Price a deal-breaker for Ford Mondeo

Design: 4, Interior:3, Engine:3.5, Fuel Economy:4, Cost & A/S: 3.5

The all-new Mondeo has its virtues.

At the press test drive on a rainy April 14, the fifth-generation of Ford’s iconic sedan provided a dynamic and stable ride, with its 2.0 diesel engine flaunting 180 horsepower and a maximum torque of 20.8 kilogram meters. 

Over 60 kilometers of wet, sometimes winding and bumpy roads, the car’s suspension worked well when going over speedbumps.

The steering wheel was soft, adding a sense of stability to the overall driving experience, and the overall fuel efficiency of 15.9 kilometers per liter also meets market expectations.

The spacious backseat that allows plenty of leg room even for tall people is also an asset.

The Mondeo has sold over 4.5 million units worldwide since 1993 and has become one of the best-selling Ford models of all times in both the U.S. and Europe. With its new diesel engine, the Mondeo is the U.S. company’s chosen strategic model to penetrate Korea’s growing diesel car market.

“About 70 percent of imported cars released in Korea have diesel engines and we are quite confident that the new Mondeo will take a fair share of that market,” said Ford Korea director Noh Sun-hee said.

However, things might be not so easy for Mondeo, as its prices start at 39.99 million won ($36,894), which overlaps with popular German cars such as the Volkswagen Passat, which starts from 35.3 million won.

Reservations linger. The Mondeo’s brakes were too sensitive at times and there was an uncomfortable period of sharp stops while drivers adjusted to them. The suspension worked for speed bumps, but somehow failed to deal well with dents and cracks on the roads.

The info-entertainment system wasn’t easy to master. The navigation system wasn’t easy to access from the main screen and it was also difficult to show room temperature controls and other basic functions.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)