Test drive Ford mondeo sedan 2003 - 2005 sedan

Save better in rain

It seems that it has recently debuted the new Ford Mondeo, but since then three years have passed - just the time when, according to the rules of a good car tone, the appearance and filling of the model should be slightly refreshed. There is no question of restyling or facelifting - despite the amorphousness of these terms, the Fords escaped the temptation and talk about evolution. This is more than restyling, or less, it is difficult to judge. Especially when you hear about one and a half thousand changes.
Big - means respectable!
In general, European Fords have an image of reliable and inexpensive mass cars, primarily compact. But the flagship of the lineup, surpassing the dimensions of the DRM DRIMMEL frame, should look accordingly, giving the owner a sense of respectability at every gaze and touch. And this is absolutely fair - I remember what a simpleter a year ago a big, but modestly equipped Ford Mondeo on a comparative test with a rich Toyota Avensis.
And so I stand in front of the updated Mondeo and mentally bend my fingers, counting the differences. The radiator cladding shone with chromium (in the ST220 style), and in expensive modifications - and inserts on the bumper, under the glass of glazing, door handles. They also had lanterns at the bottom of the external mirrors. By the way, the mirrors themselves became noticeably larger. Another pattern of the rear lights, and the side repeaters are now white.
The body flowers are supplemented by four more - Octane Blue, Deep Rosso Red, Platinum and Tonic, Deep Navy, respectively, shades of blue, red, platinum and emerald.
There are much more changes inside the cabin, which has become tangibly richer. This applies not only to materials, but also to equipment. In the decoration, soft, pleasant to the touch plastic, in expensive versions - leather, wood, aluminum prevail. For the first time in a car of this class in front, chairs can be installed not only with heating, but also with the ventilation system. However, equipment is a separate conversation, there will not be enough fingers on the legs.
Order music!
The Ford Evolution got here. There was a navigation system with a colored touch display, entertainment complexes for the rear passengers. In addition to proprietary audio equipment, Premium class devices are now available, designed together with Sony: with a six-disks CD changer and a CD player also operating in MP3 format. Systems are equipped with digital processors and, in addition to ordinary functions, allow, for example, to listen to the disk through four two -component speakers at the same time, and some of the passengers - a radio receiver through headphones. Also for the first time, rain and illumination sensors were introduced on the European Ford.
Along with the Ambiente, Trend, Ghia and ST220 sets, two new ones appeared. The richest is Ghia Execu -Tive (in Russia it is called Business Pack) with a leather salon, alcantara, wooden inserts on the steering wheel. Another, Sport is a low sports suspension, 17 -inch alloy wheels and a richly equipped salon. The universals of this configuration are equipped with an independent road clearance of the rear suspension. In general, Mondeo not only came in, but also gained intelligence.
Very direct injection
Of course, evolution did not bypass the power units. However, here it is just more appropriate to talk about the revolution - for the first time a car with a blue oval received a gasoline engine with direct fuel injection into the cylinders. A 1.8 liter unit is built on the basis of a 16-valve Duratec engine. The main differences are the changed head of the block, in which four nozzles are now located; pistons with recesses, providing layer -by -layer mixture and, accordingly, the ability to work on super -ind mixtures; New adjustable intake manifold with a recirculation system and graduation with two neutralizers and a nitrogen oxide trap. Well, of course, the fuel system with a single -piston pump, which creates a pressure of about 120 bar in the ramp - about the same, only at ten times larger pressure, the diesel Common Rail also works. The novelty that fits into the promising norms of the Euro IV was called SCI - Smart charge Injection, which can be translated as an intellectual injection system.
The two hundred -kilometer test route in the vicinity of Cologne upset almost incessant rain, but presented a surprise - the arrow of the fuel level barely moved away! However, there are no miracles here, the weather made the weather carefully, and the lean engine demonstrates its best qualities just during measured driving. In such modes, fuel consumption is reduced by 15-20%, in more dynamic standard sled cycles-by 6-8%. Unlike competitors working on gasoline with an octane number of 98, the Ford Motor with direct injection is content with the 95th. However, they do not plan to supply Duratec SCI to Russia - cheap gasoline, but not always high quality, as well as liberal environmental requirements deprive the motor trump cards.
Six are better than five?
High efficiency is achieved not only by a direct injection system, but also by a mechanical six -speed gearbox Durashift MMT6. There are two different main pairs: for I-IV programs and, accordingly, V, VI and reverse. Compared to the previous five-speed MTX-75 box, the total gear ratio increased slightly, by 4-7%. But the sixth step, coupled with the long main pair, demonstrates a record small general attitude - 2.70. There is enough traction for uniform movement along the highway, but if you need to accelerate when overtaking or rebuilding, you have to switch. And if you took up the lever, it is better to immediately switch through the step - on the fourth to accelerate much more importantly.
In general, depending on the mood, two modes are possible: either you go, like everyone else, in the fifth gear or save fuel due to intensive work with your right hand through the VI-IV-VI algorithm.
However, a new box is aggregated with diesel engines or much more powerful engines V6 with a volume of 2.5 or 3.0 liters, and this is a completely different song. And it can already be ordered in Russia - along with the mind and solidity of Ford -Mondo.

It is easiest to identify the updated Ford Mondeo by chrome -based radiator cladding and angular fog lights.

The salon has become more refined, the site under the handle of the gearbox is visually combined with the central console.

The shape of the rear lights is slightly changed, and you can order religions from anodized aluminum on the station wagon.

The first Ford Motor with the direct injection of gasoline into the cylinders is a 1.8 -liter Duratec Sci.

The combustion chamber in the bottom of the piston.

Thanks to the three -winging design, the six -speed gearbox MMT6 is very compact.

Fuel nozzles are located behind (along the way) inclined, four -electrode candles are vertically.
  

Yuri Nechetov. Photo by the author and Ford

Source: The magazine "Driving"