Currently reading: Nearly new buying guide: Ford Mondeo
The Mondeo now lives in the SUV's shadow, so it’s a great time to buy

Before PCPs allowed car buyers to realise their wildest dreams, motors such as the practical, spacious and good-to-drive Ford Mondeo were what families bought and fleet bosses leased. 

The big Ford is still practical, spacious and good to drive, but times have moved on and it, and other large hatchbacks like it (it’s available in saloon and estate forms, too), are being left on the shelf. 

That’s good news if you’re a used car buyer, because while other people are paying top dollar for an SUV, the bargain hunter has the pick of Mondeos at lower prices. 

Click here to buy your next used Mondeo from Autocar

The model was launched here in 2014, two years after its US unveiling. In the interim, Ford of Europe had been tuning Henry’s world car for our tastes. The chassis might have lost a little engagement but its handling was as fluent as before and its ride and refinement stronger than ever. The cabin had lost none of its famed roominess, either. 

Mondeo 2015 3894i

And then there were the engines: 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0-litre Ecoboost petrols spanning outputs from 123bhp to 237bhp, and 1.5 and 2.0-litre TDCi diesels ranging from 113bhp to 207bhp. Over the years Ford has refined the line-up, among the casualties being the 112bhp 1.6 TDCi, which, in 2015, was replaced by the 118bhp, Euro 6-compliant 1.5 TDCi. 

The pick of the crop? Depending on your requirements, it’s a toss-up between the 158bhp 1.5 Ecoboost petrol, the 148bhp 2.0 TDCi or a 118bhp 1.5 TDCi. Meanwhile, if you must have an automatic, the Powershift gearbox hurts economy but is a sweet-shifting thing. 

Only in its interior finish and design does the Mondeo betray its workaday roots. On the upside, infotainment is provided by Ford’s Sync 3 multimedia set-up. It’s not the most responsive but it’s got full phone integration and a digital radio. 

Every car has its orphan and in the Mondeo’s case it’s Style trim. Actually, it’s a big improvement on Edge, its equivalent in the previous-generation Mondeo, since it has alloy wheels, air-con and, crucially, colour-coded door handles, but the rear windows remain manual only. 

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Ford's family car is now in its fourth iteration, but is the Mondeo ready to take the fight to a world burgeoning with rivals?

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Mondeo 2015 3889d

It’s good value but Zetec, the next trim up, is more plentiful and better equipped, with niceties including dual-zone air-con, rear electric windows and chrome and colour detailing. In 2016, it morphed into Zetec Edition with even more kit. It’s all you need really unless Titanium, the third spec, with its leather trim and parking aids, floats your boat. Also in 2016, ST-Line arrived. With lowered sports suspension, a bodykit, privacy glass and 19in alloys, it’s fun but pricey. The facelift came in this year, bringing a revised exterior, improved fit and finish (according to Ford) and new diesel engines. 

At prices to suit most pockets, the handsome, spacious and dynamically capable Mondeo makes a great used buy and, in this age of SUVs, it reminds us that riding high ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. 

BUYER BEWARE RecallsFor a volume car such as this, there have been impressively few recalls. However, there are some potentially serious ones including the headlights switching off and the sump cracking should the engine overheat. Check they've all been actioned. The better news is that in sister magazine What Car?'s reliability survey, the Mondeo pipped the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class.

Engine If it's a 1.5 EcoBoost, examine the coolant for oil stains and that it runs quietly and smoothly at all speeds. EcoBoost engines can be troublesome and the 1.5 has a big job on its hands moving the heavy Mondeo around. 

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Transmission The Powershift auto can have selection issues to do with the control module not communicating with the gearbox correctly. It was replaced by an eight-speed torque-converter unit in 2018. 

Electrics Bulb failures are common so be sure all the lights illuminate. The tailgate solenoid can also fail. Dashboard indicator lights can usually be traced to faulty sensors.

Steering If the steering is noisy or feels faintly rough as you turn the wheel the rack could be at fault, and that's a big repair bill.

Infotainment Check the sat nav mapping in Ford Sync 3 systems (2017-on). If there are problems, there is a Ford update that should cure them. 

Need to know

The Mondeo HEV was Ford’s first hybrid car. It has a combined output of 185bhp and emits just 99g/km CO2. Prices start at around £10,500 for a 2015/15-reg example with 84,000 miles. 

