Ford Mondeo Hybrid (2014-2022) review
The Ford Mondeo Hybrid is no longer available to buy new, while a diesel engine better suits the character of the car
Pros
- Quiet at low speeds
- Comfortable ride
- Well equipped
Cons
- No longer on sale
- Poor real-world economy
- Noisy at speed
Car type | Fuel economy | CO2 emissions | 0-62mph |
---|---|---|---|
Hybrid | 48mpg | 127-131g/km | 9.2s |
Ford discontinued the Mondeo in March 2022, although there are still plenty for sale on the used market. Diesel engines suit the Mondeo's long-distance motorway cruiser personality, so that’s the option most Mondeo buyers would usually end up choosing. But, if you have a slightly different motoring lifestyle, the Mondeo Hybrid represents an interesting alternative.
It’s worth noting from the word go that many of its most obvious rivals were plug-in hybrids. That means they have better fuel economy, lower CO2 emissions and a much longer range on electric power alone. Instead, the Mondeo is more like the Toyota Prius – albeit with higher CO2 emissions.
The Mondeo Hybrid is spacious, with at least as much room in the front as its rivals. You can also fit a couple of adults in the back – three at a pinch – and there’s plenty of storage space to swallow your odds and ends. As far as practicality is concerned, the real fly in the ointment is the boot.
The Mondeo saloon is less easy to use than the hatchback, because the rear windscreen doesn’t lift up when you open the bootlid. To make matters worse, the boot will only take 383 litres of luggage – considerably less than the 550 you can get in the hatchback. And the estate loses some boot space compared to the petrol and diesel versions, too.
Sadly, that’s not the only figure that fails to match our expectations. In our experience, this hybrid struggles to match the near-50mpg economy that the latest official fuel-economy tests say should be possible in real-world driving. In fact, other than its generally comfortable ride, the Mondeo Hybrid often falls short of other Mondeos on the road.
Much of the blame for that lies with the CVT gearbox. It’s hesitant to respond, making the car feel quite slow, and because of the way CVTs work, the engine drones away unpleasantly when you ask for anything more than moderate acceleration. Read on for our extensive Ford Mondeo Hybrid review...