January 2008

It has only been on sale since last summer, but the fourth-generation Mondeo is already changing people’s perception of Ford’s family car. The blue oval wants its hatch to be a viable alternative to more upmarket brands such as VW and even BMW, and is hoping the improved quality will propel the car several rungs up the ladder.

One of the most important decisions Ford made was to dramatically revamp the Mondeo’s looks. The result is the ‘kinetic’ styling that has attracted much attention. We’re using an entry-level Edge model for our pictures – the Ghia version we tested comes with a sportier looking grille, foglights, colour-coded door handles and stylish alloys. It’s not as neat or sporty as the Mazda, but that doesn’t prevent it from having real presence on the road – and it’s helped by its sheer size. It’s nearly as large as a BMW 5-Series and is the longest and widest car on test.

This is good news for passengers, and with the largest wheelbase here, it’s no surprise that the Mondeo has bags of legroom in the back. There’s more shoulder room for three and better headspace, too. Overall it’s the most spacious and comfortable of the three, and it also boasts a huge boot.

Up front, the driving position is excellent, thanks to a low-slung seat and a wide range of reach adjustment on the steering column. The wheel is great to hold, while the metal inserts give it a sporty touch, as does the silver trim on the centre console. Small details, such as the neat circular air vents and soft-touch dash, add to the premium feel, although it can’t quite match the quality of the Passat.

But it’s the driving experience that really stands out. Few rivals in the class can come close to the accomplished and comfortable high-speed cruising ability, or cabin insulation. Considering the Ford and Mazda share the same platform, it’s surprising how different they feel on the move.

Refinement is a Ford strong point, and the Mondeo remains superbly composed in all situations. It corners with minimum fuss, due in part to a body that’s 130 per cent stiffer than its predecessor’s, while the accurate steering inspires confidence. In fact it is incredibly agile, which is even more impressive when you consider that it’s the heaviest car here.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine certainly isn’t the pick of the range, but it’s smooth and quiet, if not particularly powerful. At the test track, the Mondeo was the slowest to complete the 0-60mph sprint in 9.2 seconds, while in-gear performance was also the most sluggish of the three. The Ford is hampered by its lack of torque, with only 185Nm compared to the Passat’s 280Nm. Thanks to the slick gearbox things never become too strained, but overtaking manoeuvres require more forward planning. This doesn’t detract from what is a fine motorway car, though, despite its lack of a sixth gear.

What does soften the blow is the price. At £18,445, the Ford is great value and undercuts the Mazda by around £1,200. It’s not as well equipped as its rival, but still comes with a decent amount of standard kit, including cruise control, a CD changer and multifunction steering wheel. An extra £1,000 for the optional sat-nav is also reasonable compared to most manufacturer prices. But will this be enough to compensate for its lack of power compared to both rivals?

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