Ford Mondeo (2014-2022) Review
The Ford Mondeo is an impressive all-round family car, though some rivals are better value
Strengths & weaknesses
- Quiet and smooth on the motorway
- Extensive range of engines
- Very spacious inside
- Too pricey for what it is
- Not as much fun as predecessor
- Volkswagen Passat much more upmarket
Cars like the Ford Mondeo were everywhere in the late 1990s and early 2000s. What was not to love? The elegant and aerodynamic body of a saloon, combined with the practicality of a hatchback, made for a perfect family car.
Trends have shifted a little since then, though, and the higher driving position and headroom of off-roaders meant crossovers and SUVs soon took over in popularity.
So as well as other large hatchbacks and saloons, such as the Vauxhall Insignia, Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb and Mazda 6 to consider, crossover alternatives include the Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan X-Trail, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-5. However, bear in mind that many of the crossover rivals are notably pricier to buy or finance.
The Mondeo is available as an estate car with a larger boot, but most families will find that the hatchback is big enough, with a spacious interior and enough room for three adults in the back, plus a large 541-litre boot, which is bigger than most rivals, apart from the VW Passat and Skoda Superb.
The interior is well-built and the car's touchscreen is clear, but it lacks the upmarket materials and style of alternatives, including the Passat and even higher specification versions of the Mazda 6.
One black mark against the Mondeo, however, was Ford’s reluctance to include the latest safety features as standard – even on higher trim levels, autonomous emergency braking, a blind spot information system and a reversing camera were expensive optional extras before the 2019 design refresh.
One of the strengths of previous Mondeos was their feeling of being nimble, despite their size. But priorities have changed and the Mondeo is no longer much sportier than the Passat. Instead, it's been designed to deliver a smooth and comfortable ride, which is close to the best in its price bracket - rivalling the excellent Skoda Superb, if not the pricier Mercedes E-Class.
But, there's no longer a stand-out feature that makes the Mondeo a must-buy car. Instead, it's a good all-rounder that's likely to appeal most if you can secure a strong Ford Mondeo discount or find a great value used model.
Key facts
Warranty | Three years/60,000 miles |
---|---|
Boot size | 541 litres |
Width | 1,852mm |
Length | 4,871mm |
Height | 1,482mm |
Tax | £120 to £800 in first year, £145 thereafter / Pre-April 2017 cars: £0 to £205 |
Best Ford Mondeo for...
Best for Economy – Ford Mondeo 2.0 EcoBlue 150 Zetec
The entry-level Zetec trim offers enough standard kit for most, including all-round parking sensors, cruise control and an eight-inch media system. Pair this with the 150hp 2.0-litre diesel engine and you can expect around 56mpg.
Best for Families – Ford Mondeo 2.0 EcoBlue 190 Titanium
The 190hp diesel engine is better suited to the pace of family life, and still promises 48-53mpg. The Titanium trim makes for a more well-rounded option with kit such as keyless entry and automatic lights and wipers to take the stress out of driving.
Best for Performance – Ford Mondeo 2.0 EcoBlue 190 ST-Line
Performance isn't the Mondeo's strong point - 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds is average, and so is the engine. Still, you're looking at a car that's just as comfortable in the fast lane of a motorway as it is on a twisting country road.
One to Avoid – Ford Mondeo 2.0 TiVCT Hybrid Vignale
This plug-in hybrid luxury-spec Mondeo is almost guaranteed to lose an awful lot of its initial value when you go to sell or trade in a few years’ time. If you can afford its asking price, you’d be better off in an Audi or BMW. It doesn't make sense as a used car, either; running costs are no better than the non-hybrid options that Ford offers.
History
- February 2015 Goes on sale in UK.
- May 2015 Top-of-the-range Ford Vignale Mondeo is launched in Britain, offering a luxurious interior and high level of standard equipment.
- January 2019 Ford updates the Mondeo's design and engine offering.
- April 2021 It is announced that Ford will end production of the Mondeo in Spring 2022.
Understanding Ford Mondeo names
Engine 2.0 TDCi 180
All Mondeo engines are turbocharged. There have been 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0-litre petrols, 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesels plus a 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid model. Diesel engines have been known as TDCi, and later, EcoBlue. Petrols are called EcoBoost, and TiVCT is reserved for the hybrid version.
Trim Titanium
The Mondeo has been offered in a number of trim levels including Style, Zetec, Titanium, ST-Line and Vignale – each coming with progressively more standard equipment.
