Ford Mondeo (2007-) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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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) adaptive set-up, with its Sport, Normal and Comfort modes - the default setting 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 really necessary.

The Mondeo is larger than before, especially width-wise: it's now a similar size to the old Scorpio, and thus a very roomy car indeed. There's plenty of rear legroom, space for adults to stretch out in the back, and 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 effect giving the impression of a raked rear screen, there's actually even more load bay capacity than in the exceedingly spacious previous model: 1,745 litres with the rear seats folded. These seats fold completely flat, with their bases tumbling forwards and 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, giving plenty of headroom as well as a less van-like feel.

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.