabia Estate - a much cheaper supermini - is bigger.

If you’re set on a Mondeo, though, and simply want the most useful version, theres still login in picking the more expensive estate over the hatchback because the bootlid opens to reveal a larger opening, making it easier to load bulky luggage.

Inside, the flat roof means that there’s more headroom for rear passengers, too. On a less practical note, you might prefer the look of the estate.

Apart from this, there’s little difference between the two Mondeo models. Both hatchback and estate have a high-resolution touchscreen media system, plus a distinctive grille and sharp creases on the outside, making the Mondeo a suitable choice even for those who want something with a bit of style.

That’s the impression that Ford is looking for, anyway. It has moved the Mondeo upmarket in an effort to attract families who are increasingly opting for crossovers. Vehicles like the Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar and Honda CR-V mix the comfort of a conventional car with the higher driving position of an off-roader.

The Mondeo does come well-equipped to compete, with alloy wheels and dual-zone air conditioning on all cars. Sat-nav is fitted to all but the cheapest model, but Ford has raised the cost of the car at the same time meaning that there's not much difference between this and the Volkswagen Passat, though the Volkswagen comes with a higher-quality interior and more user-friendly media system.

At the top of the range is the Vignale model, offering cashmere-coloured leather seats, mood lighting, leather door panels and a rear view camera, but also raising the list price to more than £30,000. For that price, you could buy a well-equipped Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series Touring or Mercedes C-Class Estate. Used Ford Mondeos are far cheaper, however, making the Ford a sound second-hand buy.

For those considering an SUV instead, though, the Mondeo is the more comfortable option. As it’s closer to the ground, it's able to offer a smooth ride without the need for stiff suspension to avoid leaning uncomfortably in corners, as is the case with some taller crossovers.

But as this applies to the hatchback too, so the initial conclusion remains: you’re probably better off with the Ford Mondeo hatchback.

Key facts

Warranty	3 years/60,000 miles
Boot size	488 litres / 1,630 litres (seats down)
Width	1,852mm
Length	4,867mm
Height	1,501mm
Tax	From A (free) to I (£355 in first year and £230 thereafter)

Best Ford Mondeo Estate for...

Best for Economy – Ford Mondeo 1.5 TDCi 120PS ECOnetic

Tweaked to be even more economical than the regular 1.5-litre diesel, this ECOnetic version has road tax-exempt levels of CO2 emissions (99g/km) and a mightily impressive 74.3mpg combined official fuel consumption.

Best for Families – Ford Mondeo 1.0T 125PS EcoBoost

A tiny 1.0-litre engine powering a Mondeo might sound like a mistake but it has an official fuel economy figure of 54.3mpg and adequate performance (0-62mph in 12.1 seconds).

Best for Performance – Ford Mondeo 2.0 EcoBoost 240 6-Speed Auto

The largest petrol engine in the range is the quickest. Combined with the automatic gearbox, the 2.0-litre engine can manage the 0-62mph sprint in 8.0 seconds and maxes out at 146mph.

History

Understanding Ford Mondeo Estate names

Trim Zetec

There are four trim levels in total (Style, Zetec, Titanium, Vignale), with each higher level costing more and adding more equipment as standard.

Engine 1.0 EcoBoost 125

The most efficient petrol versions of the Ford Mondeo bear the EcoBoost badge, which indicates that they are turbocharged petrol units. Diesel models are marked TDCi. Engine power is given in horsepower, which can also be written as PS. The size of the engine is shown in litres but bigger doesn’t necessarily equate to more power.

Gearbox 6-speed

6-speed denotes that the car has six (forward) gears. There are also two automatic transmissions in the range, a standard 6-speed auto and a dual-clutch 'Powershift' version. The two clutches provide smoother and quicker changes.

Ford Mondeo Estate Engines

Ford Mondeo Estate Trims

Ford Mondeo Estate Reliability and warranty

Used Ford Mondeo Estate

Other Editions