Business as usual

A firm fleet favourite, the Ford Mondeo has received a raft of revisions, including the introduction of an environmental model aimed at the business market. Richard Gooding drives the 112g/km Ford Mondeo Zetec Business Edition 1.6 TDCi

‘Mondeo Man.’ A description coined by Tony Blair who identified Ford Mondeo owners as the home-owning, aspirational Middle Britain voters which Labour needed to win over during the 1997 General Election campaign. Applied to male family or fleet drivers of Ford’s hugely popular C/D‑class challenger, the Mondeo became so ubiquitous it dominated the mid‑sized saloon segment. It became
 a fleet favourite, too. Comfortable, refined and roomy, it became the beloved transport of motorway-trawling salesmen both in this country and overseas. Coincidentally, with a name derived from ‘mundus’, the Latin word for ‘world’, it has proved to be a global hit. Over 4.2 million have been sold since its introduction in 1993.

ECOLOGICALLY-THEMED
The current, fourth-generation Mondeo has been in service since 2007, but a facelift in 2011 saw the range refreshed. Further enhancements in summer last year brought about environmentally‑themed modifications. It’s these new levels of ecologically‑appealing changes which are of most interest to GreenFleet readers. Indeed, the subject of this test, the Zetec Business Edition 1.6 TDCi ECO Start/Stop seems tailor-made to green-minded fleet drivers. There’s lots of kit (and a cavernous boot) to entice fleet managers of course, but also low emissions of 112g/km, dealing the killer punch in a fleet-aimed double whammy.

Given the size of the Mondeo, that last figure is impressive. Even more so is the official miles per gallon figure of 65.7 on the combined cycle. The engine may sound small at 1.6 litres, but the eco-tuned unit develops a more than adequate 114bhp. Yes, that means it’s no road burner, but that’s not this car’s intended forté. No, the Mondeo Zetec Business Edition 1.6 TDCI is designed to be a comfortable and refined motorway companion, and at this it excels. It’s also a happy coincidence that it’s in this environment that the large Ford delivers its high mpg values.

WELCOME BENEFIT
With a fuel tank capacity of 70 litres, Ford quotes a theoretical range of 1,012 miles. EJ13 LKX arrived with 652 miles of range left showing, and 326 miles later, 381 miles’ worth of fuel was calculated to be still be left in the tank. That equates to over 700 miles of driving. I averaged 50.4mpg over my week with the car, a figure which a similarly‑specified petrol‑powered car would have real trouble getting anywhere near. Another surprising but welcome benefit is that the emissions of the eco‑Mondeo mean it costs £0 in VED in the first year of its life, and only £30 thereafter.

Other Ford ECOnetic technologies contributing to the Mondeo’s parsimonious appetite are lowered suspension, smart regenerative charging, and an active grille shutter. EcoMode driver feedback, meanwhile, displays gear shifting, anticipation, and speed ‘ratings’. Green ‘flowers’ appear in the information screen, and depending on how ecologically you drive, a higher number of ‘petals’ are illuminated. It’s a simple, yet highly effective system which does make you monitor your driving habits. Auto‑Start‑Stop cuts out the engine when the car is knocked out of gear when stationery and also helps this Mondeo be the most frugal car to wear the illustrious name.

Why else should this version of the Mondeo Zetec Business Edition make more fleet friends? One reason is that it is well‑equipped. Parking sensors, 17” alloy wheels, seven airbags, a touchscreen navigation system with Bluetooth/USB/radio/CD and voice controls, cruise control, heated windscreen, rear privacy glass, front fog lights, LED running lights and rear lamps, air conditioning, heated windscreen, and electric windows all round should give reps plenty to play with. My test car came with £2,095 of optional equipment, which included a lane departure system (vibrating the steering wheel when the car strays over a lane marker and illuminating a yellow lamp in the wing mirrors) and Ford’s Convers+ 256-colour display screen ahead of the driver.

FAVOUR-WINNING FACTORS
Other favour-winning factors include its refinement and handling. At legal speeds, in the top of the Mondeo’s six gear ratios, the engine is only spinning at 1,900rpm. Road noise is virtually non-existent, while only slight wind noise is present.

Add in an improved and well‑designed interior, nicely-weighted and
accurate steering, a composed ride and sharp dynamics – an appealing Ford trait of recent years.

In 1.6 TDCi ECO Start/Stop guise especially, the Mondeo Zetec Business Edition makes a lot of sense. It’s already a leading player, and there’s no reason why the big Ford shouldn’t swallow up even more of the business market than it already does.

Ford Mondeo Zetec Business Edition 1.6 TDCi ECO Start/Stop

ENGINE: 1560cc, four-cylinder diesel
CO2: 112g/km
MPG (combined): 65.7
VED: Band C, £0 first year,
£30 thereafter
BIK: 17%
PRICE (OTR): £21,195 (including VAT, £23,290 as tested)