If it’s a toss-up between a late 2018 or early 2019 Mondeo, it’s worth knowing that the model was facelifted in March 2019. It gained Ford’s new EcoBlue diesel engine (in 148bhp and 187bhp outputs) and an intelligent speed limiter. 

Confusingly, Ford operates two used car schemes. Ford Approved Used offers the balance of the new car warranty and a guarantee that the car has a full history. Ford Direct offers a two-year unlimited warranty and the assurance that cars are independently inspected and approved by the RAC. 

Mondeo 2015 3891f

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Our pick

Mondeo 1.5 158bhp Ecoboost Titanium 5dr: This mid-power Ecoboost engine is punchy, reasonably economical and good value. A 2015/15-reg with 34,000 miles is £11,300 from a Ford dealer

Mondeo 1.0 123bhp Ecoboost Zetec 5dr: This entry-level petrol engine struggles to haul the Mondeo and needs a light foot to return anything like its claimed economy. It’s good value, though, with a 35,000-mile 2015/15-reg car costing £9350. 

Ones we found

2014 Mondeo 1.6 TDCi Style estate, 129,000 miles, £4999 

2015 Mondeo 1.5 TDCi Zetec 5dr, 117,000 miles, £6999 

2016 Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 150 Zetec 5dr, 62,000 miles, £10,000 

2018 Mondeo 1.5 TDCi Titanium estate, 18,000 miles, £16,500

Read more

Ford to resurrect Mondeo as global mid-sized crossover​

Ford Mondeo receives tweaked looks and extra tech for 2019

Factory fresh: driving the 300,000-mile Ford Mondeo​

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Peter Cavellini 14 September 2021

I had a Mondeo 1.8LX in 2001, it was an ideal Family car, huge back seat, three kids back there no problem,and a hatchback that could swallow all the luggage needed for a Holiday, it was a great drive when you wanted it to be, did about 42mpg , servicing was reasonable priced, I only had one problem with it, a spring broke at the front, today's Mondeo isn't thee car to have, and the rise of the SUV didn't help,and yes, 5series was a rival, but it only had a boot.

Rollocks 1 August 2019

Big? My arse!

Only the most parochial and ill-informed Brits would describe the Mondeo as "big." Have you stood next to one recently? It's actually pretty modest in size. I have a 2008 Titanium estate and the front cabin certainly isn't spacious.

The BMW 5 saloon sets the benchmark at the lower end of the 'large car' sector, and the current model is 4936mm from bumper to bumper. The Ford is significantly shorter at 4871mm.

As you know, Ford never marketed its big saloon (the Taurus - 5154mm) in the UK, although it is available as a grey import.

AddyT 1 August 2019

Rollocks wrote:

Rollocks wrote:

Only the most parochial and ill-informed Brits would describe the Mondeo as "big." Have you stood next to one recently? It's actually pretty modest in size. I have a 2008 Titanium estate and the front cabin certainly isn't spacious.

The BMW 5 saloon sets the benchmark at the lower end of the 'large car' sector, and the current model is 4936mm from bumper to bumper. The Ford is significantly shorter at 4871mm.

As you know, Ford never marketed its big saloon (the Taurus - 5154mm) in the UK, although it is available as a grey import.

Your 2008 isn't roomy. Really? I have a 2009 hatch and it seems massive inside. By comparison we have a Mk7 Golf and new Tiguan and the Mondeo seems bigger than both inside - Golf an obvious comment but the Tiguan is a bigger car. I can easily fit two 6 footers in the front and behind them and absolutely loads of space. When you look at the car from the outside it's really long and that's backed up by how much space it takes up in a regular supermarket parking space. It's great to drive but you do realise how big it is in certain situations, like parking in the aforementioned supermarket space. 

WallMeerkat 1 August 2019

Despite being put off Fords

Despite being put off Fords the Mondeo is one exception, any time I've been in one they've felt very high quality, comfortable and roomy. Remind me a bit of the old mk3 Granada.

Though being a long car with a fashionable high window line, I'm surprised you have to go up to Zetec spec to get parking sensors.

It was one of my options (which are getting fewer) before I plumped for the slightly smaller Octavia.

It looks like this will be the last hatchback/saloon Mondeo, if Autocar's reports are correct, next generation will be a Subaru Legacy Tourer style crossover estate only.