Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium X Sport

RUN CHEAPER, SAFER, GREENER FLEETS

Our Fleet: Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 163 Titanium X Sport

17/08/2011

July 2011

Review

My year behind the wheel of the Mondeo seemed no where near as long as that, and with a total of 18,400 miles completed.

I knew it would be subjected to high mileage, which was one of the reasons I chose it with Ford’s Powershift automatic transmission.

It’s a dual-clutch six-speed gearbox which offers the smoothness of a conventional automatic transmission, but with a reduced CO2 and fuel consumption penalty.

The CO2 emissions of 149g/km from the Mondeo’s 163bhp 2.0 TDCi diesel are significantly lower than the 187g/km achieved with the conventional automatic transmission available with the earlier 140bhp version of the engine.

Although 149g/km is only slightly higher than the standard manual gearbox’s 139g/km, I found that using the manual function to shift up through the gears about 500rpm sooner than the car would in automatic mode would improve fuel consumption.

It meant the difference between mid-40mpg fuel consumption to high-40mpg – the highest achieved during the year-long test was 49mpg.

Long-distance comfort was excellent, and the automatic gearbox helped save my left leg from repeatedly using the clutch in the many hours I spent crawling through traffic.

With its substantial 235/40 R18 tyres, last winter could have caused significant mobility problems. However, in October we switched to cold-weather rubber, and ran Michelin Pilot Alpin tyres for the next five months.

The Mondeo instantly performed better on wet roads, with much improved grip and traction, but when it snowed the new tyres were a revelation. When it comes to wintry weather, many people think they need four-wheel drive, forgetting that stopping their vehicle is at least as important as making it go.

The car’s braking performance was perhaps the most impressive aspect of driving it on cold weather tyres.

While we were running the car, the Mondeo underwent its mid lifecycle facelift. Our car was using one of the latest diesel engines introduced in April 2010, but in October 2010, the Mondeo received cosmetic changes, including revised instruments and new dashboard materials, as well as a new bonnet and the availability of LED daytime running lights.

But the fundamentals were unchanged, and our car ends its life on our fleet still looking as up-to-date as the latest versions.

Simon Harris
Deputy Editor

Simon.Harris@bauermedia.co.uk

Stats

P11D Price: £ 27,215

Benefit in kind: 22

Combined MPG: 50

CO2 Emission: 139

Graduate VED: n/a

On Sale Year: 2010

Engine Size: 163bhp

Transmission: Automatic

Number of Gears: 6

Residual Value
3 Years 60K: n/a
4 years 80K: £ 5,050

Running Cost (PPM)
3 Years 60K: -
4 Years 80K: -

Wholelife Costs
3 Years 60K: n/a
4 Years 80K: n/a

Running Costs

Cost

Looking at the list price the Mondeo seems expensive - with the few options we selected, it's higher than the least expensive BMW 520d. But it is loaded with kit, and a fleet customer buying outright is likely to see a substantial amount knocked off the official on-the-road price.
Comfort

There are few cars that could be better for covering high mileage than the Mondeo, although it would be even better if we'd chosen a lower equipment grade with smaller wheels. The Mondeo has plenty of interior space, and the heated/ventilated front seats we chose as options have been excellent additions for summer and winter.
Transmission

The Powershift gearbox is a dual-clutch manual that behaves like an automatic. Upshifts are usually seamless as the extra clutch always has the next gear ready. But it isn't as smooth as Volkswagen's similar DSG, and I think it should change up a few hundred rpm before it does. That would make the Mondeo more frugal.
Driver appeal

The Mondeo is still probably the most rewarding car to drive in its class. The steering is the main contact point for the driver with a car, and here it is first rate for feel and feedback. It performs the very different roles of comfortable motorway cruiser and enjoyable B-road companion better than any other large front-wheel drive car.