Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X

So good it won the coveted Car of the Year award in 2007, there’s no doubt the third-generation Ford Mondeo is a cracking car. But that’s not to say it’s faultless. One of our few criticisms surrounds its size – put simply, it’s too big. It’s larger than many executive cars, and on B-roads the nearside door mirror often brushes hedgerows, while the driver’s side wheels thump over cat’s eyes.

However, the load-lugger makes a much better fist of disguising its size than the hatch. It helped that our top-spec test car was fitted with £350 18-inch alloys and £150 privacy glass, while the estate body is handsome and well integrated.

The Mondeo could be more practical, though. Yes, the boot is huge, but where are the clever features that the Renault and Honda have in abundance? There’s no one-touch folding seat mechanisms, self-retracting load cover or electric tailgate, and as a result the Ford’s load bay is plain and less user-friendly.

But if sheer space is your main concern, then look no further. At 554 litres, the Mondeo falls 72 litres short of the Honda’s 626-litre boot volume, yet a clever suspension design means it’s 140mm wider. Rear passenger space is the best here, too, with 765mm of knee room, and it also has the most comfortable seats.

There’s no doubting that the designers focused most of their time and effort on the Mondeo’s driving environment. And they’ve done a great job – not only does the cabin look smart (if a touch glitzy), it’s also well laid out and comfortable. The electric seats may not adjust low enough, but they’re big and figure-hugging, and the driving position is commanding, despite the fact that the Mondeo feels a lot larger than either rival when behind the wheel.

That does at least enhance the sense of safety, something that’s backed up by a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Of course the penalty is a relatively high kerbweight – at 1,611kg, it’s nearly 100kg heavier than the Renault. Worse still, this automatic Mondeo only has 128bhp at its disposal, 10bhp less than the manual car.

As a result, it fell well short of the swift 173bhp Laguna, and a 0-60mph time of 10.3 seconds was nearly two seconds slower than the Renault’s. Nor was the TDCi unit as cultured as the French powerplant, as it became rough towards the top end of the rev range.

Provided outright speed isn’t a key concern, the Ford is very pleasant to drive. Power delivery is smooth and progressive, and the auto is slick, with a decent manual mode. However, be warned that running costs with the auto do suffer, due to higher CO2 emissions and lower economy.

But whichever Mondeo you opt for, you’re guaranteed a memorable driving experience. No family car can match its ride quality – it shrugs off poor road surfaces with ease. This ability was lessened on our car by the big wheels and optional £150 sports suspension, which also made it more susceptible to tramlining.

That aside, the Mondeo’s road manners were in a different league to its rivals. The immensely stiff body is free from noise and vibration, the controls are light and accurate, and it responds precisely to inputs, making it easy to place on the road.

It’s well equipped, but the Mondeo does look expensive here, although the manual Ghia version is priced closer to the Laguna at £20,900.

Details

Price: £24,195
Model tested: Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X
Chart position: 1
WHY: Our current favourite family estate, this model has diesel power and an auto gearbox.

Economy

As usual, the auto box undoes the diesel’s good work. In manual guise, and with an extra 10bhp, the Mondeo returns well over 40mpg. But this car struggled to top 35mpg, meaning annual fuel bills are roughly £500 more than the Honda’s.

Residuals

Big and handsome the new Mondeo may be, but it makes more sense as a second-hand purchase. In three years’ time, you should be able to pick up this model for less than £9,000, the previous owner having lost £15,364.

Servicing

The Mondeo’s service package looks rather old-fashioned. It has a mere 60,000-mile warranty, and as with the Honda needs an overhaul every 12,500 miles. Servicing costs are half those of the Renault’s, though.

Tax

Opting for the auto gearbox will push your tax costs up. The manual puts out more than 30g/km less and doesn’t cost as much to buy, either. The result is a saving of nearly £700 for higher rate payers.