Test drive Ford Mondeo sedan since 2007 sedan

Significant little things

We brought acquaintance with the new Ford Mondeo at a sled presentation near St. Petersburg (see Motor July-August 2007), it was a top car with a 2.5-liter turbo engine. In Russia, most likely, the most popular version will be simpler, with a 2 liter engine.

 
We took a car with a 2-liter engine and a 5-speed manual transmission to the test in order to figure out in a calm environment how much the stream of praise of the Ford novelty answers reality. The design of the new Mondeo is good. Moreover, in all three bodies, the car looks beautiful, in a good defiant (which can not be said about the previous model). Of course, the model is fresh and did not have time to become familiar. Nevertheless, the exterior of Mondeo liked a lot, almost everyone of the Ford designers with their kinetics fell into the point.
  
It’s convenient to drive. The range of adjustments of the seats and the steering column is huge. The seats with leather-zamshevo finishes (Titanium X equipment) are provided by five points, they fix it perfectly. On the door panels, a four -spoke multifunctional steering wheel and the front panel of the insert for matte aluminum. At first glance, everything is very good. The finish of the central console is also aluminum, but already polished. However, immediately an imitation, plastic. Inattention to the little things that surprised in the salon of the new Ford Mondeo. The lids covering the mirror in sunscreen visors are a small compartment to the left of the steering column, the ceiling ocher on the ceiling is made of very thin flimsy plastic. The central tunnel plays if you touch it with your hand. The handle of control of the light of the rash, the sheathing of the doors too.
 
You squeeze the lever of the checkpoint slightly in the palm of your hand and hear the creaking of plastic. Of course, these are all minor disadvantages, but in a new car worth $ 33,000 they annoy and even offend. For example, Volkswagen Passat, which is located with Mondeo in the same class and in one price range, does not allow itself. The thin rim of the steering wheel, lined with skin of not the best quality, the sound of the Sony stereo system without high frequencies, asymmetrically located a 7-inch display of the on-board computer is also written in a liability. The 2 -liter motor is boring. There is clearly not enough traction on the bottoms, it wakes up only to 25003000 rpm. It is easy to stall at starting, but a clearly working clutch saves. Touring the motor above 5500 rpm is also pointless, a very narrow working range for a gasoline atmospheric. Yes, and the accelerated dynamics is not impressive (however, it can be defined as sufficient).
 
But the handling is quite acute. However, some of this acuteness will be tired on long trips. One way or another, we have adequate reactions to the turn of a short (2.5 turn) steering wheel, good feedback and accurate following the course. In the limit, the car first slides with all the wheels, then the muzzle floats away. But this limit is achieved at very high speeds, most drivers are unlikely to get to it. The suspension is configured for a comfortable ride, but this does not prevent her from being collected. Sometimes even unnecessary. The rut of the enemy is mondeo, the car shies on it like a fit. The behavior of Mondeo in a gentle turn at a speed of about 170 km/h Diagonal swing was unpleasantly surprised. A pair of such resonant vibrations, and you can get out. Dangerous.
 
The two -liter Ford Mondeo left conflicting impressions. Great exterior and at the same time offensive defects on trifles in the cabin. An insensitive motor, but a decent box. It seems to be a well -tuned suspension, but with strange negative nuances in behavior. Maybe over time, all this will be corrected. However, while a reasonable question arises: is it better to choose a proven Passat? This machine remains a standard in the class at a cost of about $ 35,000.
 
Prices and configuration

Russian dealers offer Ford Mondeo in three sedan bodies, 5-door hatchback, station wagon. The range of engines is wide. These are Duratec gasoline engines with a volume of 1.6 liters (123 hp), 2.0 l (145 hp), 2.3 l (161 hp) and a turbo engine 2.5 l (220 l. p.), as well as a 2-liter Duratorq turbodiesel with varying degrees of force 130 or 140 hp. With engines of 1.6 and 2.0 liters, only a 5-speed handle is aggregated, with other motors 6-speed mechanical or automatic gearboxes. Ambiente, Trend, Ghia or Titanium, Ghia X or Titanium X. The price range: from 615,000 rubles for a 1.6-liter Ambiente sedan to 1,006,000 rubles per turbo universal Titanium X.

 
Dmitry Krotov
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Motor magazine [October 2007]