More than one in ten Australian new cars sales are currently going to mid-size vehicles, and while the Toyota Camry is the runaway dominant player in our local market segment, in Europe it has been Ford’s Mondeo that has enjoyed enviable sales success, particularly in the UK.
The new Mondeo returned to Australia this year and the all-new local lineup includes the entry-level LX sedan, Zetec (sedan or hatchback), diesel-powered TDCi (sedan or hatchback) and the sporty XR5 hatchback.
Safety is a strong point with the Mondeo boasting a five-star rating and standard fitment across the range of seven airbags (including a drivers’ kneebag), ABS antilock brakes, stability control and electronic brake assistance.
Styling has been widely acclaimed – the Mondeo proudly shows its European heritage and looks deceptively larger than some of its rivals – the combination ensuring you secure some real ‘cred’ in the carpark.
Inside, it is a similar story with all models nicely kitted-out, providing a quality look and feel. Interior space is also abundant – particularly in the front seats – and the trunk in both the sedans and especially the hatch is impressively large.
Mondeo’s range-topping XR5 Turbo is the sporty member of the family. The XR5 is powered by the same 2.5-litre DOHC turbo engine fitted to family stablemate the Volvo S40 T5 – it’s good for 162kW at 5000rpm and 320Nm between 1600rpm and 4000rpm.
XR5’s show-off 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, sports suspension and instruments and the now common keyless start system.
The TDCi Mondeos share their 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with models from Volvo, Peugeot and Citroen. A modern European turbo-diesel, it delivers 96kW of power and 320Nm of torque under normal driving. Under full-throttle (such as highway overtaking) the engine provides a useful over-boost function which makes an extra 20Nm of torque available.
Zetec models have impressive extra specifications including rain-sensing wipers and dual-zone climate control air-conditioning.
If you need to frequently carry loads, the hatchback Mondeo models would be recommended as the clever hatch design has a very low lip. Unfortunately the opposite is true for sedan models which make loading complex due to a high lip on the boot.
Mondeo’s success in Europe is not a fluke – people considering a mid-size vehicle must have a long look at Ford’s new star.
