Ford Mondeo (00-06)

Quick summary

Fifth Gear says:
Average. Still a great drive, but now rather dated. Depreciation is scary unless you secure a big discount.

Breakdown

Styling

Time hasn't been kind to the Mondeo's styling - looks dated compared to more modern competitors.

Handling

Like almost all of Ford's current range the Mondeo drives very nicely - plenty of grip and communicative steering.

Comfort

Good at soaking up serious mileage, thanks to a smooth ride and good noise insulation, but lacks the range of driving position adjustment offered by some rivals.

Quality + reliability

Durable and with a reputation for reliability, but most of the cabin feels very low-rent compared to more modern competitors.

Performance

Petrol engines lack urge and turn in indifferent fuel consumption figures. Diesels are better - but more powerful versions are too loud.

Roominess

Plenty of room for occupants in the back and a huge boot make the Mondeo a very sensible proposition - but there are few cubby holes or storage compartments in the cabin.

Running costs

Good on servicing andv - in diesel form - very economical, but the punishing depreciation really knocks the cost-per-mile figure.

Value for money

As a new purchase the Mondeo makes no sense without a very substantial discount. Nearly new it's a different proposition - with plenty of attractively priced year-old versions on the forecourts.

Stereo / Sat nav

Basic stereo looks very cheap but sounds good. More expensive Sony-branded versions are even better. Satnav is below average compared to more modern systems in rivals.

FIFTH GEAR ROAD TEST

Still a good car - but it's hard not to feel that its moment has passed. The Mondeo's image is sliding downmarket almost as rapidly as its collapsing residual values - its former core of fleet users migrating en masse into premium-badged cars like the BMW 3-series.

If you're not too worried about cost then there's still plenty to like about the Mondeo. Various chrome-adding facelifts haven't saved the exterior from becoming dated, but inside some new switchgear for ventilation and stereo raises the ambiance slightly. The driving position is too low for some people, but there's plenty of room for both front and rear seat occupants, and all versions have a generously proportioned boot.

Driving dynamics are still exemplary - precious little else in the segment has managed to get close to the Mondeo's combination of motorway refinement and genuine enthusiasm for back roads. The more basic petrol engines sound coarse, and the 2.5 and 3.0 litre V6s are thirsty and expensive. Diesel is definitely the way to go - and the most basic 113 bhp 2.0 TDCI engine offers decent pace and is noticeably quieter than the more powerful 128 bhp version. Alternatively, the 153 bhp 2.2 TDCI is loud but very rapid.

Factor money into the equation and the big Ford's case as a new purchase collapses as anything other than a company car - unless you secure a big discount. Plunging residuals mean the Mondeo sheds thousands of pounds during its first months of life, meaning that it only starts to make sense as a used buy.

Need to know

NCAP Rating

JD Power stars

Best models:
1.8 LX, 2.0L TDCi, ST220

Worst models:
None

Replacement Date: 2007


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