By Owen Ready
12 October 2007
It’s amazing how many looks our new Mondeo is getting. Maybe it’s the Lamborghini-style 18inch rims or the very cool green/grey Thunder metallic paint. Quite possibly it’s the unexpectedly exotic-sounding five-cylinder warble emanating from its twin exhausts – an element that gives every journey a sense of occasion. Whatever the reason, it’s certainly catching people’s attention in a way that a car as mainstream and ubiquitous as the Mondeo has no right to. On this evidence it’s image certainly appears to be ahead of rivals such as Vauxhall’s Vectra and the Renault Laguna but can it really challenge the likes of BMW and Audi as an all-round ownership prospect?
In order to give the Mondeo a fighting chance against the more upmarket competition we’ve chosen to test it at its fighting fittest in top-flight trim level and with the flagship engine. As such, EF07 VHK is the top of the range Titanium X 2.5-litre turbo with optional Bluetooth connectivity (£150), metallic paint (£350) and Sport Park (£500) that adds those gorgeous alloys, a boot spoiler and sports suspension, bringing the total price up to £23,954.
Yes, it’s a lot of money for a Mondeo but to put it into context, the same amount would buy a BMW 320i SE, while a similarly powerful and specified BMW 325i M Sport would set you back £29,115 although the Mondeo is actually closer to the 5-series in size.
First impressions are that this is going be prove itself a seriously good all-round companion over the next half-year but will it justify its costs of purchase and running? Rest assured that we’ll let you know how we get on every step of the way.
If you also own a Mondeo why not let us know how you’re getting on in the Car Spy blog?
