What is it?
When the Ford Mondeo Mk1 first appeared in 1993, its agile handling and responsive steering turned what was expected to be a run-of-the-mill fleet car into a driver’s delight. It’s grown a bit since then – by around 400mm in length and to more than 250kg – but it’s also grown into a more refined proposition.
The Mondeo ST-Line and more expensive ST-Line X introduced in 2017 were part of Ford’s strategy to split ranges above the entry level into sports and luxury trim levels (Titanium and Vignale). Thus, both versions of ST-Line are sporting trims akin to Audi’s S line rather than a return to true sports ‘ST’ versions of the Mondeo. For the 2018 model year, ST-Line X has been renamed ST-Line Edition. ST-Line is not aimed at fleets but fair and square at the retail buyer.
The Mondeo ST-Line comes with sports suspension that is slightly stiffer and 10mm lower than standard. Outside, there’s a full body styling kit and 18in Rock Metallic alloy wheels. Inside, there are front cloth sports seats with red contrast stitching, alloy pedals, accented red stitching on the steering wheel, centre console and door trims, and dark headliner.
ST-Line Edition gets Titanium equipment such as traffic sign recognition, lane keeping aid and 10-way electrically adjustable driver's seat (passenger seat remains manual), and adds further enhancements including rear privacy glass, ST-Line branding, coloured stitching and sports trim items. It, too, gets the sport suspension but 19in Rock Metallic alloy wheels. Seats are trimmed in partial leather that is black with red stitching.
Powertrains are either 148bhp or 178bhp 2.0 Duratorq TDCi diesel, with either six-speed manual transmission or PowerShift dual-clutch automatic on the more powerful engine. There’s also an all-wheel-drive option tested here, in conjunction with the 178bhp diesel and auto 'box.
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My dads 1974 2000E has
Steeda Mondeo Sport
The Steeda Mondeo Sport was along similar lines but with the petrol EcoBoost engine and the sharper handling. It looked cracking, handled amazinly for a big car and I honestly have to say I loved it, and I still miss it!
250hp with the autobox gave the poke needed and it sounded refined but with a littl ebit of a sporty soundtrack...
This somehow elegant Mondeo lump...
...is out of my reach and interest simply because I shrinked my strictly necessary car lenght needs from 4.5 to 4.0 meters lately. And its almost 5 meters means huge, not to mention my Diesel allergy in this particular case.
Those who like/love it have surely their reasons, but these 4 stars given by Autocar are just laughable, compared with only 3 for the Lexus LS500h.
BeamMeUpScotty wrote:
To be fair, 4 stars for this is about right, comparing it to other cars that have the same rating. But 3 for the Lexus is odd, the Ecosport was given 3 in a review just last week. Another example of just how far things have slipped with publication.