CONSUMER VOICE SHOUTS LOUD FOR FORD Who do you think came up with this quote about the new Ford Mondeo? “Ford has built a terrific new family car, which delivers an upmarket feel for mainstream money.” Sounds like the talk you’d get from any salesman in a Ford showroom but in fact the words are those of Which? magazine, the one that reckons it’s the independent voice for the UK consumer. It positively raves about the new Mondeo and, after chatting to a Ford sales manager, it seems that those with their own money to spend on a large car are doing the same. This car is making big strides in the retail market and not just in the fleet sector. And for those of you who love big cars, the Mondeo is as amply proportioned as the old Granada and Scorpio models. It’s strange how that has happened as, by coincidence, I have a independently written book on my shelf given to me by Ford detailing their models over the years. When you get to the Mark II Granada, the car that’s actually shown is a Mark IV Cortina, predecessor of the new Mondeo. So the prediction has come right at last just 30 years after that Granada model launched. I have to say that while the Mondeo may be large it doesn’t feel it. If you are very status conscious that may be a bad thing but to my mind it doesn’t matter if the car doesn’t feel big as long as it brings the space you need. Saloons are not that popular in the UK any more, which is a shame as I like them and in many cases prefer them to large hatchbacks. But the trends may be changing. Citroen, for instance, is bringing out a new C5 next year and that will only have saloon and estate versions with no hatch. The Mondeo does offer a hatch for those who want it (72 per cent of buyers) but if a vast boot is what you are after then take a look inside the rear end of the saloon, which also gets folding rear seats to increase its versatility. In fact the saloon is longer than either the hatch or estate. All the new Mondeo models feature Ford’s “kinetic design” first brought to the market on the S-Max and Galaxy. The Mondeo looks very striking as a result, especially at the front end. At the rear, there’s a clever sacrificial panel on the boot lid that absorbs bumps and scrapes and can be easily and cheaply replaced by undoing four torque bolts. It’s a great idea because the car lacks any noticeable bumper protrusions – when I was a kid I spent ages filing the bumpers off my Dinky and Corgi cars to make them look smoother but that obviously is less of a problem for modern children, assuming they still buy toy cars at all. The test car, a Titanium X, was fitted with the 140 bhp version of Ford’s 2.0 TDCi turbodiesel and a refined engine it is these days. I’m not so sure it was this good in the past but now this car represents excellent value for £21,845 when compared to more expensive rivals, even though Ford demands £350 for the essential metallic paint. Great news was that it managed 53.3 mpg, which I rate as excellent for a car of this, or almost any other, size. It’s helped by a very good six speed manual gearbox although you can have an auto on the slightly less powerful version of the 2.0 TDCi as well as the 2.3 petrol, which is now entering production. Maurice Hardy Modern Fords demonstrate very ably how even the mainstream makers can come up with classy products. While some may argue that the smaller cars are not quite up there yet, the Focus gets a massive makeover in the new year and there are totally fresh Fiesta and Ka models to come next year too. Other makers will really have a fight on their hands then as Ford will have a stable full of thoroughbreds if the Mondeo is anything to go by. There’s lots of little details about the Mondeo that add to its appeal, not least among them a filler cap system that makes it impossible to refuel with the wrong stuff. Petrol cars will only receive unleaded and diesels only derv. In the old days, the Cortina used to be quite cramped for a family and then things started to improve as we moved through Sierra to Mondeo. Now, 14 years down the line of Mondeo production, there’s acres of rear space in the saloon. We had an original Cortina from 1964 just after we married in the early 70s and it’s also interesting to see just how plush and luxurious modern cars have become. Still not sure I liked the silver fascia trim of the Mondeo, though. Annette Hardy Car: Ford Mondeo Titanium X four door 2.0 TDCi 140 Does it fit your ego?... 0-60 mph: 9.3 secs Top speed: 130 mph Bhp: 138 @ 4000 rpm Torque: 236 - 251 lb ft @ 1750 - 2240 rpm ...and your wallet?... Price: £21,845 Urban: 37.2 mpg Extra urban: 57.6 mpg Combined: 47.9 mpg CO2 emissions: 156 g/km Insurance Group: 9 / 20 Best bits: big; luxurious; cheap to buy and run.