Ford Mondeo Mk4 Review (2014-2022)

What is the Ford Mondeo?

The original Mondeo was a huge turning point for Ford when it was launched in 1993. After a string of lacklustre performers, the Blue Oval’s all-new family car delivered sparkling driving dynamics that made it an instant class contender. It was a trait that would go on to become a key facet of the Mondeo range, with subsequent generations offering keen and engaging handling that helped set them apart from their competitors.

What made the Mondeo so popular, aside from its dynamics, was that it wasn’t a one-trick pony. It was spacious, practical, well equipped and effortless to live with, and most of these strengths were carried through into this, the fourth-generation model.

Ford launched the fourth-gen Mondeo in 2014 and, right from the outset, buyers could pick from a wide range of options. EcoBoost petrol and Duratorq diesel engines were offered in five-door hatch and estate cars, while an economical hybrid Mondeo was available in four-door saloon or practical estate guises.

In 2021, Ford finally announced that it was pulling the plug on the Mondeo in Europe following plummeting sales as owners sought out more popular SUVs instead. As a result, the last car rolled off the production line in April 2022.

How practical is it?

The fourth generation Mondeo is a big car, which means it’s also a roomy and practical one. Both the five-door hatchback and estate version offer bags of head and legroom for those sitting in the back, while the driver benefits from generous seat and wheel adjustment that make it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel.

As you’d expect for a car that was designed to be as much a mobile office for hard-working sales reps as it was a functional family car, the Mondeo is packed with handy storage. There are deep door bins that will happily swallow large bottles, cupholders galore and numerous cubbies that will accommodate everything from smartphones to wallets.

There’s a decent sized boot as well, with the hatchback delivering 654 litres of carrying capacity, which stretches to 1,446 litres when the rear seats are folded flat. The estate is more spacious still, serving up a very useful 755 litres in five-seat guise and a cavernous 1,630 litres with the rear bench lowered. The need to accommodate a large battery means the hybrid-powered estate manages only 633 litres and 1,508 litres respectively.

Curiously, Ford doesn't publish boot capacity figures for the hybrid saloon. Some of the Mondeo's materials don't have the lustre of those found in rivals, and the assembly doesn't always feel as solid, either. On the plus side, the interior is uncomplicated and easy to get along with. The dashboard is logically laid out and the standard touchscreen infotainment system is fairly easy to use.

What's it like to drive?

There's not much to complain about with the driving experience, either. Most importantly for a car built to carry families, it delivers a plush, cosseting ride that keeps its occupants comfortable on any type of surface, and at any speed. Few cars of this size and type are as refined and relaxing to drive.

It's also pretty handy in the corners, although those with experience of previous generation Mondeos are likely to be a little disappointed. It’s not bad by any stretch, but it is based on the all-American Fusion rather than a bespoke European chassis, and it’s clear there have been some dynamic compromises as a result. It feels grippy and well balanced, while the steering is communicative and nicely weighted, but it’s also a big car, and you can feel that as it changes direction.

The Mondeo also lacks the excellent body control that marks out the firm’s smaller models, such as the Focus and Fiesta. As a result it can feel a bit ponderous through a quick change of direction, lurching a little where, say, a Skoda Superb feels planted and poised. It’s not a bad car by any stretch, but it lacks the fun factor that make so many of the company’s cars such a pleasure to drive.

There was a wide array of EcoBoost petrols and EcoBlue diesels offered in the Mondeo. It’s best to go for the most powerful engine in your budget and desired economy range, within reason. The Mondeo is not a light car, after all, and used options such as the 1.6-litre TDCi and 1.0-litre EcoBoost can end up being worked particularly hard. This, in turn, reduces their real-world economy.

Instead, try to aim for a 2.0-litre diesel or one of the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrols. A hybrid model was available as well but, in its earlier iteration, it wasn’t particularly good. Ford improved it over the years, but try driving one first, just in case. All-wheel drive was also available in some variants, which could prove useful to some buyers.

A six-speed manual gearbox was standard on most early Mondeos, but is now only available on the entry-level 2.0-litre diesel. The good news is that it’s a light and precise unit that’s unlikely to cause you to turn the air blue, even in heavy traffic. A relatively slick eight-speed automatic was also available, which replaced an early six-speed auto and six-speed twin-clutch Powershift unit. The hybrid models use a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which is smooth enough, but can hold the engine revs at an uncomfortably high level when accelerating briskly.

Technology, equipment and infotainment

Trim levels consisted of Style, Zetec, Titanium and Titanium with X Pack trims, but even the base grade Style came with alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and LED tail lights. Further up the range you’d benefit from extras such as heated and leather trimmed seats, a digital instrument cluster and ambient interior lighting.

