Ford Mondeo 1.6 110PS LX

You know that inexplicable sense of knowing when you hear a great song for the first time. It’s as if you always knew the song and always knew it would be a huge hit. It has that ‘something’ that is hard to define properly, but the sound of it says it all.

Well the same can be said for certain cars. Some cars, even before you see them in the flesh, have 'it' and some give it to you when you sit into them for the first time.

The new Ford Mondeo has IT in spades. From the moment I saw the new model, I knew it was a great car and my intuition was confirmed the instant I sat in the driving seat and started the engine. The Mondeo has taken the family car to a level of excellence that the motoring industry, famous for copying faster than an illegal Asian DVD copying factory, will find hard to ape.

Why? Well it’s just that the new Mondeo does everything better than the old Mondeo and it is better than anything else in this motoring category. It is good looking, big, quiet, comfortable, practical, spacious, well-spec-ed... need I say more? It is bigger than the old Scorpio, which by way of contrast is a perfect example of how bad Ford can get it and yet Ford have shown that they can get it so right with this new Mondeo. Every car company needs a bad car, if only to spur them on to make the next one better. To give you an appreciation of the size of the new Mondeo, let me tell you that it is built on the same chassis as the Galaxy and S-Max.

Some facts on the New Mondeo. It has five EuroNCAP safety-rating stars, it has ESP (electronic stabilisation programming) across the entire range and at €24,995, it is spectacular value. It has excellent controls and dials and they are where you would intuitively look to find them. The rear seating space is limo standard.

My only criticisms are the tiny glove box and the ingress of water when the rear hatch is opened in the wet. Speaking of hatchbacks what is our national obsession with saloons? The hatchback version of the Mondeo that I drove is so, so practical. With 550 litres of space, you need never fear not being able to find a B&B late at night — believe me, you could easily sleep in the Mondeo's boot if you were stuck.

I drove the 1.6 litre engine version and I don’t mind admitting I was not filled with anticipation, as I feared 'big car/small engine' syndrome. I need not have worried. The 110bhp engine did a fine job moving the Mondeo's 2,050kg bulk. With speed cameras everywhere and more and more traffic on our roads, it’s nearly impossible to get anywhere, anyway quick. So take your time, let the 1.6 litre engine work its magic and you’ll get there points free, frugally, stress free and in top, top comfort. The new looks will soon be on the new face-lifted Focus due early this year.

The Avensis captured a place in the hearts of Irish motorists, but its favoured status will be severely tested this year following the recent award of the 'Irish Car of the Year' title to the Mondeo by a sizeable margin. The Mondeo is so good in so many areas that it’s nudging against 'premium car' standards but for considerably less cash. Expect to see our roads decked out with spanking new Mondeos during the first few months of 2008. This car has set a new benchmark that will inevitably be beaten but it will take an exceptional car, like the Mondeo, to do it. We the motorist can only benefit.

Finally, if it is good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for me.

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www.ford.ie
RRP: €24,995

St. Patrick's CU Monthly Loan
Repayment per €1,000.
Rate = 6.5%
Tel: 01 632 5100 or 01 632 5125
3 Years = €30.64 4 Years = €23.71
5 Years = €19.56

Manufacturers Fuel
Consumption Figs: Urban
10.0l/100km, Extra Urban
5.6l/100km