- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
132kW, 400Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 5.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2015 Ford Mondeo Trend wagon new car review
Blue oval's new mid-size wagon ticks a lot of boxes.
Ford's new-generation Mondeo has been on sale in other countries for a couple of years but the vagaries of supply mean we Australians have had to wait until now to finally get a taste.
If good things really do come to those who wait, then, it should be a cracker.
That's one theory, and Ford is listing improved quality/value/refinement/driving credentials and benchmark technology as key reasons to choose its new mid-sizer over the many alternatives (Hyundai Sonata/i40, Mazda 6, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Camry, VW Passat, etc). Let's find out how it stacks up.
What do you get?
The entry-level Mondeo is the $32,790 Ambiente hatch but there isn't much that's 'entry-level' about the specification.
Standard kit includes dual-zone climate control, cruise control with speed limiter, leather touchy-feely bits (steering wheel, gearknob), 16-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, LED tail-lights, an eight-inch touch-screen infotainment system with satellite navigation, digital radio, Bluetooth and voice control.
Safety is covered off by nine airbags (including class-first inflatable rear seatbelts), stability control, parking sensors, Ford's emergency assistance system (i.e. you crash, the car calls emergency services) and – on vehicles produced from June 2015 – a reversing camera. It has been rated five stars by the ANCAP crash-test regime.
As with all Fords, service costs are capped for the life of the vehicle (with yearly/15,000km intervals).
The Ambiente can also be had in wagon form ($34,640). Both bodystyles can be optioned with a diesel drivetrain ($36,790 hatch, $38,640 wagon).
Next rung up is the $37,290 Trend hatch, which adds a more powerful version of the Ecoboost turbo petrol engine (177kW versus 149kW), plus luxuries such as partial leather seats (with power adjustment and heating up front), keyless entry/start, 17-inch alloys and auto headlights/wipers. Low-speed autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning/aid, auto high beams, pedestrian detection and a pre-collision system flesh out the safety serve.
The Trend can be optioned with the diesel engine ($40,490) or had in wagon form tested here ($42,340). Unlike Ambiente load-luggers, the Trend wagon is a diesel-only deal.
The priciest Mondeos run the lavish Titanium trim (18-inch alloys, adaptive suspension, power tailgate, full leather, power-adjustable steering column, sports front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic roof, blindspot warning, automated parking) and can be had in petrol hatch ($44,290), diesel hatch ($47,490) and diesel wagon ($49,340) forms.
What's inside?
The Mondeo wagon gets a big tick for functionality. The front-seat environment is spacious, airy and generously endowed with cup/bottle holders and storage spots, and the seats deliver a great mix of comfort, support and adjustability.
Generous space and a comfy bench mean the news is just as positive for back seat occupants. The boot is properly big (730 litres laden to roof) and the 60/40 split back seat folds flat to create a huge 1605-litre box that swallows bigger items with ease. A tie-down net and sliding divider (on rails) are welcome touches.
Most of the details are covered off. Ford's Sync2 touchscreen infotainment system isn't perfect (you access its main menus via slim on-screen 'buttons', which can be trickier than equivalents with physical buttons, especially on bumpy roads) but is generally logical, legible and user-friendly.
Swoopy design and plenty of quality soft-touch plastics mean the Ford makes a pretty good visual impression, too.
However, there are some details (naff metal-look plastic trims, messy foam filler that can be seen if you look inside the A-pillar air vent) that ensure it doesn't feel quite as upmarket or high-quality as, say, a Mazda 6.
Going for the wagon also means a space-saver spare tyre rather than the full-sizer fitted to hatch models.
With its low seating position and high window line it's naturally harder to see out of than your average SUV. Rear vision, in particular, is a bit average.
Under the bonnet
The Trend wagon's TDCi 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder isn't quite the punchiest diesel on the block but cranks out healthy outputs for its capacity (132kW of power, 400Nm of torque).
It also posts an impressive economy number for a big, family-sized hauler (5.3L/100km). Unlike petrol Mondeos, diesels have an auto start/stop feature to save fuel while stationary.
The first impression of the Ford is just how quiet it is. You can hear it when it's cold or when you're revving it to its limits but for the most part it's admirably hushed for a diesel.
The Mondeo is no featherweight (1718kg for this model) but the diesel engine propels it with more than respectable verve. A stout supply of pulling power comes on tap nice and low, just above idle, and there's next to no turbo lag, so it's almost never caught short for response in normal driving. While obviously no high-rev headbanger like a good petrol engine, it's not unhappy (or, as mentioned, noisy) when extended.
Unlike petrol Mondeos, which run a regular six-speed automated, diesels use Ford's six-speed dual-clutch 'Powershift' setup. It does a fine job of keeping the turbodiesel on the boil with its quick, decisive shifts, and isn't bedevilled by the low-speed hesitation or stutters of some dual-clutchers.
The Mondeo's smooth, strong and impressively refined diesel drivetrain also lives up to contemporary economy expectations, unlike petrols, which are a little thirsty. We averaged a commendable 6.2L/100km on test.
On the road
The Mondeo wagon is a confidence-inspiring and engaging drive, responding keenly to steering inputs, resisting body roll admirably and tracking through even the bumpiest corners with poise and total predictability.
If you had to pick on it you might target the steering, which is responsive and precise but a little indecisive in its off-centre weighting and feel. It's good, just not quite as fluid or natural feeling as some Ford setups (and its predecessor).
The Mondeo complements its smile-raising driving qualities with one of the best rides in the business. Small bumps, big bumps, sharp bumps, rolling undulations, low-speed, high-speed, whatever – it's all soaked up with almost a total lack of fanfare.
The Ford is as easy on the ears as it is on the body. There's the aforementioned hushed drivetrain but tyre noise – while present on coarse surfaces – is never more than a background rustle. On a long cruise, this Ford pampers better than many much more expensive luxury cars.
Verdict
You might find a mid-sized wagon with better resale than this new Mondeo or a longer warranty. You might find one with a fractionally gruntier diesel engine or one that feels a little more lush inside.
But the Ford clocks consistently high scores for value, technology, functionality, safety and servicing. Its diesel engine is a refined, economical gem, and its mix of comfort and control is one of the sweetest on the road.
If this isn't the new mid-sized wagon benchmark, it's got to be very, very close to being so.
Ford Mondeo Trend wagon pricing and specifications
How much? From $42,340
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 132kW
Torque: 400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch auto, FWD
Fuel use: 5.3L/100km