8 February 2011
Unless you blinked and missed it, you may have seen this car in the latest James Bond flick, Casino Royale. It's Ford's latest Mondeo, evidently rental vehicle of choice for MI6's finest.
80% of outgoing sales were fleet/lease purchases so understandably the likes of Avis, Budget and significant fleet purchasers will be chomping at the bit for the car.
But Ford wants this 'Bondeo' to appeal more to the private sector than its predecessors.
And why not too, the sleek and sporty new looks deliver a road presence the Mondeo once lacked. In either sedan, hatch or wagon configuration it's certainly enough to give the class stylemeister's a run for their money.
Up front your gaze is drawn to the stylish headlights that bear similarities to Ford subsidiary brand Jaguar's upcoming XF, the look being completed with a contemporary trapezoidal lower grill. At 4844mm long (sedan) and 1500mm wide the Mondeo is notably larger, which imparts a premium, large car like quality that could pose a risk to some Falcon models. Especially given the Mondeo's $35,990 entry price point and desirable specification.
At entry-level, the sedan sits on fleet-friendly 16-inch steel wheels, while the higher spec Zetec receives alloys, fog lamps and an enhanced front grill.
Inside the build quality is the best on offer from the blue oval, again giving a premium perception to the occupants and there's been little skimping when it comes to levels of equipment.
Power adjustable seating is offered at base 2.0 litre sedan level, albeit without the electric height adjustment the Zetec spec receives, there are also handy creature comforts such as a trip computer, leather steering wheel with audio/cruise controls and tilt/reach adjustment and an i-Pod auxiliary plug. Safety features are class-leading with all models picking up front, side, driver's knee and curtain airbags and stability control. The Zetec ($40,990) sits in the middle of the pack and includes dual zone climate air, ebony cloth trim, map reading lamps front and rear in addition to the exterior styling enhancements.
The range-topping Zetec Sports pack adds $5500 to the Zetec's price but sets the vehicle out from the crowd with an aggressive body kit, 17-inch wheels and leather interior.
Regardless of the model, you'll remain comfortable on the long hauls, as seating is well bolstered and supportive, with plenty of leg and headroom, perfect for the sales rep or family alike.
A key feature in captivating the private sector is the Mondeo's dynamic handling characteristics, which has always stood head and shoulders above rivals, so the new version must be even better right? Well, sort of.
The suspension is stiffer, but you'd never know it, as the ride control over corrugations is excellent, setting the benchmark for the class.
Chassis rigidity is up 116% in Sedan, 130% in hatch and a massive 159% in wagon formats, so after our initial launch drive we were surprised to find some of the legendary crispness has been blunted in the latest iteration. Lighter steering and increased footprint appear the culprit here and the Mondeo does feel less nimble and engaging that it once did. In reality though this is a moot point, as it is still a class leader in handling.
Ford has brought the Mondeo to market with two engine options in this country.
We have the option of either a 107kW 2.0 litre petrol engine, available only in the sedan with a manual (5 speed) gearbox, all other variants are fitted with the 2.3 litre, 118kW petrol with a six-speed automatic. Both engines have a proven reliability record and are shared with Mazda's 3 and 6 ranges of vehicles.
Despite being the odd one out - available in only the base model sedan - the 2.0 manual is the pick of the bunch on the drivability front for our money. You'll need to part with $37,990 for an auto, but with that the engine displacement increases also. The 2.3 automatic would benefit from more low down torque, but overall provides a good combination of performance and economy with its smooth shifting six-speed automatic.
Disappointingly, we have drawn the short end of the gear stick here as the awesome 2.5 litre, 5 cylinder turbo petrol (162kW and 320Nm of torque) or the 2.0 litre turbo diesel (96kW and 320Nm of torque) engines Australia receives aren't made available to Ford NZ.
A fact that stings as much as 'the bottomless chair' scene in Casino Royale when you consider Australia didn't offer the previous Mondeo for sale. Our loyalty to the nameplate over the years surely warrants a greater selection that what's currently available.
Some consolation comes when perusing the new Mondeo's pricelist, which sits perilously close to Ford's own Focus RRP's.
The Mondeo Zetec auto for instance, at $40,990 is an undeniably more complete package over the Focus Zetec auto, but carries a pittance $1700 premium. Of course, the actual transaction prices for the Focus will tell another story, nevertheless Ford have sharpened the pencil with the sole intention of popping class leading Mazda6's value for money balloon.
It's much more than a fleet hack this Mondeo, smart looks, excellent space, high build quality and confident (if not character packed) driving dynamics bode well for private success. Here's hoping though, Ford can secure a licence to thrill with both the diesel and 2.5 litre turbo petrol engines in the near future.