The Ford Mondeo once garnered success as a top seller and market leader, but eventually rivals such as the Audi, BMW, and Mercedes caught up with better selling premium family ranges. The Mondeo has lagged behind its initial sales, suffering sales that haven’t matched up to the previous generation’s high demand. But Ford has not been discouraged by such numbers—the Mondeo is still a model worth investing in thanks to its improved kit, finish, and a sophistication close to to the BMW 3-series but at a more affordable price. Read on to know what else the Mondeo has to offer given the current market demands.

Pros

The Mondeo was one of the first models to introduce the company’s “Kinetic” design language. This aesthetic was first seen in the 2006 Mondeo-based S-Max seven-seat MPV. The Mondeo itself features the Ford’s signature headlight design, trapezoidal grille, and a car that is wider by five inches. As a result, the current model looks bulkier at the front end but retains the same drag coefficient at 0.31. The newest Mondeo also sports C-pillars that give it a slippery shape. The tailgate’s lower half has been retained to give the car a body-coloured plastic panel that can be sacrificed, thus enabling cheaper repairs in case of damage as well as improving dent resistance of the body. There’s also the 2007 introduction of the award winning Easy Fuel capless tank orifice, which allows entry of the right fuel nozzle to avoid diesel or petrol misfuel.

The interior is where the Mondeo’s investments shine. The cabin has been brought to a new level as it reaches for the standards set by BMW and Audi. The inside may not appear as luxurious as its high-end competitors, but you can’t describe this vehicle as cheap either. Piano-black lacquer inserts, aluminum décor, and the overall appeal of the instrumentation place the Mondeo at the fore of its value for money rivals. Other sophisticated features include the subsidiary controls layout.

The Mondeo’s engine range includes the entry-level 1.6-litre unit at 118bhp, the 1.6-litre TCDCi, to the top range 2.0-litre Ecoboost at 118bhp. The entry-level 1.6-litre TDCi is a steal in itself thanks to its CO2 emission figures and fuel economy, as well as its 11.6 seconds 60mph sprint time. Plus it can cruise with ease at sixth gear along motorway traffic. The top range 2.0-litre TDCi model provides the Ford’s linear power delivery along with a smooth torque build up.

Cons

The 1.6-litre 118bhp petrol engine tends to be the weediest of the engine range, making the more powerful ones the better investment. The EcoBoost engine at 237bhp is another alternative with its 153mph top speed and 7.5 seconds sprint time. But its 200bhp model lacks the necessary shove that will give the same enjoyment as the 237bhp.

Ride and handling is decent but expect some body roll to occur. The vehicle also offers impressive body composure but it’s not as good as the Mondeo’s understeer resistance. Response is also accurate but understeer occurs towards the end. Braking doesn’t have very many issues, save for the extra push you need to get complete stopping power.

The Ford Mondeo is a family car also marketed as the Contour and the Fusion. Worldwide Production of the Mondeo started in 1992 as a five-door hatchback and estate. The fifth generation Mondeo was introduced at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

The Mondeo is marketed as a world car – its steering capabilities outperformed then rivals such as Nissan Primera and the VW Passant. The Mondeo melds accuracy and flawlessness, features that have been emphasized since its production.

The Mondeo succeeded the Sierra in Europe, and marketing was spearheaded by Ford of Europe and Ford USA. The Mondeo shared little with the Sierra, and carried a new platform in flooring and standard features such as airbags and an anti-lock braking system. This model carried Ford’s signature Zetec engine, which only saw use in the previous Escort and Fiesta models.

The fourth generation Mondeo, which ended production in 2013, was first introduced to the UK market in 2007. It used Volvo’s petrol engine, and carried an electro-hydraulic steering system that made fuel consumption more efficient.

The latest generation Mondeo was designed by Ford of Europe’s Chris Hamilton and was influenced by the Ford Evos concept. This model will carry a Ford EcoBoost direct injected gasoline engine for better fuel economy.