A mid-life nip-and-tuck has refreshed the Ford Mondeo’s looks and upgraded the interior finish, while a revised engine line-up promises better economy and lower emissions.
The Mondeo’s engine is that bit noisier than the VW Passat saloon’s, and there’s more road noise, too. However, the gearing is better suited to towing, so acceleration in fifth and sixth is stronger than the Passat can manage, although from 30-60mph through the gears there’s nothing to choose between them.
Driving judges and the Al-Ko ATC system agreed that this is a very stable tow car, with little movement from the caravan when slowing down from high speeds. The lane-change test was straightforward, too. However much the van slid, the car was never dragged off-line.
Leave the caravan on your drive and the Mondeo is great fun to drive solo. The suspension strikes a near-perfect balance between comfort and control, and the steering is direct and precise.
It’s also a very spacious car, with plenty of room for adults to sit in comfort in the back. We found room for all our holiday luggage, too. On the other hand, it’s a shame no Trailer Stability Programme is fitted.