The Ford Mondeo Vignale Hybrid
The Mondeo is Ford’s most popular models and you can get it in electrified form. Back in 2019 Ford decided to give it a petrol hybrid powertrain to join the petrol and diesel options in a bid to compete with the strong line-up of EVs that have entered the UK car market. In this short article we’ll look at whether the latest Ford Mondeo Vignale hybrid still cuts the mustard.
If you didn’t know, the Vignale is the range-topping luxury version of the Mondeo and is just ahead of the popular Titanium model. It’s available with a hybrid engine and developed specifically to take on key rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat GTE. Ford claim that this Mondeo gives you the best of both worlds highlighting their attempt to tap into new markets with their family favourite.
On the outside the Mondeo Hybrid looks just like any other current Mondeo apart from the Hybrid badging on the door. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the Mondeo is a pretty handsome car and thanks to a facelift back in 2019 it still looks fresh and up to date. Also, in the upmarket Vignale trim has a very luxurious feel to it and certainly lives up to the premium tag. Speaking of trim levels, Ford offers this hybrid setup in two of the Mondeo’s four model variants – the Titanium Edition and the range-topping Vignale.
Sitting inside the Mondeo Hybrid is a very nice place to be especially in the luxury Vignale version. There’s plenty of premium leather and despite to odd cheap feeling switchgear overall we’d have to say that the cabin features high quality materials. The seats are a particular highlight as they’re just so comfortable and supportive. If you sit inside a model fitted with a panoramic roof then the cabin feels even more airy due to the added natural light. There are a couple of quality looking 4.2 inch digital displays which surround the speedometer which display lots of useful information. It’s in the centre of the dashboard that you’ll find the infotainment system. Ok, it may not be up there with the best in class but it’s clear, easy to use and responds relatively quickly.
The interior space in the hybrid model is the same as any other Mondeo model so it’s equally impressive. There’s plenty of space for your passengers to get comfortable and your head room in the rear seats isn’t an issue. Sitting three in the back may prove a tad tight but this is a small gripe. On the plus side you do get heated seats at the back and even a three-pin plug socket. In terms of boot space there’s notably less of it available than you’d get in a regular Mondeo. This is due to the presence of the battery pack and electric motor which sits under the boot floor. The boot floor itself is quite higher than it would usually be and therefore there’s quite a high load lip. Even though you have less space in the boot that the regular Mondeo you can extend the capacity by folding down the 60/40 split rear seats.
If you have your sights set on going hybrid with this Mondeo then you have to take note that there’s just one powertrain option available. This is a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine which is aided by an electric motor. It offers a combined 186 brake horse power (bhp) and allows for a 0 - 60 miles per hour (mph) time of a respectable 9.2 seconds. The power is sent to the front wheels through an automatic gearbox.
Ford has always been known for making everyday cars fun to drive and the Mondeo is no exception. It’s certainly good fun to drive especially for a car of its size and is always predictable when you put it through its paces. Admittedly, the engine does lack some punch and could use a turbo like a lot of the competition nowadays. If we were being super-critical then the slightly sluggish automatic gearbox doesn’t do it many favours. On the other hand the hybrid does manage to stay composed out on the road while offering a smooth and comfortable ride. Despite this being a rather large car parking is made easier thanks to its large windows and parking sensors.
In terms of fuel economy Ford say that this car will achieve 52.3 miles to the gallon (mpg) while emitting 113 g/km of Co2,However, we think it’s will be very difficult to hit this mpg target. This means that the hybrid isn’t the only option if you want the best fuel economy out of your Mondeo.
In conclusion, the hybrid is an interesting addition to the Mondeo range. It gives us a glimpse into what the future may hold for the model. Unfortunately, there simply isn’t massive amounts of choice when it comes to the Mondeo Hybrid. However, with the current push behind electrification we wouldn’t be surprised to see that there isn’t more from Ford in 2020 and beyond. It’s difficult for us to wholeheartedly recommend this version over the diesel as they both give similar results when it comes to fuel economy and general running costs. The Mondeo Hybrid will still appeal to company car drivers and those that wish to move towards more eco-friendly motoring without having to stray too far away from the familiar. If you want to enquire or take a look at some used Ford Mondeo cars for sale then head over to DesperateSeller.co.uk.
