Feature: The 4Car Top 10: Big, cheap estates

Ford Mondeo

The Mk2 Mondeo - much more stylish than the Mk1 and, we think, better-looking than the over-fussy new Mk3 as well - may sound like an uninspiring choice, but this really is a great car. Fun to drive, generally well-built and reliable, with a well-designed cabin and large load-bay: there's little to fault it on.

And it's cheap, too, with loads around to choose from - four-year-old 2.0 TD Zetec diesels (with alloy wheels, air con, a CD player and side airbags) look particularly good value at £5,000-£6,000.

The Mondeo has always had rewarding handling and even with the lowest-powered engines it's no dullard. We love the sported-up 2.2 ST TDCi (155bhp) but in truth, the workaday 2.0 TDCis (115bhp/130bhp) are more than adequate.

Road Test: Ford Mondeo (2000-2007)
Driven: Ford Mondeo SCi
Driven: Ford Mondeo TDCi (2001)

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