Seatbelts on..alert..5..4..3..2..1..blast off! all this wouldn’t be out of place while driving a Ford Mondeo. I am serious about this, this is the best driver’s car in india (before the porsches!).
It is positioned in the ’luxury’ upper d-segment where superb competitors like the accord and camry are found in abundance. both these cars try to give a luxury feel, while the mondeo tries for something different. It wants to give the impression of being a driver friendly, fast, flashy and zippy car.
I don’t think this has gone too well with the indian customers. This may well be because the mondeo has an good advantage only in the performance aspect, while most persons who buy such cars will be chaufeur driven. But this car is excellent, no doubt about that.
It is very good looking to start with. the front is cool and sporty. Xenon lamps rest inside the clear lamp covers. These lights are much more powerful and look good too. It is found only on the mondeo in india (in its segment). That is an advantage. The car look flashy from the side. The alloys are awesome.
The rear is the most sports car like part in this car. The tail lamps have some dynamism in them which leaves a very good impression. The car would not look odd even if it is in company with sports cars! I want mine in black! The car is not only good looking but is also built like a rock. Everything is fitted well while the paint is exceptional. But even if it is excellent in the area of styling, this is not its profession.
The engine is an awesome 2 liter DOHC petrol that is capable of giving 140 bhp or so. It is an all aluminium in-line four unit having four valves per cylinder. The engine is rated for a maximum power output of 143bhp at 6000rpm when running on 95 octane unleaded petrol. For india, though the compression ratio stays at a high 10.8:1, the maximum power output rating comes down to 136bhp at 6000rpm. even though maximum torque is at 190nm at 4500rpm, 90% of this is available throughout the rev range beginning from as low as 2000rpm right upto 6000rpm. This ensures excellent driveability.
It is one of the best performers in india. It brings up 100 km/h in a superb 10 seconds! for a 2 liter unit, this is amazing! it feels at home even while cruising at speeds excess of 200 km/h. The top speed is a whopping 215 km/h. Even though these figures are colossal by themeselves, they way the mondeo brings about them is even more impressive.
The interior of this car backs up its sportscar-like performance. The steering feels really good and is wrapped in leather. It is one of the best I have seen. The instrument cluster is elegant and neat. The dash is very attractive and is very practical too. The black leather seats are comfy while at the same time lending an agressive feel. There is more than sufficient legroom in the front as well as the rear.
The materials used are of the highest standards. But a small setback. The interior is dressed in black. Okay, agreed it is sporty and agressive, but they could have given other trims atleast as an option. But if you like the black, nothing better.
The fuel efficiency? still want it? um.. okay here are the figures. In the city if it is driven without too much agression, it can get you a decent 7 km/l. on the highway where you will be tempted to take it out to, it returns 10 km/l. An overall figure of around 8 km/l does not make the mondeo very frugal.
In its class, if you look at all its competitors, the mondeo definitely is the most driver oriented. It shouts agression with its styling, performance and interior. The performance is one aspect of the car which is unbeatable, and it is rather good in other areas too. even though the accord v6 clokcs better times, the mondeo is more fun to drive.
So if you are going to be chaufeur driven, do not buy it, as if you leave the performance aspect of it, the other cars are as good or better than it. But if you want flat out fun and want to clock scorching times, go for it. I am seriously telling, it is really unbeatable here.
-STYLING-9.5/10
-BUILD-9.5/10
-FIT AND FINISH-9.5/10
-INTERIOR-9/10
-ENGINE-10/10
-PERFORMANCE-10/10
-FUEL EFFICIENCY-8/10
-VALUE FOR MONEY-9/10
OVERALL-9.5/10
PS- this car is available in diesel version also which is almost as good as the petrol. It also gives better efficiency.
PS- leave your rating and a comment please.