 Seriously, says Byron Mathioudakis, the next best five-seater after this $30K Euro
Ford costs $60,274…
Surely you’re not
talking about the same medium sized Ford from the 1990s?
No, this
one is two generations newer. And it’s a cracker!
How? It’s just a
Ford, right?
It’s all
got to do with the brilliant BMW 3 Series. That car and its ilk have decimated
sales of mainstream sedans in Europe. So Ford has risen to the challenge by
creating a car at least as good for a
fraction of the cost. So the Mondeo looks and feels expensive inside and out,
and is a revelation to drive.
Sounds spiritual.
Please explain.
Well, for
starters, Ford created a super-stiff structure, and then fitted sophisticated
multi-link suspension – the sort you find under BMWs and Mercedes – that
provides incredible stability, control and grip. Then it nicked the sweet
four-cylinder engine out of the Mazda 6, and packaged the lot in a silent,
spacious and beautifully made body.
Sounds to good to be
true…
Yes, it
does. The catch is you’re driving BMW/Mercedes level of engineering, but in a
car wearing the blue Ford badge. For some people, that’s a turn-off.
But doesn’t Ford
make some other great cars too?
Absolutely.
The Fiesta, Focus, Falcon, and Territory are all at or near the top of their
respective classes.
Right, so why don’t
more people appreciate Fords?
Precisely,
and this is why Ford has had to go the extra mile (or 10) to make the Mondeo
the absolute standout medium-sized car you can buy right now. Against the Toyota
Camry, the Mondeo feels miles better. Only the Mazda 6 comes close to matching
its steering precision and wonderful handling, while the Ford is alone in
cocooning you in silence and safety.
And the Mondeo
doesn’t scrimp on anything?
Besides
brand kudos, no. You get stability control, a full suite of airbags and a
smooth, six-speed automatic gearbox, plus electric windows, central locking,
air-conditioning, and tonnes of space.
The base
model costs $29,990. More money buys you a slick and hyper-economical diesel,
plus the choice of a five-door hatch if the sedan isn’t your cup of tea. And if
you’re a performance head and the diesel is too green for you, there’s always
the XR5 Turbo, featuring a Volvo five-cylinder engine.
But the Mondeo
surely can’t be perfect…
Of course
not. We found the air-con a bit feeble in really
hot weather; the cruise control doesn’t hold your desired speed down a steep
hill (most cars can’t though); and the Mondeo’s rear vision is hampered by its
big butt.
Hmm… and all for
Toyota Camry money you say?
Can you
believe it? We reckon the Ford Mondeo is an incredibly rounded family car that
drives like a sports sedan and rides like a Euro luxury vehicle.
So what costs
$60,274?
The
Mercedes C220 CDI!
Enough said.
10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE…
2008 Ford MA Mondeo
Price: From $29,990 (LX); Zetec: $34,990
Engine: 2.3-litre DOHC 16V four-cylinder petrol
Power/Torque: 118kW @ 6500rpm/208Nm @ 4200rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
How’s it go: 0-100km/h: 10.2 seconds, 207km/h V-max
What it costs the earth: 9.5L/100km/CO2 emissions: 227g/km
Alternatives: Toyota Camry, Subaru Liberty, Mazda6, BMW 320i, Mercedes C200 Kompressor, Audi A4 2.0
Likes: Handling, steering ride, space, value, looks, subtlety
Dislikes: Air-con hot-weather performance, cruise control won’t hold down hills
Out of 5 Stars: 5
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