The line-up would evolve over the years, too, with cosmetic and equipment updates – and new offerings such as the sporty ST-Line trim, while at the same time the rest of the range was trimmed back to Zetec Edition and Titanium Edition.

At the top of the range was the Vignale, Ford’s ill-fated attempt to tempt customers away from premium brands such as BMW Mercedes. It features a bespoke grill and alloy wheels, while inside there’s quilted leather trim and pretty much all the gadgets and gizmos you could wish for. When it was new, Vignale ownership also offered owners their own area in a Ford dealership, where they could pop in any time and ask for a free car wash.

Early cars had Ford’s SYNC touchscreen infotainment, which featured DAB radio Bluetooth and USB connectivity, while Titanium models added sat-nav. Later cars benefitted from the far better SYNC3 set-up that packed a clearer and more responsive display, plus useful upgrades such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ford Mondeo running costs

This generation of Mondeo, in terms of fuel, VED and servicing, has never been a particularly expensive car to run. There is some variation, though, so a little care is needed. As a worst-case comparison, for example, an early diesel 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi could average as much as 62.8mpg, whereas the 2.0 EcoBoost SCTi petrol from the same era would potentially average 38.2mpg.

The Duratorq would also emit just 117g/km of CO2, whereas the EcoBoost could emit 171g/km of CO2. That meant an annual VED of £30 for the diesel, while the high-output petrol would cost £240. Consequently, if you’re looking at older Mondeos, just remember to check the tax bands and factor the costs into your equations.

Few will be considering the more powerful petrol options, though, or intending to rack up high miles in them, and it’ll be the diesels that are of most interest. The best out of the new line-up is the 2.0-litre EcoBlue in 148bhp specification, coupled to a manual transmission, which averages a peak of 56.5 mpg on the more realistic WLTP test cycle. The automatic version isn’t far behind, though, at 53.3mpg. Emissions are low, too, so first year VED costs won’t prove extortionate.

The hybrid is the cleanest of the lot, that said, emitting a little as 94g/km of CO2, which could prove particularly beneficial to company car drivers. There were also some frugal ECOnetic variants of the Mondeo, which could be worth investigating if you want a used car, which qualified for £0 annual VED.

One thing worth considering is depreciation, however, as some of the more expensive models do not hold onto their value well. That’s why, for the most part, it makes best sense to stick to the more affordable engine and trim options.

If you’re buying a new Mondeo, Ford does offer service plans that can help spread the cost of maintenance. A variety of plans are offered, including a two-year, two-service deal that costs £369. Alternatively, you can pay some £16 a month to spread the cost.

Aside from an extensive dealer network, the prevalence and long-running nature of the Mondeo mean that independent garages will be easily able to service it, so keeping a used Mondeo going shouldn’t prove troublesome or excessively costly. Insurance groups are also comparable to its rivals, so there shouldn’t be any unpleasant surprises on that front.

Ford Mondeo Reliability

A new Mondeo gets a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. It’s a serviceable but fairly underwhelming offering, particularly when you consider options such as the five-year warranties from Toyota and Hyundai, or the stellar seven-year warranty from Kia. Ford does have a pretty decent reputation for reliability and satisfaction, though, and the original warranty can be extended up to four or five years, so you don’t necessarily have to write the Mondeo off immediately.

The car has also generally proven durable and reliable, so don’t have too many concerns on that front, but there have been several recalls. Some are for minor things but the Mondeo is among the many cars affected by the Takata air bag recall. You’ll need to check any used purchase, as a result, against the government recalls website to see if there are potentially outstanding issues.

If you want a used Ford, you’ve two options: the Ford Approved scheme, or the Ford Direct scheme. The Ford Approved option offers cars that are up to five years old and with 70,000 miles on the clock, each of which are inspected and covered by the balance of the remaining warranty. Each car comes with full service history, one years’ roadside assistance, an exchange plan, three days’ insurance and finance is available.

Ford Direct, on the other hand, offers nearly new cars with two years’ unlimited-mileage warranty, two years’ roadside assistance and the other benefits offered by the Ford Approved scheme. Consequently, when taking into account the myriad private and independent dealer options as well, it should be easy to find a suitable used Ford Mondeo, but buying one direct from Ford could save some hassle later down the line, should anything go wrong.

The Mondeo has been around for a while now, however, so if you’re looking at older examples with no warranty then just try to make sure that they’ve been properly maintained and serviced at the appropriate intervals. Diesel models, as is the case with any modern car, can throw up some expensive bills with age and higher miles, so bear that in mind.