Mondeo takes a leaf out of the eco book (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Mondeo takes a leaf out of the eco book

12:08pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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Timing is everything in car production. With the whole world obsessed with the price of fuel, Ford, among others, has turned its attention to keeping costs down.

As Tony Blair might have said, the current emphasis for car companies is economy, economy, economy.

Now that fuel prices look set to stay at an eye-wateringly high level and with tax banding punishing the worst polluters even further, efficiency is key to the family budget.

Even the Mondeo, that centrepiece of middle England, has been turned into a very cost-effective model – Mondeo Econetic.

Fancy that, a big car which can manage nearly 55mpg, yet still rides and handles like a swish motorway cruiser.

The current-generation Mondeo may be more upmarket than the previous generation rep-mobiles that spawned the ‘Mondeo-Man’ title, but it’s still very much an everyman’s car, so it says a lot about the current requirements of ‘Mondeo-Man’ that an eco-friendly model is called for.

What sets this latest economical Mondeo apart from previous ‘green’ cars is the lack of compromise required. Driving the Mondeo Econetic is much the same as driving any other mid-market Mondeo.

There is no discernible lack of power, and the equipment levels are pretty lavish.

High-efficiency engines allied to incredible aerodynamics allow this car to achieve economy and emissions which are quite breathtaking.

So, while the likes of Toyota Prius grab the headlines, Ford’s green Mondeo will grab the sales.

So, how exactly does this car achieve such green-ness? Simple, really. It has a very good engine, low-resistance tyres, a lower-than-usual ride, a few gearbox tweaks, hi-tech oil and a dashboard light to indicate when you should be switching up or down a gear. Annoying, perhaps, but that light can add quite a few miles per gallon if you take notice.

You might notice a slightly firmer ride in the Mondeo Econetic, however, as part of its collection of tricks is the use of sports suspension to lower the ride height and improve aerodynamic efficiency. If you’re willing to get your hands and knees dirty, you may also spot the flat under-tray, which serves a similar role.

Elsewhere, an extremely long-ratio gearbox has been employed to keep the revs to a minimum.

Inside, occupants remain as well catered for as in any of the more decadent models. Safety hasn’t been neglected, with copious airbags including driver’s knee and rear curtain examples, and a full ESP system with traction control.

Bluetooth phone integration is a reminder that the Mondeo remains very much a business tool, but the interior space on offer makes it an extremely workable family car.

A huge boot and spacious interior give you room to stretch out. Granted, that interior space is reflected in the Mondeo’s large exterior dimensions, but that’ll be easily forgiven when comfortably transporting five adults from A to B.

However, as a cruiser, the Mondeo remains highly-competent in Econetic form. Even the combination of sports suspensions and firmer low-rolling-resistance tyres fails to detract enough from the ride quality to register.

The Mondeo’s much-trumpeted handling composure and surefooted cornering with a minimum of body roll remain, while refinement is very impressive in terms of wind and road noise.

Granted, the eco-friendly car has yet to completely transcend compromise, but the core elements that have made the current-generation Mondeo so popular, remain in the Econetic version.

This is a high-quality, well-equipped and spacious model. It’s not quite the answer to all our economic woes, but it’s quite a step forward.

PRICE: £20,795. Part of a range which starts at £15,695.

ENGINE: 2.0 litre turbodiesel unit developing 115PS via a six-speed gearbox.

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 121mph, 0-62mph 10.9 seconds.

COSTS: Urban (town) 42.8mpg; extra-urban (country) 64.2mpg; combined 54.3mpg.

EMISSIONS: 139g/km.

WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles.

INSURANCE: Not yet announced.

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