Test drive Ford Mondeo sedan since 2007 sedan

Super-Mondeo

This Ford is only more than you could expect
What could the owner of the second last generation Ford Mondeo dream about? About an even more comfortable, spacious and fast car. To get all this, from now on it is not necessary to change either the brand or even the model: the new Mondeo is endowed with the desired qualities, it seems, with excess. At the same time, the car did not lose the main advantages that were famous for: it still pleases with friendliness to the driver and excellent handling. That is, the companies managed to create a super-mondeo, offer customers a kind of embodiment of a dream. And the inevitable look at competitors forced the design engineers to sweat seriously to add something new, original to the usual gentleman's set of relatively affordable auto business class.
Size matters
In this case, the size has, I would say, special, key importance. First of all, the wheelbase of the new car compared to the predecessor is increased by as much as 96 mm. The front track (when installing compact tires 205/55 R 16) became wider than 67 mm, the back is 68 mm. It is clear that this in the most favorable way affected the running qualities of the behavior of the machine in the line and in corners. There is no need to talk about the internal space, since the Mondeo body has become noticeably longer, wider and higher. He clearly reduced class D, settling in the class of E.
However, what is the matter to the creators, and even more so consumers to the classification out of the last century in the last century? It is much more important that Mondeo is now more than Toyota Camry, probably, the most important competitor. It is 79 mm wider and higher than the Japanese car, and the longest of the bodies of the sedan surpasses the Camry by this indicator by as much as 324 mm! What is Camry new Mondeo 64 mm wider than Mercedes E-class! And the same sedan is only 12 mm inferior to the German car in length.
Therefore, the third Mondeo is not related to the second anything but the name. Naturally, he grew up from old clothes, and resembles the predecessor no more than a tiger a home cat. For me, so the suit was not bad before, but now it seems to be obligated for better quality of life. It is strict, mathematically verified, every detail has been worked out and is located in place, not a single extra stroke its appearance is finished, logical and understandable as the Pythagoras theorem. However, I would never refuse the exterior in certain emotionality, he is emphasized dynamic and solid at the same time. Outwardly, Mondeo is simply obliged to please people with different tastes. Plus, the potential owner has the opportunity to experiment with the front -line design of the false radiator grille and air intake for different versions is not the same; The client can choose ordinary or bixenon headlights, various wheel wheels, some of the numerous options, finally.
Actually, the new Mondeo is three types of hatchbacks, sedan and station wagon, five versions of decoration and equipment (including Ghia X and Titanium x), and 54 configuration options. All this diversity, without any exceptions, will be offered by Russian dealers. Personally, I, by the way, least of all I liked the sedan. No, it does not look too bulky thanks to kinetic design. But, for my taste, hatchback with a compartment-shaped roof and an elegant station wagon are still more harmonious products. I suspect that the sedan was made mainly taking into account the originality of consumer tastes in Russia and some countries of the East. Europeans would be quite enough a hatchback with a station wagon.
Talk about the trapezoidal front end or the original rear lamps resembling bee honeycombs, this time I will not become a reader about the details of the details from photographs. I will turn to the interior where there is a lot of interesting things.
The smell of quality
The car class is determined, of course, not only in overall dimensions. For example, I had a chance to travel not so long ago on some new cars of Chinese and even Korean production, which I sought to leave as soon as possible in the salon, as if in the workshop of the chemical plant. Let the plastic are hard, but why should it be carried by acetone from it? As from the LG TV, acquired by the editorial office obviously by misunderstanding
In the Ford Mondeo salon and a sensitive perfumer nose should not find annoying notes. The smell of noble skin may be present here, but in the most modest version the plastic is soft and not a smell, like all other decoration materials. Because the company strictly follows the norms of Allergy-Tested Interior (salon, tested for the lack of allergens). And this is by no means a trifle.
Since we are talking about the air, I will say that only the Ambiente version is equipped with air conditioning, all the others have a two-zone system for a driver and the front passenger of the climate control. And in GHIA and Titanium there are in addition to deflectors in medium racks, providing better ventilation of the rear of the cabin. The climatic installation works very efficiently, which was verified immediately upon arrival at Olbia Airport (Sardinia). Although on the island in those days it was slightly cooler than in Moscow, which was exhausted by the stuffiness, the cars on the asphalt platform were thoroughly warmed up, it was inside, like in a stove. Having launched the engine, I jumped off the black leather screening seat. But when, after a few minutes, he plunged into it again, the upholstery managed to cool, and breathed easily in the cabin.
