Ok then, let’s get to it.
With clam-shell bonnet, deep traditional Saab grille, all-new headlamp lenses, and a very nice fore and aft balance, the TTiD is a return to form by Saab in exterior styling. Its sporting intentions are underscored with deep side skirts, twin pipes and handsome alloys carrying solid rubber. (And, thankfully, Saab has omitted the daft ‘Dame Edna’ headlights vandalising the nose of the 9-5.)
The Mondeo, still new to most eyes though released nearly a year ago at the Sydney Motor Show, is also a very appealing machine ‘in the metal’. Designed in Germany and built in Belgium, the Mondeo is impressively finished and carries an air of quality that belies its sub-40k price tag.
Its styling is dominated by a high belt line, rising to a squared-off angular tail containing a cavernous and versatile boot. Like the Saab, it too is nicely balanced ‘in the round’. You would be proud to have either in the drive.
Exterior design, of course, is a matter of taste so we’ll leave that judgment to you.
Slip in behind the wheel of each though, and you will immediately recognise the Saab as the more expensive of the pair. Its seats– always a Saab strong point – are trimmed in soft two-tone leather and are impressively comfortable.
You will more immediately feel ‘at home’ in the Saab – you sit low and snug, everything is nicely at hand and, while the matt-black plastic dominating the fascia is a let-down, there is an understated integrity to the look and feel. There are still some quirky touches, Saab is persisting with toggle-style air vent controls and the ignition still sits between the seats, but it works.
The Mondeo TDCi is a little more funky. There is an edgier feel to its interior. The polished metal trimmings and centre fascia carry more than a hint of Wurlitzer retro style, and there are Gen-Y touches like voice-activated Bluetooth and climate control (though we didn’t try the latter).
The first impression from the wheel of the Mondeo TDCi is a sense of space thanks to the long roofline, high hatch, and generous leg-room. You could put Andrew Bogut in the back seat without having his knees hovering round your ears.
Throughout, it’s impressively equipped with seven airbags standard across the range; stability control is also standard, as is ABS.
Not quite up to par are the seats. Though trimmed in leather, and though comfortable enough, they’re hard – the kind we’ve grown more accustomed to from German trimmers – and they lack a little lateral support when push comes to shove on the road.
2010 HSV Clubsport R8 
2009 BMW 335i Sedan 
2010 BMW 120d Hatch manual (E87) 
2009 Holden Commodore SS Sportwagon 
2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 
2009 Ford Mondeo MB (Titanium)
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Congrats on your first comparo guys!! Good read!!
Just a tip, if you have any interior pics of the Saab, it would probably be worth sticking it in there.
Fair point jbot. We were relying on Saab/GM having some available at their media centre but they don’t - not the Aero anyway - they take better interior pics than we do.
The Aero has a few unique touches, silver trim on the steering wheel, two tone leather etc. We will talk to our Saab contact tomorrow and see what they can get to us.
We are moving to doing more of our own photography (as in the exterior shots in this review), you’ll see it in some of the coming reviews ie Mondeo XR5 and others.
I know exactly what you mean Steane. Unfortunately the flash from most cameras ruin most interior shots! The article was a good read as always.
Hmmm red engine bay on a silver Mondeo
laurie
Appreciate the feedback as always too jbot.
Green Mondeo Laurie - its deceiving in the pics but its actually light green. The Mondeo we drove was stolen and resprayed quickly as the police were all over us - thankfully we got away with it and bumped into this guy who’d just stolen a Saab. Big photo opportunity ensued!
Seriously though, the engine shot is a Ford press image, they don’t have one in green, neither do we. You’ll be able to enjoy plenty of our own pics in coming reviews - we are getting our act together - promise.
More importantly, what are your thoughts on the cars in the review?
Stenane
Funny you say that as I have just got one and agree with your report BUT there are many,many items on a Mondeo that are extras on others took it for a drive to Kangaroo Valley and Macaquarie Pass today and it was sensational that diesel is punchy and VERY easy on the wallet love to see the 2.2L 400NM the Poms get
ps the Bluetooth and Voice Control is a bargain and she has a very sexy voice
laurie
Glad you like it. Personally, I’m a big diesel fan and had a few days with the Mondeo and liked it on the whole. I only had a couple of hours with the Saab (The Insider hogged the swede
) but instantly felt at home. In my opinion it was a noticeably superior car. Ride, handling, steering, brakes - it was my pick of the two - and at the price would want to be.
interesting, just how have saab managed to get the thing to ride, handle & steer better than the benchmark Mondeo particularly when it shares the categorically rubbish Vectra chassis.
My last experience with a saab gave me brusied kidneys.
Neat comparo. High praise for the Mondeo, indeed.
Yup, Mondeo sets a new high-bar and is a dead-set monty at the price. Was edged out here by the more-focused (as a sporting drive), but far more expensive Saab.
Interesting thing though Conquistador… don’t believe all you hear on Top Gear (Clarkson knows he’s nuts): the Vectra is not as underdone - I think Clarkson calls it “floppy” - as some would have you believe.
