Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi ECOnetic

‘Eco’ version promises green new angle on traditional family saloon

Believe it or not, big isn’t always best. Although practical, large cars usually come with thirstier engines and higher running costs. So the Mondeo ECOnetic is intended to provide the best of both worlds with its 1.8-litre diesel engine, aerodynamic tweaks, higher gearing and low rolling-resistance tyres all designed to make the model more affordable to family buyers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

What these changes can’t do, however, is shrink the Mondeo’s vast dimensions. Incredibly, it’s both longer and wider than the seven-seater S-MAX, so it requires care to thread the hatchback through narrow streets. And it fills a standard parking space, leaving little room for manoeuvre in crowded supermarket car parks.

The sleek bodywork conceals a huge boot, though, and there’s ample room for shopping. The 528-litre load area trumps those of both the Kuga and Focus Estate. If you fold the rear seats the maximum boot length of 1.7 metres is also impressive. Inside, rear legroom is generous, exceeded only by the S-MAX with its sliding bench.

The Mondeo will also be relaxing on any lengthy trip. Thanks to ultra-long gearing, the five-speed ECOnetic is both comfortable and quiet at motorway cruising speeds – only the people carrier produces less noise here. Hit the town, and the Ford is less impressive, as its tall gearing requires constant changes if you don’t want to get left behind in stop-start traffic.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

The engine bogs down easily at low revs, and edging out of junctions requires concentration from the driver in order to avoid stalling altogether. However, the trade-off should come at the pumps. Our figure of 37.4mpg was some way short of Ford’s combined-cycle claim of 53.3mpg, but at least buyers can still benefit from the official emissions figures. The ECOnetic produces CO2 at the rate of 139g/km, which is impressive for a car of this size. That’s 10g/km less than the standard model’s output and enough to place the big hatchback in band C for road tax. Even so, its annual bill of £120 is much more than the £35 for the diesel Focus.

Another compromise is that the low rolling-resistance tyres reduce cornering grip, affecting braking performance. The front end lacks the initial bite and outright traction of regular models. It still has sharp steering and a poised chassis, but the fun factor is reduced and the Focus is much more entertaining to drive.

Performance is also slightly blunted. While the Mondeo edged out our Focus from 0-60mph, the more responsive estate was half-a-second faster from 30-70mph. Is that enough to stop the ECOnetic winning here, or will its accommodating cabin see it crowned as the best family Ford?

Details

Price: £18,745
Model tested: Mondero Eco 1.8 TDCi
Chart position: 3
WHY: Normal’ family cars have to work hard to get noticed. So can green Mondeo grab new buyers?

Economy

The ECOnetic should have done well in the economy stakes, but in our test it didn’t match the smaller Focus at the pumps. It is the cheapest car here, though, and its reasonable insurance and maintenance bills should make the running costs easier to stomach. Road tax will cost only £120, too, yet the Mondeo’s weak residual values and disappointing fuel consumption leave it trailing. We would rather go for the standard model and save £250.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,513 off RRP*Used from £5,500
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £18,900
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025