- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
96kW, 320Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 7.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Ford Mondeo TDCI Hatch
Buyers who remember Ford's Mondeo from its time here in the mid to late 1990s will also probably recall that it eventually beat a retreat from our shores.
But the Blue Oval's mid-sized European is having another bite of the meat pie. And things are very different this time around.
We've skipped the second-generation model altogether and gone straight to generation three, which was launched only recently in Europe and premieres Ford's new "kinetic" design direction. Ford claims new benchmarks for style, space, refinement and safety over the four-model range, and reckons it is nothing less than outstanding to drive. Let's see.
What do you get?
The $37,990 TDCi's specification is shared with the $34,990 Zetec, and it's competitive even when the premium for diesel is factored in.
Dual-zone climate-control, six-stack CD sound system, parking sensors, cruise control, alarm and leather-shod multi-function wheel are just some of the standard goodies, and you can also choose between sedan or hatch bodies.
The Mondeo's looks could also be persuasive. From the front, with its slight hint of Jaguar XK sports car, to the pert and purposeful rear-end, this is a very handsome and professional design. It's also unquestionably European in flavour, a handy asset in the mostly Japanese mid-size field.
What's inside?
The Mondeo is big by mid-size standards and boasts excellent accommodation in the back, where the big, pampering bench makes life nice indeed for two adults, or three if they're good friends.
If there's a shortcoming, it's headroom, which suffers slightly from the hatch's swooping roofline, but only the very lanky will notice.
No such issues with boot, which is huge, has a usefully low lip and can be expanded even further by folding the back seats.
Up front, a supportive seat with power height adjust and two-way steering adjustment keep the driver happy. The chunky solidity of the dash is brightened up by flipper-style vents and the odd splash of chrome or aluminium trim, while quality soft-touch plastics abound.
There is room for improvement, though. The quality stops short of the glovebox lid, which just feels cheap, cupholders aren't that plentiful and the stereo's auxiliary input is hidden in the glovebox.
Thick A-pillars and poor over-the-shoulder visibility mean it's not particularly easy to see out of, either.
Verdict
It's not often that the reality lives up to a car maker's hyperbole, but the Mondeo manages it. It's an exceptionally complete package, from the handsome styling, keen value and well-stocked specification to the pampering cabin, rock-solid safety and smile-raising road manners.
In the case of the TDCi, it's even better because it substitutes the Mondeo's only serious weak point - the base petrol four - for a torquey and more efficient engine.
Yes, there is the odd minor foible, but none are serious enough to sour the taste of a package that has all the requisite ingredients to be a hit with mid-size buyers.
The competition
Mazda6 Diesel Hatch
How much? From $38,090.
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel.
105 kW/360 Nm.
Safety: Four-star NCAP rating.
Six airbags, ABS.
What's it got? Climate-control air, cruise control, trip computer, leather, six-stack CD player, 16-inch alloy wheels.
For: Sharp looks, muscular diesel engine, entertaining road manners, spacious and clever cabin, top-notch quality.
Against: No auto, no stability control, unremarkable refinement, mediocre rear headroom.
Our score: 4/5
Renault Laguna 2.2 dCi
How much? From $46,990.
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel. 102 kW/320 Nm.
Safety: Five-star NCAP rating.
Six airbags, stability/traction control, ABS.
What's it got? Climate-control air, cruise control, trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, CD player, keyless start, auto handbrake, 16-inch alloy wheels.
For: Flexible and refined diesel power, loping ride, impressive cabin comfort, big boot, safety.
Against: Not cheap, vague steering, soft handling, looks and feels old.
Our score: 3/5
Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI
How much? From $42,490.
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel. 103 kW/320 Nm.
Safety: Five-star NCAP rating.
Eight airbags, stability/traction control, ABS.
What's it got? Climate-control air-conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, six-stack CD player, 16-inch alloy wheels.
For:Gutsy and thrifty diesel performance, excellent DSG gearbox, classy road manners, roomy and upmarket cabin, safety.
Against: Firm ride over poor surfaces, slippery seats, some cheap cabin detailing.
Our score: 4/5