Ford Mondeo reviews

This car is big, however the engine is easily capable of pulling the big body along at a fair and easy pace. The build quality is ok, parts have started to show signs of wear after only 30k miles and bits have been replaced inside and out due to plastic breakages. The body shell does tend to creak and groan a bit, this was a problem on some Ford cars and I think that it was a problem was paint sitcking between two panels, this can be solved by seperating the two pieces of metal an in a Ford TSB (Technical Service Bulletin). The engnie is not very econmical at around 45-47 mpg which for a diesel is a bit low, even on a run it never really gets above 52mpg so Fords 57mpg is well out and very misleading. The engine suffers from a slight turbo whine when cold even though it is looked after and warmed up a bit in the mornings and left to idle before being switched off,this is a bit worrying on a car that is still only 30k miles old. The front sterring rack is a bit noisy but seems to have no leaks YET, many early Mondeos MK4's suffered this noise problem and early rack failure around 25k miles due to poor manufacture of the rack leaving casting powder in the rack which destroys the plastic seals, this is a common fault that Ford do not want to acknowledge and many are pushing for a recall as the racks can become suddenly dangerous when the fail. This fault costs well over 1k to reapir as all the pipes, the fluid reservoirs,the pump and the steering rack require replacing due to the powder in them. To see if your car is affected you can put your finger in the fluid reservoir and feel the filter and it will have bits of grit, metal and plastic stuck to it, this is a sure sign of a big bill on its way. The rear suspension droplinks have had to be replaced at 26k and the car eats front tyres after only 15k miles with the rears fairing better at about 20k. All the suspension is tracked correctly so I see no reason for the tyre wear apart from a heavy engine. The rear tailgate suffers from water collection after rain and has to lifted and held open for a short while whilst the water drains fom the tailgate, opening it fast allows water on the tailgatye to pour into the rear luggage compartment so this is something to take into consideration if buying this car, unless Ford have woken up and solved the issue on later models. The aircon is not very effective and in my opinion requires a larger compressor as it never truly get cold even from new. Apart from all the problems its is a nice car to drive and can be loaded up with a lot of luggage etc... its just a shame that Ford do not care about their customers. I for one will not be getting a brand new Ford again, once bitten twice shy!

Excellent performance from just a 1.6 litre engine. First impression was of taut, smooth and precise handling. It is still a joy to drive over a year later. Splendid comfort, enhanced by improved noise levels after I ditched the ridiculous low profile, wide diameter wheels and replaced them with 16" wheels. This change also transformed the ride, lessened tyre noise and removed the harshness. Storage space in the back is seriously impressive, even with the rear seats in place. I have heard some people complain about DAB car radios, but the system in my car is quite outstanding, with the best sound I have heard in any car. It is at least as good as anything I have at home. I do realise that I may just be lucky with the part of the country I drive in, but have only ever had one occasion, lasting about five seconds, when I lost reception. I understand the "reasoning" for the privacy glass in the rear compartment windows, but, although they do make it harder for those of ill-intent to spot any goodies left on the seats, they do make it very difficult when looking over the shoulder, to spot traffic coming from the rear quarter, particularly in marginal light. Seeing bicycles can be a real problem. I did search for a car with full electronic seat adjustment, rather than the manual for and aft, with a single switch for height/rake which I have. Unfortunately, the total motorised control seems to be a very limited option, if it is now available at all. My car has Xenon lights and while I can appreciate that they may not be especially friendly for oncoming drivers, they are a revelation to drive with. It also has "cornering" lights, but I don't really see their value. They could sometimes be mildly distracting and so far I have never found them an advantage. Being over six feet tall, with long legs, (and I suspect this is not just a Ford problem) I find that with my seat so far back, I get a very narrow view in the rear view mirrors. If I adjust them to be able to get a usefully wide view behind me, then I can't see anywhere near the rear corners of the car. If I can see vehicles at a safe distance behind, then, when reversing into a marked parking space, I can't see low enough to ensure that I am within the markings. It might spoil the designer's idea of what looks right, but a wider mirror would work wonders. Could do without so much useless chrome around, but even allowing for the niggles, I am likely, eventually, to replace it with another.

