Speaking of the Ford Mondeo, many people will give the conclusion of "successful American B-class car". The design of the previous generation of Mondeo with martin's front face was indeed sporty enough. Later, Ford's life in the Chinese market deteriorated, and the Mondeo renewal plan was even suspended for many years. After 8 years, the fifth generation of Mondeo has returned as an exclusive identity in the Chinese market. The official guidance price of 15.98-216,800 yuan, as a new masterpiece of Ford Motor, Ford has shown full sincerity. Even in the face of price, some small problems become easy to accept. Can the misplaced competition help Mondeo regain the aura of the B-class car?
◆ Re-examine the market demand, personality without losing stability
Due to the epidemic, the original large-scale media test drive event was held in the Beijing area. Since it is a test drive, I will share the first impression that the new generation of Mondeo left on me as usual. The most direct impression is the design, which adopts Ford's new "potential energy aesthetics" family design concept, and for the first time uses a split headlight group, but also equipped with a penetrating LED daytime light strip, which looks very stylish.
The new Mondeo front net adopts a 3D parametric scale armor grille, carrying a key close to the vehicle, the net can automatically open and close several times like a swinging "fish scale", officially named it "Wolong Awakening" welcome sensor system. I have to say that it took a lot of thought, but the front of the car looks too similar to the Ford EVOS, and there is a strong sense of stability in the refinement. As for the design of the previous generation of Mondeo, everyone loves it, after all, the previous generation model is a European-led car that pays attention to sporty performance and drivability.
The length of the body is 4935mm, the width is 1875mm, and the body length of nearly 5 meters makes me feel huge when I stand next to the real car. However, the body side lines are trying to weaken this slender body posture, creating a short tail proportion with a smooth and large tilt angle, a long head and a short tail, and even a visual sense of some coupes. Of course, the 19-inch sport hub and self-retracting door handles are also handsome pluses.
The model we experienced this time was the ST-LINE version, with a sports kit at the rear, plus a blackened rear wing and blackened logo, which added a visual effect. The shape of the taillights is borrowed from the Ford Mustang (parameter | image) and has a Ford brand identification element. Personally, I think that the tail design is a lack of beauty lies in the high center of gravity, in order to circle the license plate frame on the tail box cover, resulting in the through-type taillight line moved up, the rear bar of the decorative area structure line is cumbersome and complex, the stacking of various elements is even a bit of overdesigned meaning, anyway, I personally do not like this design.
◆ Interior do not ask the design, ask is the Chinese consumer's favorite
Entering Changan Ford's new generation of Mondeo cars, what will catch your eye first? That's right, it's this huge 27-inch display. This display is the main carrier for us to deeply experience the life of Mondeo smart cars. In terms of hardware configuration, its resolution reaches the 4K level and the length exceeds 1.1 meters. Closer together, it's made up of a 12.3-inch dashboard combined with 27 inches. Because the large joint screen carries most of the car machine control car functions, so the new generation of Mondeo car in the physical buttons are very few, coupled with the gear shift mechanism using the knob type, greatly liberating the space in the car, making the entire cabin very simple. The centre console is staggered and layered, and the ST-LINE version's red lines throughout the front enhance the interior. The top trapezoidal structure is actually a speaker unit.
The interior design of the new Mondeo has also been greatly improved compared to the old models, with a layered center console, a delicate soft covering material, a central platform control area panel of the drawing process, an interior color matching with shades, and a more delicate interior workmanship that can win the love of Chinese consumers.
As for the interior configuration, it can basically hang B-class cars such as Accord and Camry. The later model of the previous generation of Mondeo was equipped with a vertical large screen, so it is Ford's first attempt at a large screen. This time, in terms of intelligent experience, the new car's new car's latest generation OF SYNC+ 2.0 Intelligent Mobility connected car machine system provides richer online entertainment and interconnection functions. "Ford Blue Basin Friend" VPA Zhixing Partner, Ford's first virtual artificial intelligence assistant. Supports all voice control commands, gives voice and expression feedback, so that you can concentrate on driving, without moving your mouth. All of the above has changed the previous criticism of Ford's old locomotives.
Because the screen is wide enough, it realizes a rare split-screen display mode of the same level, and the main driver and the co-pilot can choose different screen display content without interfering with each other. For example, the main driver is watching the navigation while driving, while the co-pilot can watch a movie through the screen. But compared to functionality, Mondeo clearly wants to bring you an immersive smart car life, through a large size of the "giant screen", this scene can be realized. Both drivers and passengers have their own intelligent interfaces. However, if you get started for the first time, the concept of the main screen and the second screen will still make people a little confused.
Is there a hard injury to the functional level of the car? Yes, there is. For example, in order to achieve a minimalist interior style, the functions related to vehicle control are integrated into the vehicle control menu in the car machine screen, where we can see the automatic parking switch, which is what we often call the AUTOHOLD function. Integrating such commonly used functions into the screen has many inconveniences for operation.
