FORD MONDEO REVIEW

Ford continues to top the UK sales charts. However, this is largely down to its smaller models; in recent years the Mondeo has been squeezed by a shift in the company car market towards premium brands. This latest Mondeo not only has to compete with traditional rivals from Vauxhall and VW, then, but also the likes of the AudiA4 and BMW3-series. Is it a viable alternative to these desirable saloons? The Ford Mondeo is a huge car, so it can swallow five adults and their worldly possessions without breaking a sweat. Six-footers can stretch right out in both the front and the rear. Plus the boot is vast and well shaped, and there are lots of handy storage cubbies between the front seats. True, the hybrid is available only as a saloon, which means it has a comparatively small boot opening that limits what you can carry. But the other models in the range all have a hatchback-style opening that gives easy access. The Mondeo's suspension is able to smooth out the vast majority of bumps in the road, even when the car is fitted with big, 19-inch wheels.

What鈥檚 more, the seats remain comfortable for hours, and there鈥檚 a wide range of adjustment, including adjustable lumbar support for the driver (the front passenger gets this as well unless you choose the entry-level spec). Some tyre noise enters the car over poorly surfaced roads and the engine in the hybrid gets noisy when you put your foot down. However, the diesels are impressively smooth and few rivals are as good at shutting out wind noise. Most of the Mondeo鈥檚 functions are controlled through a large touchscreen that鈥檚 easy to read. Unfortunately, it鈥檚 not so easy to use, because some of the on-screen buttons are small and fiddly. As an alternative you can issue verbal commands using the standard voice control system, but this is rather limited. The Ford Mondeo has a precise gearshift and a light clutch with plenty of feel, so it鈥檚 an easy car to drive smoothly. The 150 diesel engine is strong enough to make the 180 feel redundant. And most versions of the car are available with the option of an automatic gearbox.

In fact, the only thing that's tricky with the Mondeo is parking. Its sheer size rules out plenty of spaces, while a steeply sloped rear window that looks like a pillbox slot from the driver鈥檚 seats also causes problems. The optional parking sensors are a must. If there's one car that disproves the notion that big family hatchbacks have to be dull to drive, the Ford Mondeo is it. It feels agile and responsive, while the steering is consistent in its response and reassuringly weighted. Only the hybrid model disappoints; the steering in this has a much stronger self-centring action that makes it hard to place the car accurately in corners. Like all new Fords, the Mondeo comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. This is nothing special by today鈥檚 standards, but it is in line with the cover you get with the rival Vauxhall Insignia and VW Passat. In addition, while the latest Mondeo is too new to have been included in any customer satisfaction surveys, the previous version performed well in the Warranty Direct Reliability Index, which is based on average warranty claims.

The 150 diesel is likely to be the biggest seller, and this returns up to 68.9mpg in Government tests. That鈥檚 slightly down on the 70.6mpg that the equivalent VW Passat delivers, but it matches the economy of the most efficient BMW 3-series, the 320d Efficient Dynamics. You get similar figures from the Mondeo hybrid (at least officially), although in the real world the hybrid is likely to be more efficient than the 2.0-litre diesel around town, but considerably thirstier on long motorway runs. The Mondeo is competitively priced and fuel economy and CO2 emissions are directly linked, so if you choose one of the more efficient Mondeo models, you鈥檒l be rewarded with a low company car tax bill. What鈥檚 more, Ford dealers are known for offering big discounts, so if you鈥檙e a private buyer who鈥檚 prepared to drive a hard bargain, you can get an awful lot of car for your cash. Just bear in mind that the Mondeo is unlikely to be worth as much as a VW Passat or one of the premium-badged alternatives when you come to sell it. Car crash test specialists Euro NCAP awarded the Mondeo their maximum five star rating.

But while it shaded the Volkswagen Passat for adult occupant protection, the VW received a higher child protection score, and the BMW 3-series performed better than the Mondeo in both areas. More positively, every Mondeo comes with a stability control system that can help you recover from a slide, and seven airbags are fitted as standard, including one beneath the steering column that protects the driver鈥檚 knees. Even the entry-level Style model comes with a decent amount of standard kit, including alloy wheels, a DAB digital radio, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and electric front windows. It鈥檚 worth upgrading to the ZetecMondeo if you can, though, because this brings electric rear windows, a quickclear heated windscreen and lots of styling upgrades that really lift the car鈥檚 looks. However, we wouldn鈥檛 bother with the Titanium X Pack; it might adds heated and electrically adjustable leather seats and keyless entry, but it also makes the Mondeo a bit too pricey. If you're a Google account login, just with a click of voting has been completed. Thank you for the help.