Test Drive Ford Mondeo Sedan since 2010 Sedan
Threat from below
Perhaps this test was the most massive of all ever conducted in Russia. Almost 40 journalists from the whole country in Parking from Pulkovo Airport Rusted for 20 cars. The reason is clear to the new Mondeo company Ford makes a serious bet. At the press conference, all decomposed on the shelves. If the Ford's mass cars were perceived by the consumer as high-quality, reliable vehicles, endowed with good handling, which was enough for good sales, now the market requirements are different. Today it's just good and high-quality, you need to be able to call emotions, like, cling. Therefore, Ford decided to change the branded image. And began with a new generation Mondeo.
Here, by the way, the kinetic design was made, debuting on the IOSIS concept, and in a somewhat simplified version moved to Mondeo. The company is convinced that now the Ford cars will be more attractive outwardly, in connection with which the issue with emotionality is considered to be solved. Hence the new slogan feel the difference. At the end of the press conference, the Mondeo commercial was shown, where the old Ford models (Sierra, Escort and others) fly away from the owners into the sky on balloons, and instead the impeccable Mondeo appears. So, is the difference?
I got a car in the package of GHIA with a 2.5-liter turbo engine and a mechanical 6-speed gearbox. Ghia salon finish Hello from the past. Plastic, trying to imitate the tree, completed (and forgive me representatives of the company) Pohabno. The colleague, who became my partner in the car, even born the association with the products of the Chinese automotive industry. This decision does not fit with the kinetic design and, most likely, the finish under the tree was used by marketing reasons, it is still quite in demand by the consumer. Much more pleasant to the Titanium vendor. Here is the unity of the style of the interior and exterior. Inserts imitating polished metal generate the desired mood. In addition, the GHIA version was the usual tachometer and speedometer, and the Titanium is located between them the large color display (because of this, the tachometer lost a bit in size), which also added to the interior in the framework of Kinetic Design techniques. In general, the Mondeo salon worked well. There is even no sense to compare it with the previous model. The front panel is made of excellent elastic plastic, the finishing materials are diverse and more expensive, attention has increased to detail for example, ducts for rear passengers appeared in middle racks. On the driver's seat is convenient, all controls are at hand. True, stressed slippery leather seats with weak side support and pushing backrest profile. In the break between the stages, I sat in said already version of Titanium with a combined tissue upholstery of the chairs and a more pronounced lateral support. I would choose exactly such a chair. 
When it came to give up the steering wheel to a colleague, I, without thinking, sat down at the back. The fact is that the new Mondeo in the body sedan is a real overgrowth. Its length is 4844 mm. According to this indicator, he surpasses even older to rank a representative of an affordable Toyota Camry business class (4815 mm). And along the length of the wheelbase, the car furnished longer classmates Camry Hyundai Grandeur and Nissan Teana. As a result, we have an inexhaustible stock of space behind and a very spacious trunk. This class D sedan can be used as a car with a driver. Under the hood, a familiar 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine, which at one time has developed Volvo, and now adopted for its Ford models (unification, however). The engine is aggregated only with a six-speed mechanic that, confess, somewhat surprised. I think many potential Mondeo buyers would like to get this power unit in a pair with automatic transmission. In general, cars participating in the test were equipped exclusively mechanics. The machine gun will appear later and will be available with two motor four-cylinder 2.3 liters (it was borrowed from Mazda) and a 2-liter turbodiesel. 
However, I am an union of MCPP and a powerful motor very much like. Dynamics, as expected at a high level. The low-pressure turbine engine provides a decent pickup on any transmission already from the medium revolutions zone. Upon reaching high revolutions, the motor is waited, requires switching. It makes no sense to twist it to the limiter. Acceleration It turns out smooth and very energetic. At one of the well-visible straightforwards, I could easily achieve a mark of 190 km / h. The organizers are separate thanks for not making the test route exclusively on high-ward highways. We met the most different road areas, including the segment of the segment, which seems to be repaired from the time of the USSR. Therefore, the driving quality of the sedan managed to check the full program. Evaluation of the movement on smooth coatings is excellent. Course stability, responsiveness and informativeness of the steering wheel, equipped with a hydraulic device, comfort, handling, not to make face. Surprised primarily how Mondeo rides on a broken road with a ripple. Perhaps such a naughty relationship to the quality of the track with excellent manageability today does not show any other front-wheel drive car. The suspension incomprehensible combines smoothness of work, comfort, rare energy intensity, while the driver perfectly feels the car. I note the test sedan had a relatively undemanding coating of 16-inch alloy wheels with tires 205/55. I would venture to assume that with 17 disks, the situation is unlikely to change the cardinal way.
Ended excellent autoban began a broken two-brain. Road looped, giving the opportunity to check the car in the rotations of the most different steepness. At first I was careful, because the suspension seemed comfortable, and such cars did not like when they were forced to play sports. But gradually it turned out that the possibilities of Mondeo are much more diverse than it may seem.
In a straight sedan, it suffers absolutely not noticing pits. Only on very large, the shock absorber can happen, and it happened for all the test just once. At speed, the road smoothes under the wheels of Mondeo. But it is much more nicer that both turns with a broken asphalt car passes at high speed with stunning confidence! The steering wheel is transmitted to a minimum of blows, and the parasitic moments of a powerful engine, and the suspension always time to work out the sore profile of the route. As a result, the car at the limit confidently holds over the surface with all the wheels without losing the trajectory. How well, that there were no changes to the Russian market in the suspension! When the road became better, I added speeds on the devices, boldly turning off the stabilization system. It simply is simply not needed on such an exemplary transient front-wheel drive chassis. The work of all organs of the clutch, accelerator, brakes, the steering wheel is impeccable. Even without optional sports packets or active shock absorbers with a dynamically changing degree of rigidity, the car is going very well. Definitely, in terms of the following Mondeo, you can safely put in one row with the front-wheel drive references of the ALFA ROMEO 159 segment and VW Passat. At the same time, they are not capable of just as quickly and painless for the suspension to go through a bad road.
It seems I guess why the test drive was so tune at him only one day. The organizers were confident that this is enough to feel the difference. The new Mondeo went far ahead from the predecessor and today is one of the most tempting offers in its class. And even can pick up some of the buyers from the models rank above.
Prices and equipment
Ford Mondeo will be sold in Sedan Body, Hatchback and Wagon. Gamma gasoline engines 1.6 liters (125 hp), 2.0 l (145 hp), 2.3 l (161 hp), 2.5 l (220 hp) . The diesel portion is represented by two engines: 2.0 liters (130 hp) and 2.0 l (140 hp). Depending on the engine, the transmission can be either a mechanical 5 or 6-speed or 6-speed automatic. Basic complete sets Six: Ambiente (from $ 23,850), Trend (from $ 27,700), GHIA (from $ 29 250), GHIA X (from $ 31,400), Titanium (from $ 29 250), Titanium X (from $ 31,600). Naturally, they can be supplemented by options. The most budget version of the Mondeo sedan with a 1.6 L and MCPP-5 motor in the Ambiente package, which includes 7 airbags, ABS, air conditioning, on-board computer, CD receiver, side mirrors with electric and heating, front electric windows, CH.
Leonty Tytelev
Source: Magazine Motor [July 2007]
