15 Mar 02
Corners aren't going to slow you down much at all. This is not a small car, but its ability to make darting changes of direction without the body lurching and heaving is very impressive. It really is unexpectedly wieldy, and remarkably reluctant to run wide in a scrabble of screeching rubber. We tried damn hard, but flinging the ST220 hard into tight bends barely stirred the electronic stability control from its slumber. If all this sounds reckless, well, it does prove a point: the ST220 has massive reserves of roadholding and exceptional incident-avoidance abilities.
But it's also fun. The steering wheel moves with unusually well-oiled precision, as well as being accurate and confidence-inspiring. Couple this to the Mondeo's unruffled high-speed composure, it's ability to track accurately through a twisting ripple of bends and a potent, tuneful engine, and you have an unusually entertaining family car. And not one that turns wearing after the first 10 miles; the standard car's supple ride is largely preserved, and the overall noise level is pretty low, the odd thumping tyre apart.
Happily, the ST220's battle dress is relatively subtle. Deeper bumpers, more assertive air intakes, slightly flared front wheel-arches, sill skirts, 18 in alloys and what Ford calls a 'razor lip spoiler' on the rump of the four- and five-door versions mark it out from lesser Mondeos, but not too brashly. The saloon, incidentally, is marginally the most aerodynamic of the trio.
Inside, there's a high-gloss dark wood finish that's not unpleasant, a few flashes of aluminium and a choice of leather trim colours that includes a very sudden red - a cabin colour Ford doesn't reckon it's used since the early Mustang. It sounds awful, but looks warm, inviting and quite classy - as is the interior as a whole.
ST220 buyers will enjoy a fairly generous kit count that runs to six airbags, electronic stability control, powered and heated front seats, leather trim and an in-dash six-CD autochanger. Satellite navigation is an option.
The ST220 will be a relatively rare animal, with few competitors. Among them are the Honda Accord Type-R, Alfa 156, MG ZT, Volvo S60 T5, VW Passat V6 4Motion and, if you can afford the extra for the equivalent power, the Audi A4 and BMW 330. But BMW and Audi apart, cars like this don't sell in quantity, which is why Ford reckons it will shift no more than 4000 or so ST220s in the UK yearly. But it deserves a wider audience, we reckon: few cars at the price (expected to be £21,000-£22,000) offer such an appealing blend of entertainment, civility and convenience. Along with the Focus ST170, this is one of the best fast Fords yet.
