Ford Mondeo Estate

The pre-facelift Mondeo was a strong contender, but styling tweaks and a range of more powerful yet cleaner engines have boosted its appeal. The smooth TDCi diesel strikes a fine balance between performance and running costs. The 1,740 litres of boot space ensure the Ford is one of the biggest estates around, yet despite its size, it drives beautifully. A talented all-rounder at a good price.

The Ford Mondeo Estate has always been big, but thanks to a new range of super-efficient engines, it’s clever, too! 

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We’ve already driven the range-topping 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel wagon on European roads; now, we’ve hit UK tarmac in the bigger-selling 138bhp 2.0-litre TDCi model.

Most buyers will be hard-pushed to spot the difference between this facelifted model and its predecessor – but the changes are there. The most obvious addition is the daytime running lights integrated into the reprofiled front bumper. 

New foglamps and a revised rear bumper complete the tweaks.

Inside, the changes are even less obvious, and limited to improving the existing layout. Fresh graphics on the instrument dials, ambient lighting and an upgrade in standard kit are the only major updates. 

Cabin quality is still up there with the best in the class, but compared to the new C-MAX, the cabin is beginning to appear a little old-fashioned. However, there’s nothing old-hat about the way the Mondeo drives. Whether at town speeds or cruising on the motorway, refinement is superb. 

Insulation from wind and road noise is on a par with the likes of the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class, while the ride is taut yet comfortable. Our car was fitted with the standard dampers, but the optional Driver Select Suspension system allows you to choose from three modes. 

The steering is the Mondeo’s highlight, though. It’s light in town, but crisp and accurate when the pace picks up.

The 138bhp 2.0-litre TDCi diesel is smooth, but is more sluggish from low revs than the 161bhp version. For day-to-day driving, though, even with a full complement of passengers and luggage, there’s plenty of torque to make rapid progress. And while 53.2mpg economy lags slightly behind the rival Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 2.0 CDTI, the pay-off is an extra 10bhp to play with.

The estate offers a massive 1,740 litres maximum boot space – that’s 210 litres more than the Insignia – and costs £1,100 more than the Mondeo hatch. 

In Titanium trim and without expensive optional extras such as sat-nav or the Powershift automatic box (£1,500 each), a price tag of £22,495 stacks up well compared to rivals.
 
Rival: Mazda 6 Estate
It has a bigger boot than the Mondeo, but the 6 doesn’t compromise on style. It’s a sporty alternative to the family estate class leaders.