Launched in the Malaysian market in 2011, the outgoing Ford Mondeo EcoBoost is long due for a replacement. Competitors were getting better and better, while Ford’s D-segment competitor got a bit long in the tooth. The wait will soon be over, as Sime Darby Auto Connexion will be launching the new Ford Mondeo to our market very soon. So we went for a quick test drive to see how good Ford’s latest entry is.
Slated for a local debut some time in May, Sime Darby Auto Connexion held a test drive session for the new Ford Mondeo at Desa Parkcity over the weekend. We got into one and here’s what we thought about it (initially, that is).
One thing we do have to stress upon is the fact that the test route used by Ford at Desa Parkcity is riddled with speed humps. It was literally a speed hump for every 500 meters of road. With that being said, the speed humps was a good test of the Ford Mondeo’s front Macpherson strut and rear multi suspension arm. In short, the Ford Mondeo’s suspension was very well tuned, as the roughness of the roads get soaked up very well. That does not mean that handling as compromised, as from our short initial drive, the Ford Mondeo can tackle corners with ease.
We did not get a chance to stretch the legs of the Ford Mondeo much, which is a shame, considering that the Ford Mondeo packs a 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine with 240 PS and 345 Nm of torque. New to the Ford Mondeo is the 6-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, which replaces the old 6-speed PowerShift dual-clutch unit.
Despite the lack of proper open roads, initial impressions of the new Mondeo is good, with seamless gearshifts. Ford claims that the Mondeo takes under 8 seconds to sprint from standstill to 100 km/h, and top speed is rated at 240 km/h.
We also do note that the EcoBoost engine does give out a rather nice note when urged. Despite weighing some 1.6 tonnes, the Ford Mondeo does get its full 345 Nm of torque from just 2,300 rpm, which eases low-speed driving. If the need arises for spirited driving, there are paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
Other standard fitment to the Ford Mondeo includes the second generation Ford SYNC with Bluetooth and voice command, dual zone air conditioning, leather upholstery, a Sony sound system with a 9 speaker set up and a reverse camera. Safety kit includes 7 airbags (driver and passenger airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags and driver knee airbag), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assits (EBA) and Adaptive Cruise Control.
Sime Darby Auto Connexion plans to officially launch the new Mondeo some time next month, so stay tuned for the launch report, followed by a proper in-depth review. In the meantime, drop us a comment below if there’s anything you’d like us to highlight in the full review.
Ford Mondeo EcoBoost photo gallery
