Seven new full or partial Ford EVs will hit the streets of Europe and North America by 2020
Ford’s top-of-the-range Mondeo Vignale is now available as a Hybrid writes Geraldine Herbert
What is it? Hybrids now account for 7% of new car sales so the arrival of Ford’s first hybrid version of its popular Mondeo saloon is certainly timely. A hybrid wagon will launch next month.
Who is it aimed at? If you in the market for a family car that is more economical than petrol but you don’t do the mileage to justify a diesel than a hybrid is certainly one to consider.
Styling? Apart from discrete hybrid badges of honour, there is little to distinguish this Mondeo from any of the others in the range.
Under the bonnet? Following a standard hybrid set up the Mondeo is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine, combined with an electric motor. There is 187PS of power, that’s enough to zip from 0 – 100 in 9.2 seconds but not too much to induce motion sickness in your little darlings.
What about inside? Inside the Mondeo has much in common with the rest of the range but it is showing its age, that said there is good space throughout and plenty of room for passengers. But if you have passengers with luggage then you may find it wanting, unlike the regular Mondeo that comes with a boot space of 500 litres due to the battery that space is cut to 383 litres in the hybrid.
Ford Mondeo Hybrid interior
On the road? The Mondeo has always been a good car to drive and the hybrid is comfortable and smooth. It is, however, lacking power and never convincingly displays anything close to the combined power it boasts. The steering feels a little artificial but in its defence, things improve on the motorway and the Mondeo is a fine cruiser.
What about safety? In addition to five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP Adaptive Cruise Control enhanced with Stop & Go joins Mondeo’s sophisticated suite of driver assistance technologies alongside Intelligent Speed Limiter, for easier driving in motorway and stop-start traffic.
Will it break the bank? Ford claims it’ll do a diesel beating 4.2 litres per 100km. In comparison, a 2.0-litre diesel 150PS with automatic transmission would deliver a frugal rate of 4.8 litres per 100km. So has Ford transformed the Mondeo into a fuel-sipping teetotaller? Not quite, despite all its wizardry on a mix of urban and rural driving, I didn’t come close to that kind of efficiency. In addition, the HEV is not cheap, our test car the Vignale Automatic came in at €39,557.
What are my options? Two trim levels are available, Titanium or Vignale series and prices for the Titanium start at €32,745 and the Vignale from €35,280. Standard features on the Vignale include 18” Alloy Wheels, Metallic Paint, Adaptive LED Headlamps, Front and Rear Parking Sensors, Lane Keeping Aid, Traffic Sign Recognition, Vignale Body Styling Kit, Rear View Camera, Cruise Control with Speed Limiting Device and Heated Driver and Passenger Seats.
So what’s the verdict? The Mondeo is a really good blend of comfort and performance and the basic version offers good value for money at a starting price of €29,815. But while a hybrid option fills a void in the Ford Line up priced at €35,796 it is not premium enough for the price tag nor economical enough to justify the extra expense over the diesel.
Why you’ll buy one? Smooth, comfortable
Why you won’t? Boot space is small; pricey; running costs are not particularly low
Rivals
Volkswagen Passat GTE,
Toyota Prius
Ford Mondeo 2.0 HEV Vignale HEV
Engine: 1999cc Petrol and electric 187PS
Max speed: 187km/h
0-100 kph: 9.2 seconds
Emissions (Motor Tax) : 91g/km (Tax Band A2)
Model price range: from €29,815 (Test Car €39,557*)
No of Doors: 4 doors
Euro NCAP : 5 stars
Fuel type: Petrol/Electric
Fuel Economy (combined cycle): 4.8 l/100km
Boot Capacity Seats up(down) : 383 litres
Car Seats: 2 Isofix fittings in the rear
Length: 4871mm
Width: 1852mm
Height: 1482mm
Wheelbase: 2850mm
* includes Privacy Glass – €150
For more information on the Ford Mondeo Hybrid check out Ford.ie, the Ford Ireland Facebook page or follow them on twitter here
Geraldine Herbert
11th February 2019
