Test drive Ford mondeo sedan since 2010 sedan

feel the difference

One of them is one and a half times more powerful than the other, but three times more expensive. And the one that costs less is also much more comfortable. But the dear turns faster. Feel the difference?
Cars are not just different sometimes a feeling that they represent different branches of automotive evolution. So we tried to understand what differences expresses the difference in price of 70 thousand dollars.
 
220 versus 344
These numbers are the power of two rivals: Audi S4 is almost one and a half times more powerful. They stand with a yellow-blue flag of an adjacent state and the views of hungry predators evaluate each other. ST 220 is Ford Mondeo. After light facelifting of the base model, he became frankly better, especially the rear lights with stripes were successful. To turn an ordinary sedan into an unusual, aerokitis is needed, which includes a low bumper, skirt, rear spoiler, 18-inch wheels with 16 knitting needles and two exhaust pipes. Do not forget about the special paint for the body, which is called the neo-blue metallic and is intended only for the ST 220 version. A car dressed in such armor looks larger and more solid than the basic version even in the richest configuration.
Audi not only is a station wagon, it is also an aggressive station wagon. Expanders of arches, an evil grille of the radiator, again, 18-inch discs and four exhaust pipe. A4 Avant Universal Small, such an expensive and elegant household bag from the famous couturier. In the case of S4, a small station wagon is almost turned into a fighter, and its yellow sides themselves attract the attention of others.
 
How many Seats Recaro do you have, dear ST 220? The blue sedan has two of them, and they, of course, are the front ones. For sports seats, they are too soft, but equipped with numerous supports and electrical regulations. The Salon of Sports Ford has not undergone big changes. Devices with white dials, pedal lining, steering wheel with symbols of the model and a leather handle of a 6-speed gearbox. In such a simple way, a simple car turns into a budget sports car. It turns out very cute, without an unhealthy craving for blue lights and other trinkets. The rear passengers of a quick business sedan have at their disposal heating seats, individual lighting ceiling on the ceiling and in the floor and as a pleasant bonus armrest with cup holders. The salon is covered with dense skin, only on the door panels for some reason it is combined with villous textile material. The Sony audio system is responsible for the musical accompaniment with a chainer for six discs and a remote control on the steering wheel.
 
In the Audi salon, everything is divided into zones for each passenger. Everyone receives his own personal reparo seat and their own cocoon. These cocoons are formed due to low planting and high and wide central tunnel. Audi salon is a luxury, erected to the highest degree. Wood, suede, leather, aluminum. At night, even the smallest key exudes an aggressive red glow. In Ingolstadt, they decided that even a cup holder can be provided with backlighting. In Cologne they entered differently, placing a hole for a glass on the central tunnel.
 
The Audi driver holds in his hands a three -spoke steering wheel and, like a child, cannot play enough of numerous electroregies and buttons. Ford in this regard is much more modest: there are fewer buttons and regulators. Here they are, differences. Ford, restrained luxury for little money, Audi shocking luxury for huge ones.
What else? These cars also have a trunk, and each of them can transport long -sized items. Audi can be turned into a micro-loader if you wish, and a pair of snow-beams can be immersed in Ford. It’s just annoying that Ford does not have at least some handle to close the trunk. The indicators of the useful volume of the salons of these athletes do not bother us as much as, for example, power, acceleration time, etc.
V6 against V8
Both of the cars inherited the engines. Ford received V6 from Maverick SUV, and S4 from senior models. The Ford Motor initially had a capacity of 200 hp, but in the Special Vehicle Engineering department made a number of changes that made it possible to increase its capacity to 220 hp. The front-wheel drive mondeo is supplied with 6-speed mechanics.
 
In Quattro GmbH, they decided differently and did not at all touch the motor. The horses are there for not the most heavy car and there are plenty of 344. Naturally, the car’s drive is complete, and the 6-band Tiptronic automatic machine is managed by the traction transformation. Feel the difference?
 
ST 220 Twist 285 Nm against breathtaking 410 nm for S4, and up to hundreds of AUDI accelerates in 5.9 s, while Mondeo is required for this 7.6 s. But the maximum speed is the same 250 km/h. The advantage of S4 seems undeniable. However, there is one small but, and it consists in the appetite of Audi. A small station wagon with a huge engine consumes more than 20 liters of AI-98 per 100 km in the city, as reported by the on-board computer. His opponent is much more modest: he has enough 14.5 liters of gasoline per hundred, and AI-95. The times of crazy money have passed, and today, buyers of expensive cars are more attentive to the cost of operation, and then the scales bowl are inclined towards Ford. ST 220 can celebrate the first little victory in our fight.
 