In normal UK trim, with a 90 kW 1.8 litre Family 1 Ecotec engine, or even with the 2.0 litre 129 kW turbocharged Family II donk, the Vectra’s GM Epsilon platform was up to the mark - even when under the whip for the occasional fast-blast.
(Er… better scrub the 1.8 there: “blast” is really overstating things - that donk would struggle with the proverbial greasy stick).
Now when Vauxhall put an Aussie GM turbo-charged 2.8 litre V6 with 205kW and 356Nm in the nose of the Vectra however - without adequately re-engineering the chassis for those extra ergs - that’s when things started to go astray.
But the Saab TTiD is a much friendlier unit (and even in their dark days, Saab engineers have produced some more than reasonable steers). Things are working pretty well with the TTiD and ‘that’ chassis. And, at just 1.9 litres, there’s not a lot of engine sitting over the nose: that may be the secret.
Funny thing about motoring writers is that they play follow the leader: if someone further up the food chain takes the hatchet to a car, then a bunch of others will slip into a feeding frenzy. Not many trust themselves to buck the trend.
There are not enough who can translate what they feel at the wheel into sensible comment about what’s really happening underneath, and where the engineering is actually failing.
This is not to say we won’t get it wrong sometimes, or even a lot. We will. But we won’t play follow the leader.
The Insider
Sometimes insider the scribes get it right. An unsophisticated chassis can feel much sportier than it actually is. To get control over such a simple suspension setup the engineers have to wind up the dampers and spring rates.
For the same reason to the uniniated an Astra can feel “sportier” than a Mazda 3. but ask the car to turn in, handle a bit of off camber with a bump or two and you can immediately tell the difference.
Besides i think the saab actually proves the point. Seems they binned the Twist beam rear end of the Vectra and put in a multilink. Not exactly a glowing endorsement of the vectra from within GM’s ranks now is it?
A nice read, I really like the Aero TTiD, and think I’ll have a go at test driving one soon. The Mondeo surely is great value, but I like to feel “special” in my cars, and the Mondeo doesn’t give me that feeling. Saabs however, have always felt unique.
I’ve just purchased a mondeo and i have to say compared to some of the others within the price range it was a sure winner. Possibly the only downside i could come up with was that they could thrown in a memory drivers seat as it does take a bit of setting up to get the driving position right. Compared this to the 3, 6, and a couple of subarus. Mazda, shock horror, felt very plasticky in the interior, which i’m surprised no one has really picked up on. I feel the mazda interiors have really weakened with their newer models (and i have had a 98 323 and a 2002 sp20!). Always fun to read a positive review about a car you have though
Oh, btw, good articles to read on this site. Great work!
Good stuff folks - Love that Saab over the Mondy anytime. Having driven the Vectra is 113Kw form its equally as good as the Mondy, I’d even say better on a long run. There was a slightly more sporty edge to it. So I guess the Saab on the same platform should be similar.
Conqestador - Don’t forget the post 2005 Vectras are slightly modified and are different to the earlier version, far nicer to drive. I have a 2004 Vectra 3.0CDTi wagon and also drive the later 1.9CDTi (hire cars) weekly and theres a noticeable difference. The insiders right ignore the gung ho Clarkson (can’t drive smoothly for toffies) comments, yep the car was dull to look at but its much better now. Pity you Aussies gave up on it in 2005, guess you voted with your wallets.
Picked up the Mondeo TDCi around release and it’s an absolute winner in every way. I do totally agree with Ricardo though, a memory drivers seat would be a welcomed addition. Coming from a 2002/3 model Focus, I was initially worried that I would be let down by the handling, but for a big car like this it’s amazing!
A new ad for the Mondeo wouldn’t go astray though.
I know this is late, but I only just read it! Once again another good TMR review. A little bit of humor is great. However there is one thing that gets me with Ford and the Mondeo oil burner. They use the Mazda MZR engine for the 2.0 and 2.3 petrol versions (as they do for most of their 4cyl engines with Ford heads), however they use the less powerful PSA 2.0 oil burner instead of the Mazda MZR-CD. 96kw/320Nm for the PSA vs 105kw/360Nm for the MZR-CD. I wonder why as the MZR-CD is a cracker of a diesel, plus it is a bit quieter with less clatter than the PSA 2.0. Maybe it is not in the contract…
I recently purchased the Mondeo TDCI and have many issues with it.
1. The blue tooth does not work properly. I can not tune any AM radio stations with it. The dealer told me to use a high pitched voice. When I did this it worked. Nice Job Ford.
2. The air conditioner turns off when the car is not in motion. This is very frustrating when I am stuck in traffic on a hot day.
3. Car has gone into safe mode twice requiring it to be towed back to the dealership for repairs. They tell me this is due to an ABS sensor failure.
4. The paint is changing color. It started with a tennis ball sized blotch which is slowly taking over the whole front bumper. Ford have offered to have my car go to a panel beater for the car to be resprayed.
I only have 6000kms on the clock. Perhaps I should have spent another 26K and received a more reliable car.
Frustrated Mondeo owner.
pfft, admit it, you bought a Lada Samara, why would you be asking for help on a forum when its a brand new car… warranty? wake up