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10/06/2011
REVIEW By EWAN KENNEDY
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European Mondeos replaced Japanese Telstars in the Ford Australia stable in 1994. Sales were slow and Mondeo imports were discontinued in 2002. An all-new, larger Mondeo was deemed by Ford Australian to be more suited to local conditions so the nameplate was revived in October 2007. These later Mondeos have had more success than the original imports, but still haven’t set the sales charts on fire.
You can’t help but think that Mondeo’s biggest competitor was Ford’s own Falcon as the local car isn’t all that much larger than the Mondeo. A big feature of the Mondeo is its European style handling dynamics. This Ford appeals to the family-car owner who is looking for a bit more refinement and the added nimbleness resulting from lower weight. Fuel savings from four-cylinder engines is also part of the Mondeo versus Falcon equation.
The 2007 Mondeo was offered in a handy variety of body types: four-door sedan, station wagon and five-door hatchback that appeared to give buyers a good choice. But for some odd reason the stylists produced the hatches and sedans with virtually identical shapes resulting in Ford Australia stopping imports of the sedan midway through 2009.
Front-seat room is good in the original Mondeo series, but it’s necessary for those in the front to give up some space to provide good legroom in the back. But if you good space for four adults it’s necessary to go for the post-2007 cars. Indeed, there’s almost as much room in the Mondeo as in Falcon and Commodore and the lack of a large transmission tunnel means there’s decent foot space in the rear-centre position.
Boot room is good in all body variants, with the wagon having a usefully square shape that can swallow bulky items. Being of European origin, this Ford was one of the pioneers in using lap-sash seat belts in the centre-rear seat. These first appeared with the December 1996 facelift and may prove an invaluable safety feature for family-car buyers.
One problem with the original series Ford Mondeo is tyre noise on rough roads because of inadequate modification of the car to suit Australian road conditions. This was partly rectified with the 1996 revamp. These 1996 model Mondeos can be picked by their bigger headlights and tail-lights.
In four-cylinder engine form the earlier Ford Mondeos were somewhat down on power due to half-hearted engine modifications so it could run on low-octane Aussie fuel. However, the engine probably will prove adequate for many drivers. As always, take one for a decent test drive then make up your own mind. Don’t forget to carry a few passengers if that's the way the car will normally be used as the added weight can make a real difference.
Transmission options on the original Mondeo models are five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. The manual has a nice feel though it can be a bit baulky on occasions. The automatic, only sold with the four-cylinder engine, is nicely set up for the engine’s characteristics.
A 2.5-litre V6 was offered by Ford in Australia as an option from 2000. It was a sporting variant by Euro standards so was only sold with a manual gearbox. It has firmer suspension and is really pleasant to drive, but was never really a success.
The second Australian series Ford Mondeo, imported from Belgium since October 2007 have a 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. All models have a six-speed automatic transmission.
Best of all if you’re a keen driver is the Mondeo XR5 Turbo with a 2.5-litre straight-five engine, a six-speed manual gearbox, bigger brakes and firmer suspension.
Ford Mondeo is relatively easy to work on, but we suggest leaving safety items and electronics to the professionals.
Ford has one of the most widespread dealer networks in Australia, so getting parts and servicing is generally quick and easy. Spare parts prices are about average for a vehicle in the imported European class.
Insurance generally falls into the lowest range, though if your driving record is suspect you may be charged top dollar to cover the Mondeo XR5 Turbo.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Build quality isn't quite to Japanese standards so have a good look over the Mondeo's interior to make sure everything fits properly.
During your test drive listen for squeaks and rattles that may mean the car has been used extensively on unmade roads.
The engine should start pretty well straight away and idle smoothly the moment it fires up.
Any unevenness in the engine under acceleration is a cause for concern as it could mean the Mondeo is due for a major overall, though it might just be a tuning problem.
Feel and listen for manual gearchanges that aren’t smooth and quiet. Hard third-to-second changes are usually the first to play up.
On an automatic the transmission shouldn’t hold onto a lower gear for too long or hunt up and down unnecessarily through the ratios.
Check for crash repairs, most easily spotted by panels which don't quite fit or have a ripply finish. Also look for paint colours that don't quite match or for tiny spots of paint on unpainted surfaces.
CAR BUYING TIP
Keep an eye open for major advertising campaigns on new cars. This can lead to an oversupply of trade-ins and dealers may reduce prices to thin out their stocks.
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