Public Servant Lifestyle

"Wonderfully responsive steering and comfortably firm suspension, underpinned by what must be the best ever Ford chassis."

"Quite simply, superb! I must add my voice to that of the vast majority of the motoring press in praising Fords offering in what is perhaps today’s most competitive class. Wonderfully responsive steering and comfortably firm suspension, underpinned by what must be the best ever Ford chassis, conspired to produce a ride of rare quality, normally associated with much more expensive cars. The 1.8 petrol engine could perhaps have had a bit more grunt when pulling away at low revs but here I’m being picky, because it otherwise behaved flawlessly.

"Controls and instrumentation are all where they should be, with one minor irritation for me being the column mounted radio/CD control, which felt and looked like a bolt on after-thought. Firm, comfortable and electronically raising drivers seat in concert with fully adjustable steering wheel, ensure an excellent driving position and the acres of space available up front means that even the tallest driver is catered for. Special mention must be made of the manual gear shift, an absolute delight, slick and positive, feeling as if it will stay that way for years to come."

Equipment & Interior

"Plenty of airbags (6) and anti lock brakes are standard and the security is dealt with by an impressive collection of dead locks, alarms and immobilisers. Despite the huge space, taller rear passengers may still find head room a trifle tight but not excessively so, as rear comfort levels are on the whole good. Quality of interior finish is exceptional, easily matching that to be found in the Mondeos previously more prestigious, German rivals and clearly a major focus for the Ford design team. Cavernous boot space can be increased by folding the 60/40 split rear seats but I do wish they would fold flat instead of staying at an awkward angle. Whilst not generous, equipment levels are certainly adequate with CD player, air conditioning, electric windows, alloy wheels etc.

Value For Money

"Even with fairly high rates of depreciation, this Mondeo is an outright bargain over the mid to long term, especially with some of the discounts available. A 3 year warranty also eases a lot of concerns over mid term costs for potential mechanical problems and is a further demonstration of Fords own confidence in their creation."

Key Features

More information available in Test Drive