Test drive Ford mondeo sedan 2003 - 2005 sedan

New line

Oh, this is not an easy restyling business. Especially if the source is already good. And the point here is not so much in the professionalism of designers, but that the audience has already managed to get used to the successful source, or even love him.



Ford Mondeo is really good. He was simply doomed to success, besides, the performance style was already running out on Focus. They could wait with restyling, models only three years, and she, as they say, is on the wave. Nevertheless, they did not put off.


Designers, not wanting to take risks, the appearance of Mondeo precisely what they have detached. As a result, only, perhaps, a person prepared will be able to immediately distinguish from the previous Mondeo novelty, which has been sold since mid -summer and travels around Moscow in immodest quantities. The changes touched the front bumper, where the fogans became triangular, the internal structure of the rear lights and rear -view mirrors, they are now larger and they introduced the turning pointers in them. Everything is outside.


What are other news? GHIA Executive and Sport are offered. Class D models in equipment and comfort are increasingly pulling up to a business class, which, by the way, also does not stand still and approaches the representative. This explains the appearance of a more advanced exclusive configuration of GHIA. It contains even more wood and skin, ventilation of the seats (Mondeo in this sense, the first in the class) with ten electroregies, DVD for the rear passengers and the controller control mode of the machine gun. Sport is actually a relative sport. It differs from unsportsmanlike mondeo wheels, aluminum in the interior decoration and a spoiler on the trunk lid. It was in this version that we got the car, sports-red.


Equipment is a suitable 2.5-liter six in conjunction with six-speed mechanics. And, of course, 17-inch wheels with 225 tires. Prepared athlete. But not a professional, there is still ST220 in the family, it will be stronger. By the way, you can join the sport with both the station wagon and the hatchback.


About the interior, too, have not forgotten changes to eat here. In our case, the salon is black leather. There is no tree in sports, only aluminum plastic. The inserts are now on the console and on the doors. The central console itself looks different. The new climate control, simple and understandable, the new header of the stereo system. The heating buttons with an entered indication. Other materials of panels and casing. But again, they did without cardinal changes. Ergonomics remained on top. The steering wheel and electric chairs adjustable in the corner and depth will conveniently sit on the site of the driver anyone.


As for the motor, according to the Fords, it is finalized and improved, although this did not affect the numbers. Yes, and at the sensations too. Two years ago, we were already visiting Mondeo in a similar configuration. The engine still loves momentum and does not like to work in the innight. And this is perhaps the most suitable motor for Mondeo. The traction stock is at almost any speed, the solid sound of the six. Yes, and an adult appetite in the city turned out for twenty liters per hundred.


Six -speed mechanics, of course, sounds proud, especially since the same is installed on Focus ST170, and on the Mondeo ST220. But too often, you have to apply to the lever of the box in the city crowding the first two transmissions are short. And the sixth rather economical than a traction. True, they have a pleasure to work: short moves, clear inclusion. However, in my opinion, a five-speed machine would be much more appropriate here. With no less appropriate gear shifts on the steering wheel.


There were no changes in the chassis. And good. Mondeo behavior on the road, his reactions during management are still impeccable. The chassis is one of the best in the class. Sport is equipped with the so -called sports suspension, which means slightly lower and slightly tougher, not to the detriment of comfort.


I would like more brakes, although exactly the same, unchanged, is on ST220. The stability and thrust control system in the standard, which, given this filling and the features of the capital's winter, is very useful.

One of the innovations of Mondeo 130-horsepower 1.8-liter gasoline Duratec SCI (Smart Charyge Injection) with direct fuel injection. It is not so much more powerful as mediocre as more economical and environmentally friendly. However, the old motor was left, since the new to the Russian market will not be supplied for the well -known reason. The low quality of gasoline, which for direct injection engines is very destructive.


I must say that Mondeo, having matured, practically did not rise in price. Our Sport with all heating, skin, music and xenon costs 27 thousand euros. And the most sophisticated Ghia Executive 32 thousand euros. The initial price for Mondeo in the Core configuration is about 19 thousand euros.
 

Sergey Yakubov
 

A source: Motor magazine [April 2004]