In terms of safety, the new generation of Mondeo is also equipped with BlueCruise active driving assistance function, the whole vehicle is equipped with 6 cameras, 5 high-performance millimeter wave radar, 12 ultrasonic radar. Up to 18 advanced intelligent driver assistance functions can be realized, such as ACC full-speed intelligent adaptive cruise control, LC intelligent pilot assist, ESA emergency steering assistance, etc. ADAS map data and GPS positioning system integrated into the system integrate a variety of data to achieve "quasi-automatic assisted driving" in the 0-130km/h speed range of a specific road section. We also experienced this feature during actual road driving, where the driver can leave the steering wheel with both hands for a long time (current Chinese regulations do not allow this operation), but the system will still appear on the display to prompt for safety.
Sitting in the car, the seat material is made of leather and fur splicing design, which not only ensures the softness of the cushion and backrest, but also ensures good lateral support, and the front seats are electrically adjustable and equipped with an electric waist support function. It should be pointed out that the test drive experience model is an early production vehicle, and there are some differences in seat materials and functions from later commercial vehicles. ST-LINE's commercial vehicles are equipped with heating and ventilation functions as standard, and the seats are made of perforated leather instead of turned fur.
The new generation of Mondeo's back row is even more controversial. First of all, the width of the seats and the length of the seat cushions, as well as the height of the rear floor, are all seen in the early stages of the design, which is a family car that can travel with a full load of five people for a long time. The 1875mm width and 2945mm wheelbase can fully guarantee the horizontal and vertical space of the rear, and on the ride dimension, the new generation of Mondeo is not afraid of any opponent.
◆ In terms of power, it is also the same level of full matching
The new generation of Mondeo is equipped with a 2.0T four-cylinder turbocharged engine with a maximum power of 175kW (238Ps)/5500rpm and a peak torque of 376N·m/2500-3750rpm, which is matched by Ford's self-developed 8-speed automatic transmission, and the official acceleration time of 0-100km/h is 6 seconds. Judging from the data on paper alone, the new generation of Mondeo is quite competitive. In addition, the all-new Mondeo bonnet is equipped with pedestrian protection. In terms of chassis, the new car adopts a separate suspension structure with front McPherson and rear multi-link.
This 2.0T parameter performance is interesting, and the actual driving is also the same. The start is brisk, and the throttle response is better than expected, no longer the heavy pedal force that american cars think. The power output can be continuously exerted with the throttle deep, the power point is about 2000rpm, which is easy to cope with in the face of urban road conditions, overtaking is also very easy, and the driver can even drive it calmly on the road. It's just that the vibration of the cabin transmitted to the accelerator pedal at the time of acceleration somewhat affects the driving texture.
Driving on urban sections, this power output feature will make it easier for the driver to get a sense of relaxation. The 8AT gearbox was jointly developed by Ford and GM, and technically there is no need to worry, and the gearbox shifting is very smooth. However, the shift action during sharp acceleration is not as decisive as that of the double-clutch transmission, and we need to leave some reaction time for the transmission when stepping on the floor oil deeply. Even in sport mode, the gearbox's gearbox can't be lifted or lowered as fast. Perhaps this is related to the vehicle tuning style, no longer the European family car that flaunts sports, and comfortable clothes are the favorite of Chinese families.
The original car provides 3 driving mode options, the economic mode is to reduce the response sensitivity of the engine, we all understand, and there should not be too many people will choose to drive in the economic mode. In Sport mode, the engine responds more aggressively, the throttle response becomes neurotically sensitive, and the somatosensory aspect is indeed strong enough. However, the steering force of the steering wheel has not become significantly heavier, and it has maintained a comfortable adjustment.
The sound insulation and tranquility of the interior maintain the usual quiet advantages of the American car, and the new generation of Mondeo is also commendable in this regard. Wind noise and tire noise are controlled in a relatively small range, even if the engine speed is raised, the car can not feel too much noise. However, all this is judged by price, after all, the entry-level model of 159,800 yuan has overlapped with some mainstream A-class cars, and the sound insulation performance is indeed much stronger than that of A-class cars. The chassis is clean for road bump filtration, and the suspension tuning is very soft, which is obvious for comfort positioning. However, during the paralleling process, the car will feel the soft shaking of the body. It is necessary to be picky to say that in the face of the impact of the road surface with a large drop, especially the large pits and road speed bumps of the rotten road, the suspension is a bit "caught off guard" for the impact resolution, and the shock absorber cannot pull the spring. Really, stop expecting the Mondeo to be a sports car.
◆ Summary
It has to be admitted that the new generation of Mondeo has greatly improved the design and intelligence of the exterior interior, and the space and power have been further strengthened on the basis of the previous excellence. In 2022, China's car market, especially the B-segment car market, has no former prosperity, and competition depends on real skills. Youthful and sporty is the consistent development direction of today's B-class cars. Sportiness is just the exterior, the core of comfort must be preserved, and the new generation of Mondeo clearly understands the truth. The top ST-LINE version of the test drive can be said to be equipped with configuration to the teeth, and it may be more suitable for young people who buy a car for the first time, and the budget of the top With Bora can drive a Mondeo home, the face is all there, and the elders of the family will praise you for living. Although Mondeo has been back in the front line for many years, combined with the very competitive price of new cars, it may not be difficult for the new generation of Mondeo to return to the mainstream of the B-segment car market.