Gearbox Powershift
Depending on exactly what engine you go for, you can have the option of four-wheel drive and/or Ford’s ‘Powershift’ automatic gearbox.
Ford Mondeo Engines
1.0 EcoBoost, 1.5 EcoBoost, 2.0 EcoBoost, 1.5 TDCi, 2.0 TDCi, 2.0 TiVCT
In its early days, the Mondeo could be bought with a range of petrol engines. The 1.0 EcoBoost engine, available only in entry-level Zetec versions, was a little out of its depth with a pretty sluggish 0-62mph time of 12 seconds, which is a shame because in other cars this 125hp engine performs well.
We think the 160hp 1.5 EcoBoost is a much better match for the car, with a healthy sub-10-second 0-62mph time. Fuel economy is only average, at around 45mpg depending on exactly what size wheels and type of gearbox you get, but for anyone doing less than about 10,000 miles a year, this engine is likely to make more financial sense than a diesel.
There’s also a very powerful 2.0 EcoBoost with 240hp, which was only offered in Titanium and Vignale trims. It’s undeniably fast, but pretty thirsty and will make your new Mondeo tricky to sell or trade in down the line without losing lots of cash to depreciation. We think it’s best avoided - unless you're buying used and don't expect to cover particularly high annual mileages.
The diesel range is extensive, beginning with the ultra-efficient 1.5 TDCi. Like the entry-level petrol, it’s slow, but this is the Mondeo to go for if you want the lowest possible running costs.
Later models lost all petrols and the 1.5-litre diesel option, and instead offered just one 2.0-litre diesel engine. For our money, the 150hp version of the 2.0 EcoBlue is a better bet. It still returns strong fuel economy, but has performance more befitting a large family car. Both 180hp and 210hp versions of the same engine were offered, before they were dropped in favour of a 190hp offering. They’re predictably more expensive to run than the 150hp version, but offer useful extra power if you want to tow a caravan or tend to really pile on the motorway miles.
Finally, there’s a petrol-electric hybrid version of the Mondeo. There are two big caveats: it’s only available as a four-door saloon or estate, not a hatchback, and its batteries reduce boot space, so you end up sacrificing some practicality for economy. It's also expensive to buy and offers very little in return.
|
Fuel |
Mpg |
Hp |
0 - 62mph |
Top speed |
2.0 EcoBlue |
Diesel |
56.5mpg |
150hp |
9.7s |
133mph |
2.0 EcoBlue |
Diesel |
53.3mpg |
190hp |
8.9s |
138mph |
2.0 TiVCT HYBRID |
Petrol-Electric |
50.4mpg |
187hp |
9.2s |
116mph |
Ford Mondeo Trims
Zetec, Titanium, ST-Line and Vignale
All later models, including entry-level Zetec, come with an eight-inch media system, autonomous emergency braking, dual-zone air-conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, power folding door mirrors, and alloy wheels, which start off at 17 inches.
Titanium versions come with upgraded 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers with high-beam assist, leather seats, power adjustable front seats, and keyless entry.
For those looking for a sportier looking Mondeo, ST-Line includes 19-inch alloy wheels and a more aggressive bodykit. It's not quite as luxurious as Titanium, with part-leather upholstery and a harsher sports suspension, but it offers another route for customers.
If you want ultimate luxury, Vignale should deliver. Adaptive LED headlights, a powered bootlid, heated steering wheel, reversing camera and premium sound system are the key features.
Ford Mondeo Reliability and warranty
Ford’s EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel engines are well proven in other models at this stage, so we wouldn’t expect any serious mechanical issues. As far as warranty cover goes, you get a fairly unremarkable three years/60,000 miles from Ford – less than the Hyundai i40’s five years/unlimited miles or the Kia Optima’s seven years/100,000 miles.
Used Ford Mondeo
Earlier versions of the Ford Mondeo sold in such big numbers that oversupply on the used market drove the price of secondhand examples down, so buyers lost quite a lot of cash in depreciation. That effect is less pronounced these days, but the big Ford still loses value at a fair rate – about of third of its new price in the first two years of ownership.
That makes it a good value used car – a classic example of ‘lots of motor for your money’, particularly if you manage to find a high-spec Titanium version or one with lots of options.
Other Editions
Mondeo Estate (2014 – 2022)
The estate is the most practical Ford Mondeo but the hatchback offers barely any less space