New Ford Mondeo Review

New Ford Mondeo Review


New Ford Mondeo Review

Watch our review of the 2015 Ford Mondeo.
http://www.testdriven.co.uk/2015-ford

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Music: “Cold Funk” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b


Content

10.65 -> Although the new Ford Mondeo is only just now arriving in the UK, it's already been
15.42 -> on sale in the US for the last three years as the Fusion.
18.55 -> There it sells only in saloon form, but here we get primarily hatchback and estate body
23.93 -> styles, with the saloon reserved for the hybrid model.
27.22 -> Although the delay may mean the new Mondeo isn't as striking as it perhaps might have
31.619 -> been, Ford say they've used the time to fill the new Mondeo with some of their latest gadgets,
35.989 -> such as their new pedestrian detection system, an inflatable rear seat-belt, and their new
40.39 -> Dynamic LED headlights that alter their pattern according to speed, light levels, distance
45.12 -> from the vehicle in front and other parameters.
47.86 -> Physically, the new Mondeo is bigger than before - in fact, even the hatchback model
52.76 -> is longer than most competitors' estate models - but its design manages to hide its size
57.04 -> quite well.
59.57 -> Cabin space is generous, and the high belt-line gives a sense of security, although the thick
64.22 -> A-pillars can restrict the driver's view at junctions.
68.46 -> Dominating the cabin design is Ford's new Sync 2 system, which uses an eight-inch colour
73.13 -> touch-screen that's standard across the range.
76.13 -> Its interface is split into four zones, and although it provides fairly efficient access
80.08 -> to most functions, the layout isn't always that intuitive.
84.32 -> We also found that the heavily angled screen was easily affected by sunlight and reflections.
90.36 -> Navigation is standard on Titanium models, but can be added to lesser grades for the
93.84 -> commendably low sum of £300.
96.5 -> Titanium models also get a new TFT instrument cluster that can display a range of data including
102.56 -> navigation instructions, while lesser models have more conventional gauges.
107.93 -> Rear seat passengers will find there's plenty of leg- and foot-room, although the sloping
111.55 -> roof-line can eat into headroom.
114 -> We also found it affected rearward visibility for the driver, too.
117.47 -> If you're particularly protective of your passengers, you can add Ford's new inflatable
121.729 -> rear seat-belts for just £175.
125.78 -> Luggage space is good, with up to 550 litres depending on whether you have a spare wheel
130.06 -> or not, rising to 1,466 litres with the seats folded.
135.239 -> Estate models boast up to 1,630 litres, although this is still less than, say, a Mazda 6.
143.03 -> From launch, three diesel engines will be available, starting with a 1.6 with 115PS,
148.689 -> plus two 2.0-litre units with 150 and 180PS.
152.129 -> A pair of petrol EcoBoost units are also available, a 1.5 with 160PS and a 2.0-litre with 240PS.
161.48 -> Following later in the year will be a new 1.0-litre EcoBoost plus a high-powered twin-turbo
166.18 -> diesel with 210PS, as well as a series of all-wheel-drive models.
170.34 -> There's also a hybrid that combines a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with an electric
175.62 -> motor and lithium-ion battery, but that's mated exclusively to a CVT auto which we're
180.499 -> not fans of.
181.499 -> Emissions and economy are decent, the 1.6 diesel recording 94 g/km and up to 78.5 mpg,
182.499 -> although you're unlikely to get anywhere near that in the real world.
183.499 -> We spent most of our time behind the wheel of the 2.0-litre diesel units, and two things
186.56 -> struck us about the pair of them.
188.42 -> Firstly, they are both a little lethargic, and despite creditable on-paper performance
193.379 -> figures - the 180PS unit sprints from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds - in the real world they just
199.68 -> don't feel that quick.
201.059 -> Part of this is perhaps due to the rather tall gearing they've been given, presumably
206.109 -> in the interests of achieving low CO2 figures, but this relegates sixth gear to little more
211.029 -> than a motorway overdrive ratio.
213.51 -> Secondly, all the engines we tried were incredibly refined with all mechanical noises well isolated
219.529 -> from the cabin.
221.62 -> In fact, that's something that's true for the new Mondeo in general, with wind and road
225.48 -> noise both well suppressed, thanks to a new rear suspension set-up and additional sound
229.92 -> proofing.
231.709 -> The 2.0-litre is particularly easy to drive, and it includes a neat anti-stall function
236.099 -> that raises the revs slightly as soon as you begin to lift the clutch pedal, and this combines
240.379 -> with the hill-holder function to make hill starts a doddle.
243.93 -> The 1.6 is a little trickier to get moving from an incline though, as at low revs it's
249.269 -> rather lacking in torque.
252.18 -> It's on the motorway, though, that the new Mondeo begins to shine.
255.93 -> Combine the impressive noise isolation with the Mondeo's excellent ride quality, and you
260.061 -> have a car that will happily eat up the miles, and it even deals well with cat's eyes and
264.19 -> other large surface imperfections.
266.949 -> Unfortunately there is a trade-off, and in this case it's the handling.
271.46 -> The previous Mondeo was a well-regarded driver's car, but this new model seems to have rounded
276.18 -> off the edges just a little too much.
279.279 -> The majority of the blame for this is likely to fall on the new electric power steering,
283.65 -> which does rob the driver of most of the available feedback, and also has a curious uneven response
288.93 -> just either side of the straight-ahead position.
291.259 -> We also noticed a tendency to drift sideways in the wet in response to mid-corner bumps.
298.23 -> Prices for the new Mondeo start at £20,795, with the anticipated big seller, the 2.0-litre
304.37 -> Titanium weighing in at £24,245.
309.24 -> Estate models add around £1,200 on average, while the hybrid is yours for £24,995.
315.93 -> That makes it significantly cheaper than a BMW 3-Series, the biggest seller in this segment,
321.28 -> and you'll need to spec a 320d to well over £31,000 to match the Ford's spec.
327.3 -> Of course, the new Mondeo isn't as engaging to drive as its German rival.
331.27 -> Nor, arguably, is it as engaging as its predecessor.
334.99 -> But it is now a remarkably refined beast, and represents far greater value for money.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RMj2_Jz6v4