Used Ford Mondeo Hatchback 2000 - 2007 review

What's the used Ford Mondeo like?

For all its space, practicality and versatility, it's the way the Mondeo drives that sets it apart from rivals. It hides its size well through an almost perfect blend of supple, well-controlled ride and crisp handling, topped by great feel through the controls. Wind noise at speed is the only disappointment.

In terms of everyday usability, it's up with the very best. With reach and rake adjustment on the steering wheel, as well as height adjustment on the driver's seat, the driving position is spot-on for people of all shapes and sizes.

Overview

It's cheap, well built, reliable, spacious, and - best of all - superb to drive

Pros

• The Mondeo is a spacious, practical and versatile car
• It's also cheap and drives well

Cons

• It's noisy, and large-wheeled versions give an overly firm ride

Used cars available now

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Ford Mondeo

1.8 LX 5dr

£400

Ford Mondeo

2.0 TDCi Zetec 5dr

£650

Ford MONDEO

2.2 TDCi Titanium X 5dr

£790

Ford Mondeo

2.0 Zetec 5dr

£950

Ford Mondeo

2.0 LX 5dr

£990

Ford Mondeo

1.6 TDCi ECOnetic Edge Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£990

Ford Mondeo

2.0 Edge 5dr

£995

Ford Mondeo

2.0 Edge 5dr

£995

Ford Mondeo

2.0 TDCi Zetec Euro 5 5dr

£995

See all available cars

Thanks to the wide cabin, and generous head- and legroom in the back, you can get five adults inside. On all models, a split-fold rear seat and spacious boot give it top marks for practicality.

Equipment levels are generous, even on the most basic models, and build quality is also excellent.

Our recommendations

Which used Ford Mondeo should I buy?

The best bit about the Mondeo is its high sales as a new car, which means it's widely, and cheaply, available on the used market. And, on top of that, you can get everything you need on even the base version, so there's no point looking beyond the 1.8 LX, with its good performance and low running costs.

In common with all Mondeos, it has good levels of safety and security equipment, plus goodies such as a CD player, remote central locking and air-con. Stepping up through the trims brings things such as CD multichangers, alloy wheels and leather upholstery.

Also worth considering are the TDCi diesels. They're much better than the Di units originally fitted to this car. However, they are dearer to buy and only make financial sense if you cover high mileages, when the lower fuel costs will offset the extra the car cost to buy in the first place. The hot STs are decent performance cars, but ride more firmly and are expensive to run.