The latest Mondeo is the best family car money can buy.
All-round refinement is definitely a Mondeo strong point. No rival cruises as comfortably at high speeds or deals with coarse surfaces so well. It even delivers a cosseting ride around town. Our first-off-the-line test car was also fitted with Ford’s Interactive Vehicle Dynamics Control (IVDC) electronic dampers. In short, it feels unflappable thanks to its awesome suspension control, which in turn inspires confidence. And with a body that’s 130 per cent stiffer than the old car, plus track width increased by 70mm, the Mondeo’s ability to entertain isn’t in doubt. It slices through corners, the steering is light yet extremely accurate, and unlike some rivals, it never feels heavy or cumbersome – quite an achievement given the hefty 1,615kg kerbweight of the test car. However, this also meant that, while the 2.0 TDCI 140 test car’s power and torque outputs are competitive, it doesn’t have particularly meaty mid-range response or crispness. Nor is the four-cylinder unit (likely to be the best-seller) the last word in smoothness or noise suppression. Mind you, on the move, the engine is only noticeable because there is barely a trace of wind or road noise.
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