Welcome, internet, to what may be the last ever Ford Mondeo. The once ubiquitous saloon car has had the facelift treatment, a year after Ford sounded the death knell for all cars barring the Fiesta and Mustang in its US home market. Given the Mondeo you see here is based upon the soon-deceased Fusion, it’s easy to wager there’ll be no Mondeo after the one you see here.
Which might explain why it’s had a wee tech overhaul to keep it relevant. So there’s an updated hybrid which now comes in estate form for the first time. It combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery for a 187bhp total, which is matched only by the most powerful diesel option elsewhere in the range.
Yep, diesel. But perhaps in recognition of its waning appeal, Ford reckons half of Mondeos sold will now be a hybrid. It also reckons the petrol-electric saloon will dip below 100g/km of CO2 emissions, with the estate a smidge over, at 103g/km. Should help heighten its status on a company car list, upon which Mondeos have long been a mainstay.
There’s also a 165bhp turbo petrol option, and you can have four-wheel drive on some models, too. Other updates include mildly tweaked styling, the addition of active cruise control with semi-autonomy in traffic jams and, um, “new door handle appliques”. Automatic Mondeos also get a Jaguar-esque rotary gear selector. It’s a reasonably subtle facelift, all told.
Too subtle to save the ‘Deo? Or do you fancy its chances withstanding the Great SUV Takeover?
