► Month six with our Ford Mondeo
► Now the polish has worn off, what’s she like?
► It’s a harsh reality for the Mondeo
Load management? Posh name for boot rail
The boot isn’t the biggest in the class but it’s still deep enough to let you lose a couple of shopping bags into its abyss. The optional £250 Load Management System comprising a floor-mounted sliding rail and cargo net sorts that, and is fully removable when you need use of every single square litre.
Sat-nav screen illegible in sunlight
We’ve hated on the touchscreen nav before – it’s horribly laggy and the buttons are minute. But here’s one more whinge: it’s almost impossible to see in sunlight. On the plus side the 12-speaker Sony sound system does a great job of filling the vast cabin with music.
Useful stuff for those who drive while asleep
Safety aids feature big in the Mondeo package. We’ve tried the Lane Keeping Aid (standard on Titanium trim; we normally leave it switched off) but fortunately not the Active City Stop auto-braking function (£200) or seen the £175 inflatable rear seatbelts in action.
Who let that sunshine in here?
The £900 sunroof floods the cabin with light, but there’s not much chance of any other kind of flood happening because the opening function is kaput. The whole lot was covered up in July when I hired another roofbox from Iain at the ever-helpful A2outdoorhire.co.uk for a camping trip.
From the driving seat
+ Impressively hushed cruiser
+ Massive cabin space, but boot space only fair
– Disappointingly American interior trim
– Strong mid-range punch but not great on fuel
– It’s a big car with a big turning circle. Optional parking sensors a must
Logbook Ford Mondeo Titanium 2.0TDCi
Engine: 1997cc 16v turbodiesel 4-cyl, 178bhp @ 3500rpm, 295lb ft @ 2000rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed dual-clutch auto, all-wheel drive
Stats: 8.7sec 0-62mph, 135mph, 130g/km
Price: £26,865
As tested: £31,135
Miles this month: 2270
Total miles: 8459
Our mpg: 38.9
Official mpg: 56.5
Fuel this month: £318.62
Extra costs: (this month) £0