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New Mondeo shoot-out

Ford’s new Mondeo aims to appeal to fleets and families alike. We see if it can beat two key rivals

New Mondeo shoot-out

Photos: Pete Gibson September 2010

Since 2007, Ford has sold over 120,000 Mondeos in the UK – but the blue oval isn’t resting on its laurels. It has combined a new look with extra kit and revised engines for the fleet-car favourite.

The changes to the exterior and interior design are subtle, but under the bonnet there are some more serious improvements. Opt for a diesel and you can now specify the 2.2-litre TDCi, which complies with Euro V emission rules and promises to return 47mpg.

It’s also the fastest Mondeo diesel to date, with 197bhp and hot-hatch performance lurking under its unassuming exterior. But it’s not all about power, because driving dynamics and racy looks are equally important, especially to company car buyers who want to stand out from the crowd. And of course, the Mondeo isn’t the only choice, either...

With a talented chassis, sporty design and a punchy 177bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine, the Mazda 6 2.2D Sport offers an involving drive with frugal economy.

Our final contender is the Skoda Superb – a long-time favourite of ours and winner of this year’s Best Family Car trophy at our New Car Awards. It mixes the punch of a 170bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine with an
elegant and spacious interior, a sharp but refined driving experience and incredible value for money. So which of these three will top the podium?

For an alternative review of the latest Ford Mondeo visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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7 Comments

Depp

My God! What's wrong with you? Skoda Superb is your favourite? Miserabille. Look like shoes with rear door. Image, postcomunism cheap brand. In these compare, Mondeo is king. Shame you, Auto express. Who payed you?

By Depp1 on 24 September, 2010, 9:12am

Depp

My God! What's wrong with you? Skoda Superb is your favourite? Miserabille. Look like shoes with rear door. Image, postcomunism cheap brand. In these compare, Mondeo is king. Shame you, Auto express. Who payed you?

By Depp1 on 24 September, 2010, 9:15am

What did you expect...honestly.

They are vw's magazine in the U.K. I am saying it in the open, I think they should quit, they are miserable and not worthy...

Real ranking?

Anything other the butt ugly skoda. Really.

By giorikas81 on 25 September, 2010, 8:02am

Brian

I was thinking of changing to Skoda but after a 3K road trip round Germany I look forward to getting the new Mondeo to replace my Mondeo ST estate, 50 MPG at 90MPH on the Autobahns (60mph minimum),plus all my kit round the scottish Highlands in winter with 3 other team members and still plenty of room

By Brianroberts414 on 1 October, 2010, 9:55pm

Good tip guys. Now i can fix my

By princecasanova on 2 October, 2010, 4:03am

Good tip guys. Now i can fix my [url=http://www.familycar.com/autoparts/oxygen_sensor.html]oxygen sensor[/url] by myself. keep it up.

By princecasanova on 2 October, 2010, 4:03am

What!!!! Not the Blinkin Skoda!!!

This artical brings one foot in the grave to mind. "You Can't be Serious" Come on now. I believe that the skoda is a good car for what it was designeed for. Its a small cab. Cheap to buy, cheap to run and cheap to maintain. But calling it anything else is just not showing your brain cells are working, or maybe it shows that there is some type of back hander being gratefully received somewhere. I dont know which is true but, maybe someone needs to start thinking about a new occupation. Such as street cleaning, or window washing. Have another look at the ugly nasty Skoda, and tell us HONESTLY how you came to the conclutin it is the best.

By cabcaster on 5 October, 2010, 7:12am

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Full Car Reviews

Skoda Superb

1st Skoda Superb

Award-winning hatchback’s high standards make it a tough rival to beat
Mazda 6

2nd Mazda 6

Dramatic looks give it a visual edge – but can the Japanese car keep up on the road?
Ford Mondeo

3rd Ford Mondeo

Mild facelift and a powerful diesel give blue oval star a new lease of life
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Facts and Figures

Verdict

Buy any one of these cars and you’ll be happy, but one stands out as something special. Thanks to its blend of quality, equipment, economy, refinement and amazing value, the Skoda
Superb is our winner. Its styling continues to divide opinion, but there can be no arguments about the rest of the car, which makes up for any stylistic shortfall.
Choosing between the Ford and Mazda is no easy task. They are similar in character and evenly matched in terms of performance, looks and pace. But the high price of the Mondeo edges it into
third place, behind the 6. The Japanese car looks great, and the slightly gruff engine manages to keep the more powerful Ford in its sights. And in the end, the £4,350 cost saving is too much for the new-look Ford to make up.Don’t write off the Mondeo flagship, though. It’s great to drive, looks better than ever and comes with plenty of kit. But the new powerhouse 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel doesn’t add much to the driving experience. Choose the lower powered, and much cheaper, 2.0-litre version and the result could be very different...

Skoda Superb
The Superb has chalked up another comprehensive victory. Generous kit levels, a great engine, impressive handling, smooth ride comfort and class-leading value make it hard to ignore. Skoda’s customer care
is the icing on the cake.

Mazda 6 Sport
The revised Mazda 6 is a great family choice. It’s fun to drive, great to look at, impressively green and relatively affordable
to buy. The interior is dated, though, and it doesn’t match its main rivals in the crucial areas
of ride comfort or refinement.

Ford Mondeo
The best Mondeo yet, but its high price holds it back. Look past this and you’ll find a capable hatch that looks good and is punchy, refined, spacious and economical. But less powerful models are more appealing in the diesel range.

 
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