Ford Mondeo Ambiente 2015 Review

Finally, after much talking, Ford’s roll-out of a new-generation of cars has begun. First up is the fourth-generation Mondeo hatch and wagon. Coming soon are overhauls to the Ranger and Focus, plus the new Everest SUV and the iconic Mustang. The Spanish-built Mondeo is offered in three trim levels and three engine choices – two turbo-petrol and one turbo-diesel. Once the homegrown Falcon dies, it will become the sole ‘big’ car choice offered by Ford in Australia.

Considering it’s a new car, the latest Ford Mondeo does feel awfully familiar.

Maybe that’s because it’s actually been around overseas as long ago as early 2012, was a star exhibit for Ford Australia late the same year at the Sydney motor show (remember when we had those?) and was then rolled out again at that awful exercise at Fox studios in Sydney in August 2013 when a bunch of Americans told us how lucky we were to have our car manufacturing industry shut down (or at least I think that’s what they were saying – I was pretty busy throwing up).

So we’ve been looking at Mondeo without being able to touch for a long time now.

But that’s not all of it.

There’s the look; the guppy mouth is part of Ford's new design language, but the shape of the hatch and wagon is familiar, even if the marketing chat is all about sleeker, lower and sportier.

Or it could be the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is known and respected as a good performer in multiple other Ford models including the Falcon – which the Mondeo will effectively replace as the Blue Oval’s large car offering once the Broadmeadows assembly line clanks to a halt no later than October 2016.

Maybe it’s a combination of all those things stirred in with one other factor – the Mondeo simply isn’t anything particularly special to drive. It isn’t bad by any means, but our first experience on the roads in and around Canberra revealed competence rather than any real character.

It is a large front-wheel drive car and drives that way – like any number of other cars it competes against. It suffers from a remote tune of its electric-assist power steering that leaves the driver feeling a little disconnected from the front wheels and a substantial kerb weight that begins beyond 1600kg means it doesn’t feel especially nimble.

If you wanted evidence of why people like rear-wheel drive, Mondeo is exhibit A.

Which is a bit disappointing really, because Ford is well known for its ability to put a sporting zing into mainstream cars – Fiesta and Focus being prime examples.

Not that Ford is spending too much time eulogising the new Mondeo as a great drive, even if it is based on a new architecture and has a stiffer body than its predecessor. It instead has focussed on the technology, listing the many extra advanced features it has compared to the big-selling Toyota Camry.

Mind you, it would want to be well equipped as the manufacturer list price places the Mondeo at the expensive end of the medium class. At $32,790, the Ambiente petrol hatch is nearly $3000 more than the $29,990 opening gambits from the new Hyundai Sonata and Subaru Liberty. However, it does line up against the Mazda6, which is widely regarded as the best car in the class.

You will be up for more than $50,000 once you work your way up through the Trend and Titanium specification levels then make the switch into the wagon and to the diesel engine (mandatory in the Trend and Titanium load haulers). You get plenty of gear for the money including class-first inflating rear seatbags, but the Mondeo doesn’t trump the likes of the Mazda6 for equipment as dramatically as it does the Camry.

For instance the top-spec 6 Atenza gets both head-up display and rear cross-traffic detection – features missing from the Mondeo. It’s also notable the Ecoboost Mondeos are officially more thirsty than the Ecoboost Falcon, something Ford engineers couldn’t explain when quizzed. 

Yet, the Mondeo has its charms. It is quiet, rides well in entry-level Ambiente specification on 16-inch rubber and passive suspension and retains that fundamental quality on 17-inch rubber in the mid-spec Trend. It’s only on the Titanium’s 18-inch rubber and active suspension that it becomes grumpy in comfort and downright angry in sport. 

Drivetrains are a highlight. The Ambiente’s entry-level 149kW Ecoboost four-cylinder engine delivers with enthusiasm, the 177kW version adds verve along with more kiloWatts and a wider torque spread, while the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel has great mid-range kick without giving up too much refinement to the petrols.

Its marriage with the dual-clutch Powershift gearbox is also as good as the partnership between the orthodox six-speed torque-converter auto and the petrol engines. However, manual changes for both transmissions are made only by flappy paddles on the steering wheel and the digital gear readout in the IP is tiny.

The interior space is generous, boot space quite competitive at 458 litres in the hatch and 488 litres in the wagon (expanding to 1356 and 1588 litres respectively). Adult passengers 180cm and a little taller should be able to fit without scrunching knees and bending neck. It would be nice if they got the added comfort of rear air-con vents and a fold-down arm-rest in the Ambiente. All trim levels could use door grabs as well as handles too.

Up front the driver gets a reach- and rake-adjustable steering column (powered in Titanium) and an accommodating seat, different instrument panels and centre stack presentations in each grade, multiple places to store stuff  like phones and drinks (partially thanks to the space created by shifting to an electric park brake) and a big glovebox.

The dashboard is not bold and showy in the way the big shiny panel on the centre stack of the old Mondeo was. This time round the hues are restrained and if anything, duller the higher up the range you go.

Ford is making modest noises about its expectations for Mondeo. Considering the class it contests is itself performing pretty modestly these days that’s sensible.

But that’s not the only reason Ford should keep its goals for Mondeo in check. Unless a longer exposure reveals more talent this is a car destined to settle into mid-field mediocrity, hampered by a comparatively high price, a lack of individuality and a sense that we’ve seen and experienced much of it all before.

It’s been a long wait, but the jury’s out on whether it’s been worthwhile.

2015 Ford Mondeo Ambiente pricing and specifications:
Price: From $32,790 (plus on-road costs)
Engines: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 149kW/345Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 192g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five stars (ANCAP)

What we liked:
>> Spacious interior
>> Comfortable ride
>> Refined drivetrains

Not so much:
>> Entry price
>> Drive experience antiseptic by Ford’s standard
>> Petrol engine fuel economy

Also consider:
Hyundai Sonata (from $29,990)
Mazda6 (from $32,540)
Toyota Camry (from $30,490)