Ford Mondeo
It's not unfair to say that Ford's Mondeo is one of the best kept secrets in the local car market. Great design, build quality and European engineering should have made the car a greater sales success than it has been but the new MB range that now includes a stylish, spacious wagon should help the "Blue Oval" redress the situation and make the car the success it deserves to be.
Originally launched in sedan and hatch guises, the new model range has seen the demise of the sedan, the arrival of the wagon and a new luxury version with the Titanium moniker. All models carry a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The range kicks off with the $31,990 LX hatch that is powered by Ford's 2.3-litre petrol engine that boasts 118kW of peak power at 6500rpm and 208Nm of torque at 4200rpm and it rises to $32,990 for an LX wagon with the same engine. A cheque for $36,990 will buy you the Zetec hatch, add another $1,000 and you can have a Zetec wagon and $39,990 will put you into a turbo-diesel hatch with its smooth "oiler" that is good for 103kW at 4000rpm and 320Nm of torque that is on tap between 1750 and 2240rpm.
The new Titanium version starts at $42,990 for the petrol hatch and the $45,990 turbo-diesel Titanium hatch is the most expensive new Mondeo you can buy. For the sporty punter, the 2.5litre XR5 Turbo hatch with its six-speed manual gearbox is a tad cheaper at $44,990. Its five-cylinder engine boasts 162kW at 5000rpm and a handy 320Nm of torque that arrives at a low 1500rpm and stays around until 4800rpm. Ford Australia boss Marin Burela describes the the Mondeo wagon as "a fantastic addition to the award-winning Mondeo line-up, offering performance, safety, load-carrying ability and plenty of European style to fill the niche between the Mondeo hatch and the Falcon wagon."
"Mondeo has always been acclaimed for its strong attributes, particularly its driving dynamics, safety performance and interior package. With the new range we've taken these qualities a step further, adding advanced vehicle technologies and improving standard equipment levels to deliver an unmatched mid-size package," he added.
Ford first tantalised the local motoring public with the Mondeo wagon at this year's Melbourne motor show. Powered by the 2.3-litre petrol "four," buyers of the stylish wagon can look forward to a six-speed sequential-sports-shifting automatic transmission and a host of electronic driver aids. Things will get really interesting early next year when the 103kW/320Nm turbo-diesel version of the wagon arrives and this is when the Mondeo will really have the firepower - and more spaciousness - to take on Holden's hot-selling Commodore-based Sportwagon as well as the likes of the soon-to-arrive new Subaru Liberty, the Mazda6 and VW's Passat.
Speaking of the Sportwagon, while side by side with the Mondeo, the Holden looks a bigger vehicle, the new Ford wagon outpoints the Generals, offering in terms of its cargo space. With the rear seats occupied, the Mondeo has 1005-litres of luggage space compared with the Sportwagon's 895-litres. Fold the rear seats flat on both cars and the figures are 2163 litres for the Mondeo and 2000 litres for the Sportwagon. Chuck in a lower fuel consumption figure of 9.5 litres/100km for the petrol Mondeo and 7.3 litres for the diesel wagon when it arrives and you can see why Ford is so confident about the sales potential of its new range.
The Mondeo package includes an enhanced intelligent protection system, ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist, dynamic stability control, automatic hazard-warning lights activation and seven airbags, including side curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag. Other new technologies and features include adaptive cruise control and dynamic cornering headlights with cornering on top-spec models. Standard kit for the Mondeo LX hatch and wagon includes air conditioning, front power windows, an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary input for MP3 players, steering wheel mounted audio controls, heated power mirrors, capless refuelling and 'follow-me-home' lighting.
Now also on the Mondeo LX standard goodie menu is the advanced Bluetooth hands free with voice control system, cruise control, remote central locking and a multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel. Opt for a Zetec hatch or wagon and you get 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a premium Sony audio system with six-disc CD player, automatic headlights, fog lamps, rain sensing wipers, park assist that uses front and rear parking sensors, power height adjustment for the driver's seat, cruise control and a leather wrapped steering wheel.
The new Zetec spec sheet has been upgraded to also include a USB input for USB/MP3 player integration and full iPod compatibility with the audio system, the Bluetooth hands free phone system with voice control and the high series and so-called Human Machine Interface with the Ford Convers+ premium colour instrument cluster display that was previously only available on the XR5 Turbo.
Buyers of the new Mondeo Titanium model line will have the choice of the 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or an optional 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. Ford has slotted the Titanium between the Zetec and XR5 Turbo models and its features include a sports body kit that comprises a front and rear bumper skirt, side skirts, upper and lower grilles, fog lights, sports suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels.
There is Alcantara/leather seat trim, heated front seats, a power tilt/slide sunroof, keyless start with a starter button, Bluetooth with voice control and the rear seat passengers have B-pillar-mounted air ducts. The Titanium model also comes with adaptive cruise control with a forward-alert function and collision mitigation and, in a first for a Ford product in Australia, the car has dynamic headlights with swivelling low beam headlights and static cornering lights.
The range-topping five-cylinder 162kW/320Nm XR5 Turbo has also been upgraded to the point where it now comes with active cruise control, key-free entry, Bluetooth with voice control and the fancy sunroof. A six-speed gearbox is the only transmission. The hottest of the Mondeos rides on new five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels and it adds intensity discharge (HID) headlights with static cornering lights and dual chrome exhaust outlets while the interior features Alcantara/leather trim with new contrasting red stitching.
Out on the road the new Mondeo hatch and wagon really shine. Irrespective of the specification, their suspension is beautifully sorted into three levels - a standard set-up as well as sportier configurations for the new Titanium and the XR5 Turbo.
The hydraulically assisted rack and pinion steering is superb and it gives the driver a level of precision and feedback found on few cars.
As with all European cars, the Mondeo's fit and finish are excellent, there are well shaped supportive seats on all models -especially, as you would expect, on the Titanium and the XR5 Turbo. While even the entry-level LX has an impressive standard kit inventory, the luxurious Titanium's standard "fruit" puts it in a class way beyond just about everything with a $42,990 starting price. The new wagon is a welcome addition - especially the diesel when it arrives next year - and while there is a degree of cruising refinement, there is a degree of noise intrusion, especially in the rear. While during the media launch drive program, the XR5 Turbo manual was the excitement machine, my favourite was the new turbo-diesel hatch with its six-speed sequential-sports-shifting automatic transmission. Surprisingly spirited with the same 320Nm of torque as the XR5, it's a great package that makes light of overtaking and hills and at $45,990, it makes a compelling value for money story.
Ian Crawford
New Ford Mondeo Range
Model bodystyle Engine Transmission MLP
LX hatch 2.3L pet 6-speed auto $31,990
wagon 2.3L pet 6-speed auto $32,990
hatch 2.3L pet 6-speed auto $36,990
Zetec wagon 2.3L pet 6-speed auto $37,990
Zetec TDCi hatch 2.0L T/D 6-speed auto $39,990
Titanium hatch 2.3L pet 6-speed auto $42,990
Titanium TDCi hatch 2.0L T/D 6-speed auto $45,990
XR5 Turbo hatch 2.5l petrol/turbo 6-spd manual $44,990
Source: JUST CARS, October 2009, Collectors Issue #164
