Category: Large Family 
Price Range: No data available
Great drive, good quality, value for money, lots of luggage space.
Auto's low-speed clunkiness, poor fuel economy and emissions.
What the Estate lacks in cleverness it makes up for in space.
Refinement is better than ever, with impressively low noise levels even on rough roads. The suspension soaks up ruts and bumps without a trace of pitch or wallow on fast corners. As a passenger, you'd be hard pressed to believe this is a mainstream Ford.
The standard suspension set-up is so good that there's really no need for the optional IVDC (Interactive Vehicle Dynamics Control) with its Sport, Normal and Comfort modes. The default setting on this system really does have it all covered, without compromising sporty handling, unless you really do prefer a firmer, stiffer ride. Self-levelling suspension is optional in the estate but, again, it's not necessary.
We'd also avoid the optional sports suspension, despite costing a modest £150 because it just removes much of the suppleness and then adds harshness to the ride.
The Mondeo is larger than before, especially width-wise. It's now a similar size to the old Scorpio, and a very roomy car indeed. There's plenty of rear legroom and space for adults to stretch out in the back. You get loads of luggage space in all versions - so in years to come, the minicabbers will love this.
Although the estate may look less practical than before, with its sloped rear pillar, wraparound glass and fake spoiler there's actually even more load bay capacity than in the previous model: 1,745 litres with the rear seats folded.
These seats fold completely flat, with their bases tumbling forwards and there's no need to remove or adjust the headrests. All the seats are well shaped and supportive (and multi-adjustable in higher-spec versions), and low-set compared to those of the Galaxy and S-Max. You are never short of headroom.
Ford's not going to offer stripped-out cheapo versions this time around - even entry-level Edge versions now have air conditioning. There's a choice of cabin finishes, from a nice plain black with silver detailing to lighter beiges and the rather tacky fake-wood Ghia.
Useful touches include a large glovebox, an iPod-compatible input socket for the audio system, plenty of cupholders, stowage compartments and cubby holes and 12-volt power sockets. Depending on version and options chosen, you can also have Bluetooth-compatible phone connections, voice-activated controls, an ignition button, touchscreen satellite navigation and more. All this is easily controlled via Ford's new HMI (Human-Machine Interface) control system, with a keypad on the steering wheel rather like the menu options function on a mobile phone.
