Test drive Ford Mondeo sedan since 2007 sedan

Kinetics of superiority

The third generation of the Mondeo challenge to the modern market: while the segment of family sedans is crushed into small niches, Ford decided on a big experiment.
The new Mondeo is not just big. He is the largest in his class. In addition, by the size of the wheelbase (the main indicator affecting the space in the cabin), Mondeo wins the Toyota Camry business sedan and even the Audi A6 player. However, this car is notable not only with its outstanding dimensions for the usual framework. The layer of family sedans (class D according to European classification) and the hatchbacks and station wagons built on their basis is actively eroded today. We are increasingly preferring to buy more practical and universal crossovers or single -combatants for personal needs. The sedan out of habit is regarded as a kind of emphasizing the status of the owner. And if you need status, then, probably, you should think about buying a car belonging to the premium category. Ford, of course, know about this and nevertheless decided on an extremely responsible step to offer the market a traditional car with non -traditional dimensions, dynamic characteristics, and the level of controllability and comfort. Ford actually launched a new model on the market. With the previous Mondeo, it is united only by the name.
 
Although Ford has a tradition to change the names of cars when creating fundamentally new models, this time at the beginning of the development we decided to maintain the name Mondeo, says Ford of Europe, John Fleming. This is due to the fact that we are proud of the achievements of Mondeo. Every car is important for us, but for the Ford business in Europe there is no product more important than Mondeo. Since 1993, when the first Mondeo appeared, this model remained key in the Ford product line.
 
Yes, the Ford Mondeo lovers club is very numerous. In Russia last year, even at the end of its life cycle, Mondeo with a result of 10120 copies sold took fourth place in its class. However, the new Mondeo is designed not only for faithful fans, but also for a new target group of people who intend to purchase a German or Japanese premium car. I clearly imagine the seller in the Ford dealer center, whispering to his client’s ear: is it worth overpaying for the German or Japanese brand if you find exactly the same amount of dynamics, quality, style and comfort in the new Mondeo? Roll up and make a choice!
 
The acquaintance of automobile journalists with the new Ford Mondeo took place on the winding roads of Sardinia. And already the first meeting showed that the model has every opportunity to become a sales leader in his price category and that an application for equal rivalry with players of the Premier League is quite justified.
Ot-couture for all occasions
The new Mondeo is now proposed with three body options: sedan, hatchback and station wagon. Recall that so far there is no hatchback in the range of Mondeo bodies. Surprisingly, all three versions look equally dynamic. Even a utilitarian and practical station wagon with a huge trunk causes respect for its rapid forms. Despite the impressive dimensions and a wide body, all Mondeo is not felt by a gram of excess weight. The author of the external appearance of the new Mondeo Executive Director for Design Ford of Europe Martin Smith. It was under his leadership in the serial Mondeo that the new style of Ford, designated as kinetic design, was embodied. What is hidden behind this concept? Martin Smith explains: we wanted to provide an emotional connection with the new Mondeo, capable of attracting customers visually even before they evaluate our technologies, sitting behind the wheel. We sought to create a car that would impress people and cause a desire to possess it. In a word, the main task of this design is to lure, make a person get behind the wheel and start a motor. And then other technologies will be connected to the hut. Well, in my opinion, the task is completed. The car in statics looks as if it should fall off the place. The brightest detail used to create a dynamic appearance, the lower grille of the radiator in the form of a trapezoid. This element of kinetic design has become common for the latest Ford models. Other tricks, turning a motionless car into a moving car, is a high waist line along the entire shoulder of the car from the stylish turning of the rotation indicator built into the front wing to the rear side panels and pronounced wheel arches.
 
The interior is also very expressive. The quality of the materials used in the interior decoration, and the assembly level does not cause the slightest claims, with one exception: an expensive version of the GHIA with pseudo -driven inserts is a big error. Only Chinese automakers allow themselves such a tree finish today. Fords are justified by the fact that the wooden interior is in demand by many customers, and the use of natural materials in the decoration would increase the price of the machine by at least $ 1,000. Maybe, but it looks like a parody. But to the simple version of Ambiente and the more expensive cold-starry Titanium there are no complaints, they are fully consistent with the concept of kinetic design laid in the car.
Democratic details
I got the most powerful Mondeo sedan with a 5-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine with a capacity of 220 hp. This motor became famous for the Volvo Ford cars. In the top version of Mondeo Titanium x (I recommend it, not GHIA), this car in Russia will cost $ 3,7900. A more affordable version of Mondeo with a Trend turbocharged engine will cost the buyer 34 thousand dollars. Mondeo with a 2-liter engine (145 hp) will cost from $ 26850. There is also a version with a 1.6 liter engine for 23850 dollars, but I do not think that it will be in any serious demand.
 
