Ford Mondeo Estate Review and Prices

The Ford Mondeo Estate is a fine family car and an alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen Passat Estate and Mazda 6 Estate. You might also consider the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Audi A4 Avant, which trade a little more class and prestige (and a higher price) for a little less space.

That said, it’s not as if this Mondeo suffers from poor quality in the cabin. On the contrary, if you remember previous versions of the Mondeo, you’ll be very impressed by the materials in this one. The design is pretty tidy, too, with an eight-inch touchscreen, and the only issue is that you may take a little while to get used to the buttons for the heating system.

If you’re just after a spacious family car, you won’t go wrong with the Ford Mondeo Estate. It has lots of room in the front and back, and the driver’s seat offers all the adjustment you’d ever need. That means it’s very easy to settle in to the car and it’s comfortable over long distances.

The wide rear bench seats three in comfort, too, and although the Passat has a larger boot with the rear seats up or down (650/1,780 litres versus 500/1,605 in the Ford) it’s unlikely that many buyers will grumble at what the Mondeo offers.

You won’t be disappointed with the Ford Mondeo Estate, but you might have the slight niggle that a VW or Skoda might have been a little bit better

They certainly won’t complain about how the Mondeo drives. Yes, it’s set up a little more softly than previous versions and the steering doesn’t have quite as much feel, but that’s not a problem in a family car. The Ford Mondeo Estate still feels stable yet surprisingly agile for such a large car and, thanks to its redesigned rear suspension, the ride comfort is well above average, even on the largest alloy wheels.

Mondeo buyers also have the option of a four-wheel drive system, which makes it the cheapest all-wheel drive car in its class. There’s not much difference between it and the regular front-wheel drive model in everyday use, but as you would expect it brings extra grip in slippery or wintry conditions.

Beyond that, buyers have no shortage of engines to choose from, but the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel models are the most interesting as they provide a good balance of performance and low running costs. Alternatively, if you need some towing capability, try the 180hp 2.0-litre turbodiesel or the rapid 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol. There’s also a Mondeo Estate PHEV. Read more about that car in the Mondeo Estate Plug-in Hybrid review.

There’s a good range of trims to choose from, too, and even the basic Zetec trim is well equipped, with a touch-screen infotainment system and climate control among many other things. Above that, ST-Line trim gives the car a sportier look and feel, while the Titanium Edition and Vignale focus more on luxury.

Across the range, every model comes with seven airbags and has the option of inflatable seat belts on the outer rear seats to further improve the car’s safety. They’re part of a package of safety equipment that helped the car earn a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

If there is a disappointment, it’s that some of the tech – for example, the blind spot warning system and lane-keeping alert – are only optional extras on some models.

Overall, though, the Ford Mondeo Estate has a long list of pros and very few cons. It’s practical, economical, refined, comfortable and stylish. Yes, it can’t match the Skoda Superb for outright value and the Passat has better build quality, but the Mondeo is not far behind either and makes a very practical family car.