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One of my favorite cars enters the Almost Car Reviews ring: The Ford Mondeo IV. Why do I like it so much, and why I don’t have one yet if I like it so much, in today’s article.

I talked about how much I liked and I like Ford Mondeo III, categorizing it as one of the best cars you can buy on a limited budget. Even if it is not as cheap as its predecessor, Ford Mondeo IV is still a car that has passed under the radar of many car markets: A fantastic car that you can buy with little money compared to what it offers.

Why wasn’t the Mk IV Mondeo as successful as “Have I Got News For You“?

Ford Mondeo IV officially launched in 2007. There was no worse time to launch a mid-class sedan than in 2007. Do a memory exercise and go back to 2007: We are one year away from the economic crisis, everyone is feeling good and is throwing money out the window, usually out the window of a Porsche Cayenne. The streets are full of Porsche Cayennes, BMW X5s, Audi Q7s and Range Rovers. It is the era of the Chelsea tractors, because everyone has money from taking loans solely based on ID cards that they are not going to pay anyway. To launch a middle-class sedan in this economic environment is like receiving a prize for participating in a competition: you are there in the landscape, but you are far from the center of attention.

However, this does not mean that the Ford Mondeo IV was a bad car, on the contrary. It still remains one of the most dynamic and sporty cars in its class, it comes with a combination of new and old engines, it brings better quality to the interior and acres of space.

And the quality is reflected in the second-hand market prices: If a Ford Mondeo II can be bought in exchange for 2 bottles of St. Petersburg and a CD with Tom Jones and the Ford Mondeo III can be bought at half price compared to the VW Passat even though it is just as good, the Ford Mondeo IV however is priced similarly to a Passat from the equivalent year, whether we’re talking about the B6 or B7.

Ford Mondeo IV Engines

Petrol

• 1.6 Sigma of 110, 120 and 125 horsepower – By far the most balanced engine for the Ford Focus II, the 1.6 aspirated petrol engine is a David in the world of Goliath, only in the world of the Ford Mondeo IV David is beaten up so bad it relieves itself. The engine is reliable, but much too small.


• 1.6 EcoBoost Sigma of 160 horsepower – A decent engine that has no specific problems reported. I just wish you good luck finding a Ford Mondeo IV petrol however, in a world dominated by diesel powered saloons.


• 2.0 LF-VE of 145 horsepower – The last naturally aspirated petrol engine on Ford, this giant sang it’s last hurrah honorably and decently. Very reliable, a bit thirsty and with decent performance, this engine is the last salute of an era in which cars were built to last longer than the warranty period.


• 2.0 EcoBoost of 203 and 240 horsepower – Occasionally the pistons melt down if it is fed with petrol of dubious quality. Overall, a robust and reliable engine, but complex. Like Sallie Axl, she needs at least 1 visit to the service every year and a maintenance program as per the book. And yes, if you care about fuel consumption, forget about this engine.


• 2.3 L3-NS of 161 horsepower – "Borrowed" from Mazda, this 2.3-aspirated petrol is slightly more powerful than the 2.0 and slightly more economical than the 2.5. If this engine were beer, it would be Paulaner: It’s a little better and more expensive than most beers, but it’s no Guinness.


• 2.5 Turbo T5 B5254 of 220 horsepower – I should say that this engine is a kind of Guinness, but it is rather an IKEA style wardrobe, the engine being of Volvo origin. Large and square, this engine is far too rare to find on the Ford Mondeo IV and far too complex for most mechanics.

Diesel

• 1.6 TDCI DLD-416 of 115 horsepower – The good old 1.6 HDI that eats turbos due to poor lubrication. Yes, EGR valves are destroyed with the same alarming speed. The only somewhat reliable version is the 90 horsepower one, which is found instead on Focus. In any case, this engine is just as useful as those dubious people in the big parking lots, who guide you how to park even if you park properly, and who then ask you for money for something you didn’t ask for.


• 1.8 TDCI DLD-418 of 110 and 125 horsepower – The last call for an engine launched in the late ’80s, the Ford Endura-D engine is finally retiring, being the only 100% Ford engine on this list. Good riddance that this injector-issues plagued engine got retired.


• 2.0 TDCI DW10 of 115, 130, 140 and163 horsepower – This French sourced 2.0 Hdi is much more reliable than the 1.6 version. But it’s like saying you just dislocated your leg instead of breaking it. The first PSA engine with variable geometry, it suffers from issues with geometry, turbo reliability in general and also has it’s fair share injectors issues. But these are simpler and rarer problems than the miserable 1.6 TDCI, the engine proving to be of decent reliability.


• 2.2 TDCI DW12 of 175 and 200 horsepower – Another PSA engine, also used on Peugeot Boxter, Citroen Jumper and Land Rover Freelander 2. A van engine, mounted on a Ford Mondeo IV. Only the Americans at Ford could do such a thing. As with the previous generation, this 2.2 TDCI is slightly more powerful than the 2.0, only the taxes are much worse. A fantastic engine instead for vans and 4×4 tractors where the torque speaks for itself.

Ford Mondeo IV General Issues

• General issues with the steering column.


• The automatic transmission needs oil changed every 3 years or every 3rd annual maintainance, whichever comes first.


• Sometimes you will find it raining in the car due to the poor quality insulation. The issue was especially bad in the station wagon versions where it was raining through the trunk. However, this is a well-known problem for the entire Ford range, because they don’t have rain in America so they didn’t bother with this aspect.

Ford Mondeo IV Verdict

I said at the beginning that I would say why I would buy a Ford Mondeo IV and why I would not buy one. I said it’s a dynamic car, with a mix of new and old in terms of technology. However, the big advantage of the car for me is a disadvantage for many: it’s sheer size. It is a car that is actually too big for any urban environment, especially if you go for the station wagon version.

The advantage however is that if you get stuck on the M25, you can fold the back seats and so the children have a playground where they can easily play tennis or bowling. The interior space is that big.

Which engine would I pick?

Although I am a huge fan of naturally aspirated petrols, the most suitable engine is the 163 horsepower 2.0 TDCI diesel. It is a versatile engine that complements the versatile character of the Ford Mondeo IV: Do you want a dynamic car in the bends? Ford Mondeo IV. Do you want a decently fast car? Ford Mondeo IV. Do you want a family car that can accommodate 5 people and 2 tons of luggage? Ford Mondeo IV. Hotel? Trivago.