MOTORNETNEWS  ROAD  TEST  -  MAY  2008

FORD  MONDEO  XR5

The new Mondeo is a stunning looker and the XR5 even more so! The sleek body is enhanced by the chrome-surrounded mesh grille and the silver highlights around the wide sculpted air intake in the bumper. At each side a silver nacelles for the projector-type driving lights. The headlights sweep back from the grille and cut into the pumped out front guards. 

The roof is swept back in a single arc and is almost coupe-like. The three window side treatment end is an upsweep and a neat chrome strip runs along the doors just above a sculpted line through to the rear . Swish alloy wheels are classy and attractive, mirrors and bumpers are body-coloured. The styling is very wedge-shaped with the profile rising from the low front to fairly high boot line. The front bumper has parking sensors fitted.

At the rear the taillights are beautifully designed in two jewelled arcs that wrap around the bodywork and extend into the boot lid.  Under the rear bumper is a very neat silver accent panel with the twin exhaust outlets at each side. The rear bumper offers very good protection to the body panels, however, the front one includes the grille, air-intake and driving lights and could be expensive in a nose-to-tail traffic accident. Rear parking sensors are fitted as standard but they are far too quiet.

The boot lid has a discreet spoiler that probably does nothing for the road holding but appeals to the sporty types who are prospects for the car! 

The bonnet  does not have a gas strut which one would expect in a $42,000+ car. The lid is insulated and the engine layout is very smart and practical. Build quality is excellent - there is a nice, solid feel throughout the car.

INSIDE:

The new Mondeo is a much larger car than the one it replaced, in fact, there isn't all that much difference in useable space to the falcon especially the models prior to the AU/BA/BF versions. The four doors open wide for easy access and the interior is very upmarket with smart black leather upholstery with Alcantara trim plus chrome  and matte silver highlights throughout the cabin and dashboard. The light grey roof lining extends down the window pillars to give an airy ambience.

The front seats are sporty and extremely comfortable with very good lateral support and full adjustment including lumber support. Both front seats also have heaters. The rear seats o4-spoke steering wheel is fully adjustable and is leather-wrapped and has remote controls for the audio system, cruise control and trip computer. 

The instrument binnacle is deeply hooded and the dials are large and easy to read. The centre dash console is very modern and sweeps down into the centre arm rest between the seats. It is dominated by a large LCD screen that provides a wealth of information.  The controls for air-conditioning and audio system are very user-friendly. The stubby gear lever is just where your hand drops of the wheel and the handbrake is on the right hand side of the console - exactly where it should be.

The whole interior was obviously designed by someone who like sporty cars and driving as everything seems to be just where you want it. The glove box is tiny but there are door bins, rear seat pockets, an armrest bin, two cup holders and some small slots for odds and ends. Each visor has an illuminated and covered mirror.

LUGGAGE AREA:

The rear seats have a split/fold capacity to enlarge what is already a quite voluminous boot. The seat squab folds against the front seats so that the floor is flat when the seat backs are folded down. Four lugs are provided for securing luggage and a cargo cover hides your goods from prying eyes. The only failure is that there is a temporary spare wheel and tyre under the boot floor. With such a lot of space in the boot, surely Ford Australia should have opted for a full sized spare for Australia's wide open spaces! 

It is also nice to see that Ford hasn't done away with the interior recess on the boot lid for easy closing as many other manufacturers are doing lately. 

ON THE ROAD:

The Mondeo XR5 was designed as a sporty car and it lives up to its "XR" designation. While it isn't as performance-oriented as the Focus XR5 that uses the same 2.5-litre, turbo, 5-cylinder engine, it is by no means  lacking in driving fun. The sweet revving 162kW engine  has 320Nm of torque available from as low as 1500rpm. This power plant is coupled to a superb clutch and slick gearbox (the XR5 is only available as a six-speed  manual) that makes it an ideal car for enthusiastic drivers. 

The ride is superb, very European in that it is supple yet grips the road at all times and can be cornered hard without any fuss. The brakes are built to handle the performance . The steering is light but positive and gives the driver a good 'feel' for the road. The lights and screen wipers are automatic, the cruise control is excellent, the rear parking sensors are too quiet but, all in all, the Mondeo XR5 is a delightful drive. This is the sports car that the family can use.

PRICE:                    41,990 plus on-road costs.

STANDARD:        Dual front, side and head airbags; ABS brake system with Brake Assist & Electronic Brake Distribution; dual climate-control air-conditioning; 18" alloy wheels; Body kit; Cruise Control; 6 Disc CD Player; Central Remote Locking; Dynamic Stability Control; Driving Lights; Engine Immobiliser; Parking Distance Sensors (front and rear);  Driver's Seat Electric Controlled; Power Mirrors, Steering &Windows; 8-Speker Audio System; Front Seat Belt Pre-tensioners; Sports Seats; Sports Suspension; Trip Computer; Traction Control.

OPTIONS:            Metallic Paint $350; Power Sun Roof $1,900; Voice Recognition System $450.