The first sensation that turned out to be not deceiving at all: it is damn convenient for me in this chair! Because I immediately felt the back with both the lower back and the shoulder blades, and on the sides there were large rollers that would not have to be too strained even in steep turns. And legs: they settled freely on a long pillow, and should not get tired on a long trip. Yes, this is precisely a chair, and not a semblance of a stool, as in many cheap cars; Not too soft, but not at all tough. And the widest range of electro -regulations along with the ability to take on and lower the steering wheel, I love to sit down lower to the idea of \u200b\u200ba premium product. Moreover, I started with a modest version of Trend. Obviously, in honor of the running presentation and it was endowed with some options, including the memory of the driver's seat and side mirrors.
So, I got a job as I wanted, almost on the floor, and I see everything around perfectly. Even noticeably mowed front racks do not interfere with the review too much, and an intra -sulfate mirror and unexpectedly large side mirrors allow you to track the situation around the car without straining. Such a sports landing, not too much in diameter, a 4-spite steering wheel, as well as steel decor elements present in this version, create a pleasant feeling that you are really in the cockpit. This feeling is even stronger in machines equipped with a key access system and the Ford Power button for starting and stopping the engine. In general, I wanted to immediately move on the road. But for this it was necessary to reset the odometer before not to go astray. So I had to get acquainted with the HMI system of a man-machine, already partially known to me from S-Max and Galaxy models.
Honestly, I would prefer to just press the button on the instrument panel to lose extra kilometers. But then I had to manipulate the buttons on the mini-remote control under the thumb of my right hand. And it seems to be decisively nothing complicated four arrows, and in the middle of the OK, as on the Nokia mobile phone, which I have been using for several years. I entered the menu, which is displayed on the screen right in front of the eyes, on the instrument shield between the tachometer and a round speedometer truncated to a semicircle and choose the desired function. He chose, passing through a couple of a submenu, he pressed the right key, was dinked, and before his eyes, the same inscription approx. I click on the same key with a finger of any reaction. Somehow intuitively (rather by the method of poke), I think to click on the left arrow now everything is in order. In general, the instructions must be read
With the help of this HMI itself, you can control almost everything that is in the car with a radio receiver, navigation system, adaptive cruise control (ACC), a mobile phone, a cd changer, etc. The developers claim that it is easy to do. Perhaps, but on the go to use such a difficult interface from my point of view, I would not risk it.
Yes, the reader will forgive me, but I will not talk about the appointment of each button and the key in the cabin. I can only say that I did not have a single claim to ergonomics as a whole. As well as the quality of materials. And noise insulation without exaggeration at the level of the best premium cars. And with a tongue twister, in addition to the display on the shield, there is a large screen on the central console. Mondeo is equipped with numerous electronic systems, including assistance at the beginning of the movement on the rise (HLA), control of pressure in the tires and, of course, ESP and ABS. It installs eight airbags. Inside a huge number of compartments and niches. In the rear seats, folding in a ratio of 60/40, no less convenient than ahead. The luggage compartment in the sedan is 535 liters, in the hatchback 1448, in the station wagon 1745 liters, and this is with laid out seats. The neck of the gas tank has no traffic jam (EasyFuel system).
I listed, of course, not all worthy of attention, but do not blame me, and ask about the details of the specialist of the dealer center. It's time for me to say how Mondeo behaves on the road.
An example of obedience
I began a small journey through the mountainous north of Sardinia at the wheel of the most dynamic modification with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 5-cylinder 220-horsepower Duratec is well known and perfectly proven itself on Focus ST and S-MAX. He has long been successfully dragged by the heavy body of Volvo XC90 and the flagship Swedish sedan S80. The main advantage of the motor is that a low -pressure turbine provides maximum thrust in a wide range of revolutions. And this, how easily guesses, gives magnificent driver sensations. But with that in an inexperienced driver, such a power unit will not frighten a sudden jerk (as it would be in the case of a high -cost turbine), and will certainly please the sophisticated. A very reasonable choice for Mondeo, designed for a wide audience.
To enjoy dynamic driving, know yourself, climb the programs. In full accordance with the best Ford traditions, the KP handle has short and clear moves, and is located very conveniently, slightly higher than in the former Mondeo, right under the right hand. The clutch pedal is not tight and not long -term, however, it allows you to control the moment of picking up.
In the first section of the wide highway, I somehow very quickly got a boost to the sixth gear, confidently dispersed to the high-speed values \u200b\u200bprohibited in Italy. Big Mondeo behaved with the dignity of transcontinental express, and not thinking of getting off from a course on an even asphalt. At the same time, they did not penetrate into the salon at all! Quite expected aerodynamic noises. The climatic installation rustled barely audibly, at high speeds, the engine declared its existence, but the volume of the audio system was not required to increase. Yes, this is a business class, without any reservations. And it is not necessary to read a press release to understand that noise-absorbing materials, like rubber in subframes and silent blocks, are more than enough. Meanwhile, it was at this moment that I established himself in the opinion that the new Mondeo car is not only comfortable, but also quite soft. Therefore, the conversation is special about the suspensions, a little ahead. In the meantime, I will mention that at high speeds the steering wheel in the so -called near -mowl zone for my taste slightly does not get informativeness.
