Test: Ford Mondeo Hybrid Titanium
Content
This year in Tannis, Denmark, where we brought together the European Car of the Year jury, more or less revolved around the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo. Two new and two very important players in the European and, therefore, in the global automotive market. Opinions were divided: some journalists liked the German accuracy, others the American simplicity. Simplicity also means that Ford is increasingly focusing on global vehicles, which means one shape for the whole world. It's the same with the Mondeo, which in this image has been on American roads for nearly three years.
The Mondeo is now on sale in Europe and of course it is. Some people like the design, some don't. However, in Germany and many other countries, the pricing policy for cars is different from the policy in Slovenia, and therefore the possibilities of cars are different. In Slovenia, Volkswagen is very affordable with most models, which of course gives it a different starting position. This is partly why we decided to try the hybrid version. At the moment, there is no Slovenian price for it (unfortunately, not all technical data that will be known at the start of sales), and it is not yet known exactly when the hybrid Passat will enter the market. Such a direct comparison is impossible.
An additional reason for early testing of the new Mondeo is, of course, its place in the European car finals in 2015. Obviously, he took the place there, as expected, but now the seven candidates will have to be thoroughly tested. . But since the hybrid Mondeo will not be sold in our country for some time, we had to take it to our headquarters in Cologne, Germany, which is almost exactly a thousand kilometers from our office. But since cars are our love, the idea of flying to Cologne and returning by car quickly fell on fertile ground. Last but not least, the millennial route is the perfect opportunity to get to know the car. And she was. The first anxiety or fear was caused by driving on German highways. They are still unrestricted, at least in some areas, and fast driving is the biggest enemy of hybrid or electric vehicles, as batteries drain much faster than normal, more leisurely driving.
The fears were partially dispelled by a decently large 53-liter fuel tank and the idea that most of the time we would only drive with a running gasoline engine. The second problem, of course, was the top speed. With a speed of only 187 kilometers per hour, technical data showed very little, especially for such a large car. If we add to this the usual behavior of cars or engines that reach average power or speed very quickly, but then accelerate to top speed for much longer, the concern was justified. Somehow we figured that the Mondeo would hit 150, maybe 160 kilometers per hour in a decent amount of time, and then ...
However, everything turned out to be wrong! The hybrid Mondeo is not slow at all, its acceleration is not as fast, but it is well above average for many cars in this class. So, we set the cruise control to its maximum value (180 km / h) and enjoyed it. In the literal sense of the word. Driving on German motorways can be tiring, especially if you are not fast enough, as drivers want to go through sections as quickly as possible without speed limits. Therefore, you need to act quickly if you do not want to constantly step back and look in the rearview mirror for more time than forward. Of course, you also need to pay attention to the many cars ahead that also want to enter the overtaking lane. A lot of work? Not at all in Mondeo. In the new generation, Ford not only offered a new design, but also a number of new assistance systems that really help on such a long journey.
First of all, radar cruise control, which automatically tracks the vehicle in front and, if necessary, automatically brakes. Lane Departure Assist ensures that the vehicle is always in its own lane, even by turning the steering wheel. Obviously, the car is not moving by itself, and if the system detects that the driver is not holding the steering wheel or leaves the system to control the car, a warning sound is quickly emitted and the system requires the driver to take the steering wheel. If you add to this the automatic high beam switching, it becomes clear that driving can be quite comfortable. An additional surprise came from the third-generation Monde hybrid assembly. Unlike most, which can run on electricity on average up to 50 kilometers per hour (hence the belief that hybrid drive won't do us any good on such a long highway trip), Monde can drive on electricity at speeds up to 135 kilometers per hour.
A two-liter petrol engine (143 "horsepower") and two electric motors (48 "horsepower") provide a total of 187 "horsepower". In addition to the normal operation of the gasoline engine, the electric motors perform different functions - one helps the gasoline engine move, and the other mainly takes care of regenerating energy or recharging the lithium-ion batteries (1,4 kWh) installed under the rear. bench. Although the battery capacity is relatively small, synchronous operation ensures that batteries that run out quickly are also charged quickly. Final result? After exactly 1.001 kilometers, the average consumption was 6,9 liters per hundred kilometers, which, of course, is a big plus for the Mondeo, since we expected much more consumption and less from the hybrid drive. It is, of course, even better when driving around the city. With smooth starts and moderate acceleration, everything is electrically powered, and while the batteries drain quickly, they also charge just as quickly and are nearly impossible to fully discharge, providing near-constant electrical assistance.
Just like, for example, on a standard highway, where out of a hundred kilometers we drove as much as 47,1 kilometers only on electricity, and gasoline consumption was only 4,9 liters per hundred kilometers. It should be noted that the measurements were taken in severe frost (-10 degrees Celsius), in warmer weather the result will certainly be even better. In just over a month, we have covered 3.171 km in the hybrid Mondeo, of which 750,2 have been driven purely on electricity. Considering the car doesn't require an electrical charge and is used like any normal car, we can only bow to it and find that the Mondeo is one of the best hybrid cars we've tested so far.
Of course, we take into account the drivetrain as well as the shape and usability of the vehicle. Of course, every medal has two sides, just like the Mondeo. If the highway traffic was above average, then it was different during normal driving. The hybrid Mondeo is not designed for racing, so it doesn't like fast driving, as does its chassis and steering wheel. Therefore, during everyday driving, you can sometimes creep in the feeling that the car is being overtaken, and the steering wheel can be turned too easily for a more decisive drive. This worried all members of our editorial board. But be careful, not for long: the hybrid Mondeo gets under your skin, you somehow obey it and in the end you find that there is nothing wrong with it.
At the same time, other advantages of the car come to the fore, such as standard and additional equipment of the car, leather upholstery and transparency of the dashboard. Well, this one was also part of the editorial controversy - some liked it, others didn't, as did the center console, which now has a lot fewer buttons and you need to get used to its shape a bit. However, it's important to know that this is a global car that Ford is aiming for big sales volumes with, especially in other parts of the world, but not in Europe or Slovenia. As the test machine was destined for the German market, this time we deliberately refrained from equipping the machine. In Slovenia, the car will be equipped with regional equipment, which will probably be different, but in the hybrid version it will certainly be quite rich.
text: Sebastian Plevnyak
Mondeo Hybrid Titanium (2015).
Basic data
| Sales: | Auto DOO Summit |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | € 34.950 (Germany) |
| Test model cost: | € 41.800 (Germany) |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Power: | 137kW (187 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 9,2 with |
| Maximum speed: | 187 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 4,2l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - petrol - transverse front mounted - displacement 1.999 cm3 - maximum power 105 kW (143 hp) at 6.000 rpm - maximum torque 176 Nm at 4.000 rpm Electric motor: DC synchronous motor magnet - nominal voltage 650 V - maximum power 35 kW (48 HP) Complete system: maximum power 137 kW (187 HP) at 6.000 rpm Battery: NiMH batteries - nominal voltage 650 IN. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | the engine drives the front wheels - an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission with planetary gear - tires 215/60 / R16 V (Kleber Krisalp HP2). |
| Capacity: | 187 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 9,2 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 2,8/5,0/4,2 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 99 g/km. |
| Transportation and suspension: | sedan - 4 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single suspension, leaf springs, three-spoke transverse rails, stabilizer - rear multi-link axle, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer - front disc brakes (forced cooling), rear disc - 11,6 , 53 m. – gas tank – XNUMX l. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.579 kg - permissible gross weight 2.250 kg. |
| Box: | 5 places: 1 × backpack (20 l); 1 × aviation suitcase (36 l); 2 suitcase (68,5 l) |
Our measurements
| T = 3 ° C / p = 1.036 mbar / rel. vl. = 79% / Mileage status: 5.107 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 9,5s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 16,9 years ( 141 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | Measurement is not possible with this type of gearbox. S |
| Maximum speed: | 187km / h (Gear lever in position D) |
| test consumption: | 7,0 l / 100km |
| Fuel consumption according to the standard scheme: | 5,9 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 42,9m |
| AM table: | 40m |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear | 55dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 3rd gear | 62dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 3rd gear | 66dB |
| Idling noise: | 29dB |
Overall rating (364/420)
Of course, the hybrid version is one of the best in the case of the new Mondeo. Of course, it is also true that the car, and driving, and something else require adjustment of the driver or his driving style. If you are not ready for change, disappointment may follow.
Exterior (13/15)
For lovers of American cars, love will be at first sight.
Interior (104/140)
The new Mondeo offers much more than its predecessor, with the exception of of course the luggage compartment, which also belongs to the batteries in the hybrid version.
Engine, transmission (55
/ 40)If you are even slightly inclined towards green cars, the Mondeo will not disappoint you.
Driving performance (62
/ 95)Fords are notoriously good, and the CVT deserves the least praise for this car, and the steering could be more direct at higher speeds.
Performance (30/35)
A hybrid car is not an athlete, which does not mean that it does not like sharp accelerations (including due to the constant torque of the electric motor).
Security (42/45)
Many assistive systems have the highest NCAP ratings for Ford vehicles.
Economy (55/50)
With moderate driving, the driver gains a lot, and extravagance is also punished for a normally driven car, especially a petrol engine.
We praise and reproach
form
engine and hybrid drive
fuel consumption
radar cruise control can also be used normally, without automatic braking
feeling inside
workmanship
soft and delicate chassis
it is too easy to turn the steering wheel
maximum speed
only four-door body version