I wanted a cheap, reliable car that would carry, on occasion 4 adults and a lot of luggage. Having had much newer Mondeos previously I was happy to look at an older model and found that I could buy a low mileage 8 year old car for very little money. I expect to keep the car 4 years when the mileage would be approximately 100,000. At this stage selling the car for say £500 would mean that the depreciation over 4 years was only £2000 (£500 per year) This is normally the largest part of the cost of running a car so I am very pleased with this. Insurance (fully comp) was less than £200. At present I have driven 38000 miles and during that time My fuel consumption has been in the range 33-38 mpg, the lower figure is normally short commuting. The car is serviced regularly and of course the cost of servicing a Ford is low compared to many other cars. The items replaced on the car have been normal service items or items that you would expect to wear out like brakes and battery. I buy middle of the road tyres which again are in the lower price range. The car is quite heavy on front tyres (25000 miles) but better on the rear tyres (40000 miles. Driving a car is always a matter of taste, as you may guess I like the Mondeo. They handle ok, probably on a par with most reasonable saloons and have a performance that is adequate for most people. Abroad, on an unlimited road, whilst the wife was asleep, the speedo showed over 130 mph which is more than enough for me. Acceleration is reasonable with a 2 litre engine. Equipment is now dated and I would like a digital radio and an USB connection but everything else does what you want it to do and I cannot really think of something I would like in a car that I don't already have. Driving a long distance shows up that the seats could be more comfortable but this is normally after 2/3 hours. Room-wise, plenty for two adult sized kids in the back and the hatchback does enable you to cram an absolutely huge amount of stuff in, which, with two girls going on holiday is a necessity. When I sell this car I would buyer another Mondeo, albeit newer (but still probably 7/8 years old). If you want a car that stands out from the crowd, don't buy a Mondeo as there are a lot of them around, but of course there is a reason for that.

A practical all-round vehicle. It can carry large items, including 3m long timber (goes in to the passenger foot-well)and has a huge weight carrying capacity. I tow a caravan with it and have no problem even on the steepest hills and motorways. I don't hold anyone up any more than an HGV would. It is economical to run for such a large vehicle. Well over 50mpg on long journeys (without caravan, then it's 30mpg). Road-holding is good for such a large vehicle and it's fun to drive. Easy gear change. Very responsive when the turbo kicks in at about 2000rpm, so it's a safe over-taker. It is a long vehicle and may not fit in some garages. The front tyres wear out very quickly due to the torque from the diesel and the weight on the front end. The passenger seat is a problem on a long journey for my wife, who has back problems. I have no problem in that respect. I have had no major problems in three years and 48,000 miles. Just had a "whining" idler pulley replaced at a cost of £77. I expect to have the first set of new brake pads(and probably disks)at the next service. I think that for me, in the process of renovating a 120-year old house and towing a caravan, it was a good choice. I'm retired and don't commute any more, but I don't see it as being a problem. If I was commuting I might think about a cheap, second-hand small vehicle as a second car, or use the bus (bus stop 150m away), depending upon where I was working and transport needs when at work. I don't intend to replace it for a long time yet.

Good "motorway car". New petrol engine surprisingly powerful. Previous had a 2 litre version but this 1600cc is better. Very well equipped with electronics for everything. And therein lies my only real gripe. Sometimes it seems it is too clever for its own good. So the doors will sometimes refuse to open or the mirrors, which fold when you lock the car, will be unfolded when you return to the car and you wonder what happened. And on two occasions I have returned to the car to find all the windows have rolled down of their own accord. Impossible to get the dealer to deal with "intermittent" faults that aren't present when they have the car. Also has had other issues. Within first few weeks the car would not start again after an "auto stop" at lights. Had to be towed. Had car for 18 months and recently there was a recall for the "automatic headlight" system (although I had experienced no problem). After the fix was applied by the dealer the DAB radio stopped working and that has turned into a nightmare as the dealer can see/hear it doesn't work but their diagnostics show nothing. Electronics again! It's much bigger than previous versions so parking sensors are essential and it annoys my wife that it now won't go in the garage. I enjoy driving the car but am beginning to think either I got a "Friday afternoon" build or there are some fundamental reliability issues with the electronics so no sure I'll have another one.