Well, it's time to go. The mighty V8 Audi growls menacingly even at idle, and on a multi -color screen of the computer, fuel consumption liters shine. You need to make only three movements: press the brake pedal, transfer the KP selector to the Drive position and press the gas. Somewhere in the bowels of the aluminum compact eight, force will wake up, and the car, without thinking twice, will break from the place. Then the machine will begin to click the transmission, and the road will turn into a dark gray needle.
The station wagon adhering to the asphalt growls menacingly on other cars, and they shy away from him like a devil from incense. Nobody wants to get under the millstone of 18-inch wheels of a frantic car. To control the traction on this machine simply because it will be enough for two similar cars and a couple of dozen Lada. True, the machine, when accelerations at times, falls into a state of thoughtfulness. The cure for this manual mode and gearboxes on the steering column.
 
The Mondeo motor at idle is not heard at all, V6 does not annoy passengers and others and does not so frankly provokes the driver. Eh, he would be shorter pedal! The move is great, and the information content of it, frankly, is civilian. But it is worth touching the lever KP, and the face of a good cat with a naval surname will illuminate the face. The clarity of the inclusion of the gears is excellent, the moves are minimal. The Ford Motor starts to serve after 4,500 rpm and willingly spins up to 6500 rpm. ST 220 accelerates intelligently, but quickly, in almost two seconds received from Audi, you don’t seem to notice, everything happens the same way, but there is less adrenaline. But calmly. Okay, you can confuse the III program with VI, as if saying ST 220, I’m only turning down a second, but I will help to overtake. This is really so! And this engine turned out to be a good supply of traction, and the gas pedal has less cotton than the S4.
 
The steering reacts to the slightest movement of the hands, the change of the course occurs quickly and clearly. Management is another Audi trump card in general and S4 in particular. Having moved at the entrance to the turn at speed, you can rely not only on luck, but also on the suspension and electronic systems. A thoroughbred sports car with a short steering rack licks the turns of no worse than another cup car, and the driver makes a minimum of driving movements. True, it is still difficult to enter the underground multi -tier garage with its intricate route. But the car is wonderful on the highway. Overalls are two movements: gas to the floor, the steering wheel to the left. The power is enough for a small plane, so you should only be afraid of another Audi S4 in the oncoming lane. At this time, the arrow of the fuel pointer treacherously slides to zero, and another thousand -ruble bill appears from the pocket. It is necessary to moderate the ardor, otherwise you will have to put your teeth on the shelf. The S4 refueling costs an average of 1,500 rubles, and drive 70 liters that are placed in the tank, you can be 350 km by force.
 
What about Ford? His steering wheel, of course, is not so sharp, but there is no synthetic winterizer either. He is slightly less aggressive, slightly more comfortable and prone to compromises. ST 220 below the base modification of 15 mm, its suspension is more rigid, and this best affects the handling, which in ordinary Mondeo is distinguished by predictability. Yes, ST is not so aggressive to take turns, it expands the trajectory, cracked with brakes and shoes with tires. He is far from smoke from under the wheels and other street factors, but it is easier to find a common language with it, because Audi constantly provokes the driver. Ford is ready to compromise: you are not trying to portray Alexei Dudukalo, and the car will not rub your nerves on trifles. Calm the mother -in -law to the cottage and do not be distracted by smart words about rotation. Plus, feel like the master of the situation by refueling your very fast Ford for the same amount as some kind of Volga, and be sure that you will go to one gas station no less.
 
Brakes on both cars work accurately and without delay. And this despite the fact that the brake discs on Mondeo are the same as on the base version 1.8. They were simply made with a margin, and it turned out to be sufficient for the combat ST 220.
The final
Still, they live in different worlds. S4 is already in the database more expensive than ST 220 almost three thousand dollars versus 39 thousand. But they are not at different steps of automotive evolution, they are both good, both are in excellent physical shape. Of course, the Audi car is more likely image, status, but ST 220 is quite consistent with the criteria of status. How many owners of ordinary Mondeo during the test showed us a thumb! Universalism is now in fashion, especially in Europe, and they also save there. Dear, high -quality S4 cannot but feel how it is pressed not only by Bavarian neighbors, but also by a special Mondeo. And it's not even about money. In ST 220, it shakes less on irregularities, it is cheaper in operation, and gives pleasure from driving no less. Audi car is hard in every way, in the city he frankly has nothing to do, he needs a track or even a closed track.
Who is better? Better one who meets the needs and desires of its owner. But Ford has more trunk
Specifications
Ford Mondeo ST 220 Audi S4 Avant
Dimensions, mm 4730x1810x1460 4585x1770x1430
Base, mm 2757 2650
Track, mm 1520/1535 1520/1520
Diameter of the turn, m 11.1 11.1
Benzine engine V6 gasoline V6 V6
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 2967 4136
Max. power,
l.S./rpm 226/6150 344/7000
Max. moment,
Nm/rpm 285/4900 410/3500
Mechanical transmission automatic
6-speed 6-band
Tires 225/40 R18 235/40 R18
Max. Speed, km/h 250 250
Acceleration time
0100 km/h, with 7.6 5.9
Fuel consumption (EU),
l/100 km 8.0/10.6/14.5 9.1/12.3/17.9
Tank volume, l 58 70
Maxim Rakitin
Photo by Leonid Klimanovich
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine