Ford Mondeo Wagon Review

Design and Engineering

Design and Engineering

 Good

Whilst the current shape Mondeo Hatchback arrived here in October 2007, the wagon (with its significant extra cargo carrying capacity) didn’t go on sale until July 2009. It shares the same length wheelbase as the hatch however a 5 cm longer rear overhang contributes to extra load space. August 2010 update saw the introduction of the frugal 2.0L turbo diesel engine with a six speed sequential automatic gearbox.
Not so good

Yes the overall design is smart and ageing well, however the Mondeo’s front end styling is less adventurous than on the competing Mazda 6 (however this could also be viewed as a positive). The mid life facelift is nearly here, expected launch Down Under is November 2010, with fresher styling to the exterior’s front and rear end.
Interior and Styling

Interior and Styling

 Good

Modern dash layout with lots of nice soft-touch plastics and quality fabrics; fit and finish is impressive; the front seats are comfortable and there is lots of storage space up front. Generous levels of second row legroom. The large rear cargo space (542 litres) grows to an impressive 1733 litres when the rear bench is folded down. The cargo area comes with a luggage cover, shopping bag hooks, tie-down straps and a number of 12 volt outlets. The load lip is nice and low and the tailgate is wide for a big entry space. Cabin noise is impressively low for a wagon, even at highway speeds.
Not so good

The shiny silver finish all over the centre console is almost approaching ‘bling’ standards. Disregarding this choice of finish the overall quality of materials in the Mondeo is very good and a notch higher than in the brands larger Falcon (which is by no means poor). Of course rear cargo space can’t match the now out of production Falcon Wagon, but for 99.9% of buyers we’d definitely recommend the Mondeo out of the two.
Performance

Performance

 Good

Two four-cylinder engines on offer – a 2.3L petrol with 118kW of power and 208Nm of torque tied to a six speed automatic gearbox or a 2.0L turbo diesel with 120kW and 340Nm linked to a new six speed dual clutch sequential automatic gearbox called Powershift. Our pick of the two engines is the turbo diesel. It’s a willing performer when required yet is refined and quiet at standstill and below 3000 revs (even compared against petrol engines). The Powershift gearbox is very good, gear changes are smooth and you get the fuel economy benefits of a manual gearbox with the convenience of an automatic.
Not so good

The turbo diesel becomes more vocal above 3000 revs however some of our reviewers quite liked the vocal note from the exhaust at higher revs. The 2.3L petrol is a reasonable engine that is more than happy when driven at a moderate pace. However, ask it to accelerate quickly (especially at highway speeds) and it can struggle at times, especially compared to the impressive turbo diesel. Fuel economy is also much higher in the petrol Mondeo.
Ride and Handling

Ride and Handling

 Good

The Mondeo’s handling is right amongst the best of the medium segment. It’s an enjoyable wagon to drive over a twisty road, the ‘firmish’ suspension stays settled over a wide variety of surfaces. Small undulations on bumpy roads in the Mondeo are dealt with a maturity uncommon to this segment of vehicle. The steering is natural and intuitive, with an excellent willingness to change direction.
Not so good

Not much really. Compared to the Mondeo hatch the Wagon moves around just that little bit more when being pushed – but we’re talking small degrees here. Less brilliant is the amount of tyre noise over Australia’s rougher surfaced bitumen (the chunky, coarse-chip stuff used on many country roads, in this aspect the Mondeo catch match the Australian designed and built Falcon.
Buying and Owning

Buying and Owning

 Good

The turbo diesel engine is offered in three levels of trim, the entry level LX, the mid range Zetec and the range topping Titanium grade whilst the petrol wagon is offered in LX and Zetec trim. Good to see that Ford has ensured every Mondeo wagon ticks the safety box (seven airbags including a driver’s knee airbag, Anti-lock brakes and Electronic Stability Control all come standard). The combined official fuel economy of the diesel grades is an impressively low 6.2L per 100kms (especially for a passenger car with such a large cargo area).
Not so good

The fuel economy of the 2.3L petrol engine is 9.5L per 100kms – the petrol Mondeo is one of the least efficient medium segment players. We’d prefer a full size spare wheel than the temporary ‘space saver’.