This car is my second Mondeo, both having been bought through main dealers as 15-month old ex-fleet cars with low-ish mileage, in good condition and well-maintained. It is now serviced by a local garage. The present car has proved excellent, being comfortable and roomy, with ample rear legroom. I achieve around 40 mpg (slightly higher in summer and lower in winter). I value the heated windscreen, both for de-icing in frosty weather and de-misting on a chilly morning. The controls are mostly convenient and easy to use (with the exception of the headlight dip switch: the older car's two-position switch was far superior to the newer car's 'click for on, click again for off'). Other niggles? The wash/wipe stalk was replaced under warranty, as the washer button tended to stick (apparently a common problem). The fuel filler cover flap refused to unlock one summer until the cable had been adjusted. The air conditioning on the newer car needs topping up every year, whereas its predecessor went five years without attention. All really minor things which hardly detract from the quality of the car or the enjoyment I get from using it. Oh, and the only bulb that has needed replacing - on either car, in over fourteen years - has been a single number-plate light! Remarkable.

An expensive car to run with the big engine meaning high fuel bills, and the overall setup is not as optimised as it could be to make the most of the performance available. Particularly the gear ratios are a bit odd for this engine. The car is 6 years old now, and 100,000 miles. Difficult to know what to score the reliability as the car has been fine generally and serviced by Ford, but it has failed and needs a complete new engine. 100,000 miles should be barely just run in for a modern car, especially the big engine just doing motorway cruising. On the up-side Ford are replacing the whole engine and any consequential damage under warranty, so that is fair. Extremely comfortable, four tall passengers on long journeys, and very relaxing to drive, and a massive boot gets everything in that you want. Fantastic equipment level and lots of toys built in. The boot design drips water from the hatch into the boot when it is wet, but I think they have resolved that on the new car now. It should probably have been optimised during pre-launch testing, and the change put in place first, rather than relying on the first batch of purchasers to close out the product development. A nice package that just needs a little optimisation in places.

A change of job and more importantly a change in travel distance to that job made me consider owning a diesel for the first time. Not sure if I would get on with one I purposely opted to get an older, cheaper car than usual so that I could quickly swap again without really losing any money. Often used as a "rep mobile" the mondeo is a comfortable cruiser that can eat up motorway miles allowing you to arrive at your destination feeling fresh. Being a diesel, there is less horse power than an equivalent sized petrol car which may make people think twice but the high levels of torque more than makes up for it. Running costs are reasonable, most of my drivung is mixed urban and that equates to 45mpg without trying and it is much better if you use the motorway often. Insurance is low however the road tax on this particular car is towards the upper end but of course this improves with newer models. Service costs are reasonable as well. There is plenty of space in the Mondeo. I am above average height (and width) but there is pleny of leg and head room in the front and back of the car. The boot is very well sized and with the back seats folded down you can visit B&Q (other DIY stores are available) at the weekends with confidence.

I drive on the motorways fortnightly and so wanted a car of comfort when upgrading from my little Hyundai. I opted for the Mondeo and I haven't been remotely disappointed. It glides over even the bigger pot holes - I don't know how Ford have managed to achieve this with the big wheels. Also good is the equipment. I have the Ghia x which is no more expensive than the other used models. It comes with sat nav, cruise control, climate control, auto lights, auto wipers and a socket for your music player. I have also been surprised with the economy. During the week I do a lot of town driving and it easily achieves an average of 45mpg. The reliability is also great. Given my mondeo is now nine years old, when it's MOT was due I was expecting a hefty bill. Surprisingly however nothing needed doing to it, not even a single advisory. The only downside is the moister it builds up and I've heard this is a common problem. In the winter months the air inside of the car becomes very moist. As a consequence the windows become easily misted up, even dripping with water. But this is a small price to pay for a car that achieves so much in all other areas.

I bought my Mondeo second hand, it had only one previous owner and was 6 months old. It has almost every extra that you could ask for and is a luxurious car BUT it has terrible miles per gallon. My previous car was a diesel Mondeo estate and the fuel economy on long motorway journeys was great although it dropped in town. The petrol engine however is very thirsty and at best I seem to get about 30 mpg on a run. It drops terribly in town. The seats, which are leather are extremely comfortable and I like the driving position which has several adjustable features. The load space at the back is large and (for me) one of the best features is the remote opening and closing of the boot/5th door, really useful if you've got your arms full or you've taken something out and you're walking away. It has a reversing camera which is useful from both a safety point of view as well as maneuvering into tight spaces. I'm told it has auto park but I've never quite worked out how to use it or felt the need although if the car could bring itself out when someone's parked too close to me and I can't get in that would great.

I recently changed from a petrol to a diesel Mondeo (6 forward) but find that there is more gear changing required in urban and suburban driving compared to the petrol model (5 forward gears). The green light on the dashboard is useful in driving in the optimum gear for economy/efficiency although engine tone and feel also indicate need to change. I seem to be driving in lower gears in town due to increased traffic, congestion, traffic calmimg and potholes. I live about 120 miles from the nearsest motorway and feel that a diesel engine would be more efficient in optimum conditions of c 50 mph with little requirement for braking or gear changing, however, the petrol model is better for urban driving where you can drive comfortably in gear 4 using gear 5 for dual carriageways and motorways. I have kept a fuel log and am not convinced that, overall diesel is cheaper than petrol in terms of mpg, road tax and additional car cost. I driven rental cars in the USA recently, I think that my next UK car will be a model with automatic transmission 11 October 2013

A good cabin with most of the optional extras associated with the Titanium X model. The driver's seat is not as comfortable as the Ghia X I used to have as there are not as many adjustments possible, but still relatively OK. I have driven to Switzerland via Germany and back via France and found that I was very relaxed throughout the journey. I drive around 500-1000 miles a week and generally feel OK by the time I get home. The cruise control, auto-lights, auto-wipers, excellent sound system all help, but the climate control is the best in the business for keeping the cabin air fresh and the windows clear. On the negative side, the spare wheel is full size and this takes up a lot of boot space, consequently the boot capacity is a little less than the older model. In fact, so much so that I now hire a roof box for holidays (mainly due to the kids? stuff). I would consider going for a smaller spare wheel and regain the boot space if you normally carry more than 2 large suitcases when you go on holiday. Would I buy another when it's time to renew? Definitely

Before I brought the Mondeo Estate I was originally looking at Vauxhall Astra Vans, as I do a lot of fishing in the UK and France, plus I am currently renovating my house so plenty of building work. I decided against getting a Van, as I have 2 children and a van would not be very practical in that respect. So I went for the Mondea Estate, a proper family car, a work horse and a fishing vehicle. There is so much space it is unbelievable, you can even take the back seats out to give you even more room and have a large roof box with the same volume as the boot with the seats down or for those bulky items just use a roof rack. The engine size is big enough to handle a fully loaded car and I mean fully loaded. It pulls away fine, you move through the gears quickly and can do 30mph in 5th gear. It is a dream to drive, very comfortable, handles the roads well and does roughly 450 miles on a £70 tank of petrol on a long run and roughly 370 miles around town. A friend of my has the Focus Estate and is now upgrading it to a Mondeo, I would highly recommended it.

Had this car for 3 years now and only replaced the tyres and front wheel bearings. Only major work was a starter motor. Generally a good all-rounder, good fuel efficiency for an 11 year old car, comfortable on long journeys, good road holding and driver position, good sized boot. Can be a wee bit rattly from cold but soon quietens down. Doesn't go through oil or water, but benefits from regular engine flush and oil/filter replacement. Does tend to have corrosion issues above the middle of windscreen, easily treated though so not too much of a problem. Car came with a 10 year anti-corrosion warranty from Ford, so any issues can be directly resolved by the manufacturer within that time frame. Sat- Nav outdated now but still works fine, though a new disc from Ford is a bit pricey, better off with a Garmin or similar device. Radio and heater controls can be distracting whilst driving as they require you to take your eyes off the road to adjust. All in all happy with this car and would recommend it as a cheap, reliable family car.

We have had the car, which replaced a similar petrol model, for 6 years and it has now done over 120,000 miles. Having had three children we always had estate cars for all the bodies and luggage we needed to carry and decided to continue with the increased capacity when they left home. Their place has now been taken by grandchildren so we are back to needing room for 2 child seats and a buggy. It is comfortable and spacious for every day and holiday use. It has taken us all over France loaded with camping gear and makes regular trips to the local tip and our holiday home in Devon. We spent quite a lot on repairs due to wear and tear a couple of years ago, knowing that a replacement newer model would cost even more and might need the same outlay at a later date. The diesel engine is more economical than the petrol and although a newer model might be even more so we are happy with the overall performance. One day it will die of old age, but until then we will continue to enjoy its comfort and reliability.

Although now 8 years old this car has proved a reliable and comfortable workhorse since purchased 5 years ago. In that time it has covered just over 80000 miles; and apart from parts that needed replacing through normal wear and tear; the only problem was with a component in the air conditioning system that was replaced inexpensively by our local independent garage. The car appears to be well bolted together and it has yet to develop any of the rattles and squeaks that one might expect of a car of this age. On a motorway run it still gets just over 60mpg and close to that when loaded with 5 adults and a few suitcases, only maginally down from the milage acheived when first purchased with 40000 miles on the clock. Being a Ford, spare parts that may be required for services are easily obtainable and relatively cheap. Although I am looking to change this vehicle early next year my experience with this car means that it is very likely to be replaced with a newer version of the same model.

Several years of pain free motoring, & then to be bitten by that hidden demon called the duel mass flywheel, out of the blue, with only 60k on the clock! "its a common fault on the diesel Mondeos" says the mechanic,"but no point in complaing to ford, as they are not interested", he continued. £1100 down, & i get my car back, working fine, but with a bitter taste in the back of my throat. i have owned fords for the last 25yrs, but i think this will be my last, & i will be giving another brand a look next year. Apart from that, it has been reliable, practical, fairly decent on the diesel(46.4mpg combined), its no sportscar, but it has a fair bit of torque, can be quite brisk,(up to the legal speed limit!), also,it can carry a suprising amount of furniture(when roped in as a removal man :)) Would i recomend buying one? - only if it has had the DMF replaced, otherwise walk on, or get a grand knocked off the price, so that you can get it done.

Purchased 2nd hand Titanium model Plus points Cheap to insure and service, handy dealer Good load capacity, Dab radio, good grip and handling Quite quiet on the run. Good side mirrors-adjustable up and down. Reasonable to good economy given size of vehicle Minus points Firm ride, uncomfortable drivers seat - I need a back bolster and cushion. Mk3 Mondeo much better, drive all day without discomfort. Air vents on dash top reflect in screen (don't they check these things) Steering lacks something. No parking sensors as standard. No roof rails as standard. Not so easy to find 2nd hand. Fussy interactive convers screen - I would not use it whilst driving. Voice controls wasted on me. I want to drive the car not talk to it. Marketing have got a grip here thinking what the customer wants instead of what they actually want. To sum up, quite a good car marred by things which if tweaked could have made it a great car.

My Mondeo is the 3rd of the generation to bear this name. Having previously owned earlier models I am able to undertake direct comparisons between each. The key point is that the Mondeo is not just apparent body shapes under the same names, the technology has evolved each generation and each time noticeable improvements have been made a point that car review experts overlook. To some its an unassuming car, but to owners it is closer to ideal than many of the more suggested advanced cars of the same era., which may turn out to be more complex, unreliable with an overall higher lifespan cost. Much of the car can be repaired outwith a main dealer and often by the owner with reasonable DIY skills. With an overall proven and simple design, the competent owner can also identify and complete minor adjustments or repairs before a problem gets worse.

I am not sure how designers manage to produce designs that end up on the assembly line. Take for example the Mondeo which seems to have been around for eons. parallel parking in one of these monsters is not for the faint hearted. Use of the door mounted mirrors is only slightly assisted by the fact that they are electrically operated. Was the decision to have electrically operated mirrors spurred on by the fact that they fail to provide the driver with an adequate view of pavement/kerb while still allowing the driver to see the car/vehicle/person behind? This restriction coupled with the car's extremely poor turning circle creates the conditions for at best an ordeal at worst a dangerous manoeuvre - parallel parking come on you designers you've had almost 100 years to get this right!