The foregoing does not mean at all that I remained unhappy with the settings of the steering opposite, they are worthy of all praise. And a slightly blurry zero with a marketing, and from a purely consumer point of view, perhaps justified, he can reduce the accidental mistake of an inexperienced driver, carried away by speed. And absolutely does not interfere with rapture to storm ligaments of the turns, which I became convinced very soon, moving on a serpentine.
But to begin with, I’ll say that the versions with a 2.5-liter engine are equipped with a hydraulic amplifier, all the others are electro-hydraulic. I personally did not feel much difference. In both cases, Mondeo demonstrated directly exemplary obedience. Less than three revolutions from the stop to the stop more precisely, 2.71 turnover of the lamb this is enough to give the steering wheel a sports peppercorn. Add to this a wide track, the ability of a power unit, a clear mechanics of the CP and low -profile rubber, and you can at least approximately imagine the impeccable behavior of the machine in corners. And the delight that can be tested when Mondeo, by creaking a little with tires, passes an arc on the verge. This creak, as well as the demolition of a very late, and with competent steering to the whole body, are quite predicted outside the turn.
The complaisance of character and the same impeccability of the manners overshadow, from my point of view, the settings of suspensions. They, these settings, are not bad, and not good, but some strange. I understand that a compromise between comfort and sports in such a model is necessary. But, you must admit, the whole thing is, due to which this has been achieved. I will not describe in detail the device of the front suspension (McEferson) and the rear, multi-link. I will just tell about subjective sensations. In the same turns, you are chatting in a good way, although in strictly defined limits: the body seems to be a little slightly, and then it seems to rest against some barrier. But such a slope is sensitive. In a striking way, these nods practically do not affect the behavior of the machine in the bundles of turns, only on the stomachs of the driver and passengers. And on the country roads, on which my colleague and I arbitrarily moved in an unscrupulous search for good and relatively inexpensive Sardinian wine, pit and potholes were transmitted to our bodies only in slightly obsolete sensations.
This I talked about a standard suspension. But there is another, with constant control of damping (CCD), in other words with changed the rigidity of shock absorbers. The driver can choose one of the three Comfort, Normal or Sport settings, the names of which speak for themselves. In any case, the system, according to engineers, constantly regulates the properties of shock absorbers in accordance with the current condition of the road and driving manner. Probably, the way it is, but even the Sport mode, speaking in truth, personally could not satisfy me. In subjective impressions, it differs little from the nature of the suspension without CCD.
Choice and prices
Of course, it was impossible to test all the versions with all possible engines in two incomplete days. As, unfortunately, I have nothing to say about the version with an automatic gearbox. So, after all, the car is worthy of that we return to the story of him more than once.
Obviously, modifications with 1.6-liter gasoline engines are designed for calm and economical people. Mondeo with a two -liter engine behaves quite decently, and even shows some sports habits. The 2.3-liter 161-horsepower power unit was promised later, by the end of the year. But the 140-horsepower turbodiesel made a good impression on me. He gives Mondeo with abuse and, moreover, has one undeniable advantage of efficiency. This option should be arranged, first of all, corporate customers. Moreover, the new generation of Mondeo with any engine promises an interval interval of 20,000 km. True, in the version with this diesel of vibration on the steering wheel and handle of the CP, it is still noticeable, although they cannot be called annoying them in any way. But where did the 2.2-liter turbodiesel disappear, in my opinion, very well proven itself on the previous Mondeo?
However, the choice of nine engines, we admit, is also not bad. And I will not be at all surprised if not only a 2.3-liter engine, but also a V6 with a volume of 3.0 or 3.2 liters will soon add to this range. But this is a matter of the future, as well as the withdrawal of version ST. In the meantime, there is no doubt that New Mondeo, Super-Mondeo will be in demand by the market. After all, the old slogan is quite applicable to it more than the car for less money.
Prices against the background of competitors are competitive. In Russia, they fit into a wide range of $ 23,850 to $ 38,900. And, for example, VW Passat with twenty -four thousand dollars in your pocket should not be approaching. In addition, pay extra for a slightly larger amount of trunk, I think there are few hunters
Text: Oleg Osipov
Photo Ford

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 11 (123), 2007]