SERENITY is not a word you would normally associate with a large estate car – usually seen as a workhorse for active families or business users.
But during my week with the hybrid Ford Mondeo load-lugger, I found it wonderfully calming to drive – a real oasis of peace and tranquillity.
This was partly because the petrol/electric powertrain of the blue oval badged machine was incredibly smooth and quiet. But it was also due to the instrument display graphics that encourage more efficient driving.
So I soon found myself accelerating and braking less aggressively, trying to gain 100 per cent efficiency, as I relaxed and enjoyed the comforts of the Titanium Edition spec cabin.
Another benefit of the hybrid, with a 2.0-litre petrol engine at the front and a battery-driven electric motor towards the rear, is that the car’s ride is well balanced and composed.
It always felt firmly planted to the black stuff and the steering was nicely weighted, making cornering on country roads or zipping around town equally enjoyable.
With the system automatically switching between electric, petrol or a combination of both to power the big Ford, and a smooth six-speed auto transmission, the drive was both refined and rewarding.
A healthy 187PS on tap means you can easily make progress should you need to – the 0-62mph dash takes just 9.2 seconds and this estate tops out at 116mph.
The technology also means that, despite being a sizeable family transporter, the average fuel economy is 47.1mpg, with CO2 emissions of 113g/km.
Also, there’s no hassle about having to plug in this Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) to recharge the battery, as this is done by regenerative braking and a petrol-powered generator.
But while this Mondeo may be frugal when it comes to fuel usage, Ford doesn’t stint when it comes to on-board equipment. I love the marque’s SYNC3 infotainment system because it is just so easy to use and the eight-inch touchscreen can be split to display map, phone and audio information.
The set-up features full smartphone integration, sat nav, DAB radio, access to various car functions, an emergency assistance call feature and voice control.
Other goodies are keyless entry and start, auto lights (including high beam), rain-sensing wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control and Quickclear electric heated front windscreen.
All of these can be enjoyed from the comfort of cosseting premium leather seats that are powered (including memory settings for the driver) and heated up front.
And among the safety features are pedestrian and cyclist detection with automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and a lane keeping aid.
The cabin has plenty of head, shoulder and legroom for four adults to stretch out – or you can fit three kids on the back seats relatively easily. A nice touch is the ability to change the ambient lighting colour to suit your tastes, too.
The 403-litre boot space also accommodated my golf clobber without difficulty and there is 1508 litres to play with for your DIY treks if you fold the rear row.
The hybrid estate is a good looker, too, with sweeping sculpted lines on the bonnet and along the sides, striking chrome grille, roof rails and tailgate bar, and classy multi-spoke 18in alloy wheels.
So if you fancy a more eco-friendly automotive grafter, this Mondeo HEV estate, priced from £29,450, should be on your list.
Factfile:
- Model: Ford Mondeo Titanium Edition HEV Estate
- Engine: 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid
- Power: 187PS
- Top speed: 116mph
- 0-62mph: 9.2 seconds
- Average mpg: 47.1
- CO2 emissions: 113g/km
- Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles
- Price: £29,450