Already in the standard, any mondeo has an osp contrasting system, pillows for protecting the driver’s knees and side airbags along the entire length of the cabin (in addition to standard front ones), active head restraints on the front seats, an armrest in the front and rear seat. In the Trend version, in addition to the basic equipment, there are standard functions such as the DATC air conditioning system, sports seats, skin -covered steering wheel and gearbox handle, front and rear electric windows. Among the elements of the exterior decoration, the front fog lights and door handles painted in the color of the body.
 
Ford EasyFuel is a simple but no less useful standard option that makes life easier for the driver. The mondeo refueling neck does not have a spraying the fuel with a special valve. In addition, the neck diameter is calculated exactly for the size of a gasoline or diesel (in the case of a diesel engine) pistol of the fuel column. A simple, but no less effective solution. Once abroad, I poured diesel fuel in a gasoline Volvo Crosscounry gasoline, and it’s good that I did not have time to start the motor. The epic with the extraction of diesel fuel from the fuel tank dragged on for five hours.
 
However, enough to talk about the equipment of Mondeo. It, let’s say, corresponds to the modern level, but is not the main trump card of this car. The Ford European branch did not follow the path of improving the car exclusively by increasing the number of airbags, electronic gadgets and complicating the suspension. The novelty is good not only in content, but also in fact.
The foundation of success
The new Mondeo is based on a strong and tough foundation, called a platform in a professional language. Specialists have already managed to evaluate this in practice. Recall that the Mondeo Mondeo Mondo Ford S-Max became the winner in the most prestigious European Car of the Year 2007 contest. But it is known that for European journalists, honed controllability, perhaps the main criterion for evaluating the car. Taking into account that Mondeo has a lower center of gravity than the S-MAX single-coater, it should be expected that the pleasure of controlling them will be even brighter.
 
The hardness of the body of the new Mondeo increased compared to the previous model by more than doubled (!). As a result, a feeling of complete unity with the car. Passing turns on the new Mondeo is as pleasant as laying turns on skates. Moreover, unlike sports, Mondeo does not require special skill of Mondeo. Everything is intuitively clear. The car instantly changes the direction, demonstrating neutral rotation. The rolls are minimal. The information content of the steering is ideal. The chief engineer of the Mondeo program Jens Lyudmann claims: we begin to develop our cars with the creation of a very reliable chassis. Our secret is that we pay great attention to trifles and do not spare the time to configure.
 
Indeed, the test drive showed that by the accuracy of control, stability in corners (before the electronic collars of security systems) with the new Mondeo, perhaps, not one of the front-wheel drive classmates will be able to argue. However, it is surprising not so much the sensitive and sharp character of the car as a combination of sports and comfort. Mondeo is a very quiet car. The noise of the road, running air flows and engine is not annoyed even at high speeds. Vibration from road bumps drowns in the bowels of the suspension, without getting to the body and steering wheel. In acoustic comfort, the new Mondeo is in no way inferior to the best business class cars. However, drivers who prefer a comfortable driving style, I would not recommend buying a Mondeo with low -profile tires in this case in this case, the car practices uneven roads with excessive zeal.
 
The pleasure of handling is supported by the standard ergonomics of the driver's place. The range of displacements of the chair and the steering wheel will allow us to conveniently settled in a driver’s place and a two -meter man and a fragile girl. You do not need to get used to the new Mondeo. The information content of the gas and adhesion pedals, the painfulness of the motor allow you to accurately move out, without playing the accelerator pedal. Hands themselves find the necessary buttons, switches, steps in the gearbox. Only leather upholstery of seats can lubricate the sensations in corners leather chairs do not effectively hold the body.
 
Apparently, the new Mondeo is awaiting success. Perhaps the only risk is that the car actually excited the class of medium -sized sedans such as Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Avensis, Peugeot 407, etc., and now Ford does not have a separate player. Mondeo purposefully marks in the business league. Who will buy mondeo those who need a family sedan, or those who have already accumulated money for the purchase of a more status car? Or those and others?
 
Ford, however, is not particularly worried about this. The buyer is not about these segments, says Jens Lyudmann. He just chooses a suitable car. Quite possible. I do not think that Ford is especially concerned with the fact that sales of Mondeo classmates as a whole are reduced in Europe. The company erodes risks, releasing three models on a single platform at once: actually Mondeo (with three body types), S-Max and Galaxy. These cars are produced at the same factory in the Belgian Genka (investments in the enterprise amounted to 715 million euros), and since the new Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy contain many common technologies, five models are released on one production line at once, which improves both efficiency and quality .
Technical characteristics Ford Mondeo 2.5 Sedan
Dimensions, mm 4778x1886x1500
Base, mm 2850
Front/behind, mm 1589/1605
Equipped mass, kg 1492
Engine type gasoline 5-cylinder C C
turbocharged
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 2521
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 220/5000
Max. moment, nm/rpm 320/15004800
Mechanical transmission 6-speed
Front drive
Max. Speed, km/h 245
Acceleration time 0-100 km, with 7.5
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km 9.3
Tank volume, l 70
 
Igor Komarov
Photo by the author and the manufacturer
 
 
 
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine