FORD is back in the medium-sized wagon market proving you can have looks and carry a load.
The new Mondeo wagon is stylish, spacious, well priced and fun to drive, all of which it needs to make inroads into sales of rivals Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty.
- IN A WORD
- Make: Ford
- Model: Mondeo wagon
- Price: From $32,990
- Road test: JOHN PARRY
There are two versions, the LX at $32,990 and the Zetec at $37,900, both powered by a 2.3-litre petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission.
Equipment levels are enticing for the price.
Standard fittings include a five-star crash rating, stability control, seven airbags, cruise control, automatic headlights, heated mirrors and voice control, which uses defined commands to adjust the audio system, air conditioning and mobile phone.
The Zetec adds dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, six-disc Sony audio, automatic wipers, power driver's seat and fog lights.
From any angle the Mondeo looks smart and sophisticated dressed up with some striking trim, particularly around the grille.
The gloss is also evident in parts of the otherwise tasteful interior, which has a spacious yet cocoon-like feel.
The engine produces 118kW at 6500 revs and 208Nm at 4200 revs, which is a little short of its rivals.
However, it is a smooth and willing powerplant complemented by a broad spread of ratios in the crisp and decisive six-speed automatic transmission.
Lightly loaded, response on step-off and mid range is brisk enough and it cruises at a relatively relaxed 2100rpm at 100km/h, but it can be busy around town and doesn't feel as if there is a lot in reserve to cope with full loads.
Fuel use on the combined cycle is 9.5 litres/100km although it varied on test from 11.7 litres/100km in urban areas to 7.3 litres/100km on open road.
Mondeos have always been a cut above the pack in chassis dynamics and the wagon re-affirms this reputation.
It is such a rewarding car to drive you tend to forget it is a load carrier.
The chassis is well balanced with near neutral handling, flat cornering stance and a firm, compliant ride.
Interior space and load capacity are generous and there are plenty of storage pockets and bins.
Seats are well shaped and supportive and the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach.
The load area is long and wide for its class and the rear seats fold to a flat floor.
Useful features include an information screen in the main instrument cluster, which contains a wealth of information at the touch of the scroll buttons.
Also a buzz is voice control, which allows the driver to speak to the radio, climate control and CD changer.
The sweet-talking receptionist even recognises accents.
Another neat touch is the cap-less fuel filler neck, where you just open the flap, poke the fuel nozzle in and pour.
But then there's the "guess-the-speed" speedometer, which has graduations only every 10km/h, and the illogical cruise control, which has six buttons split half and half on each side of the steering-wheel hub.
The Mondeo is not a replacement for the ageing Falcon wagon, which is about $8000 more and sells to fleets and other long-load carriers.
