The long-awaited new Ford Mondeo (it was first shown in Europe at the Paris motor show in 2012) is a two-time Fleet News Award winner, picking up trophies for best upper medium car and new company car of the year at this year’s awards.

Stephen Briers, Fleet News editor-in-chief, said: “New Mondeo has the style and design to appeal to drivers, while its wide choice of low emission engines and very strong residual values make it a great package, rated highly by all sectors of the fleet market.”

Most Mondeo sales are expected to be to fleet customers, and the good news for those company car drivers is that there are Econetic versions of the 2.0-litre TDCi, offering 107g/km CO2 in hatchback form. Non-Econetic hatchbacks using the manual gearbox are at 115g/km, while adding the Powershift dual-clutch automatic takes CO2 up to 125g/km.

Both the new Ford Mondeo (and Focus) ranges also feature models with CO2 emissions under 100g/km – equating to a claimed 78.5mpg fuel economy in the 1.6-litre ECOnetic diesel.

Our model is the 2.0-litre 180 Titanium with added optional extras including bodystyling kit, winter pack, Sony digital radio, touchscreen navigation and added safety features including inflatable rear seatbelts, blind sport monitoring, cruise control with collision mitigation, active park assist and city stop.

Ford expects over half of the new models to be chosen in Titanium and Titanium X variants, and has worked with RV forecasters to ensure equipment levels are carefully selected to improve residual values and reduce wholelife costs.

It has its work cut out in a competitive sector with established rivals such as the Vauxhall Insignia and Volkswagen’s new Passat. I look forward to seeing how it fares over the next 12 months with Fleet News.