Ford Mondeo Graphite 1.6 TDCi Start/Stop 5dr

What is it?

Ford’s large company car model given a makeover. The Ford Mondeo has been sharpened up in a new suit – in this case called Graphite.

It’s part of Ford’s plan to keep the Mondeo competitive in the company car market, while it waits for the badly delayed all-new Mondeo model (see our news story Ford sharpens Mondeo company car appeal with new tax-beating package).

Ford is doing this by simplifying the model range, and providing better specification on two distinct new lines: the Graphite, reviewed here, and the Titanium X Business Edition.

Ford says its Graphite model is aimed more at the retail market, whereas the Titanium X Business Edition has its cross-hairs fixed on the company car driver.

But the Ford Mondeo Graphite, despite the marketing plan, also makes an extremely competitive company car. It might lack sat-nav as part of the standard set up, but there are plenty of good value portable units on the market to make up for that.

The price of the Mondeo Graphite reviewed here – our car was a pre-production model – is £18,195 on the road fitted with the super economical 1.6 diesel engine and fuel saving start stop.  Part of the Graphite package includes sports suspension and a rear sports spoiler, along with 17 inch alloy wheels.

To put that into perspective, this Mondeo Graphite model is cheaper than the least expensive VW Golf diesel by some £1300. Yet it’s far more spacious. Value? This Mondeo has it by the bucketload.

What’s Hot

• The company car tax bill for starters – as little as £51 a month
• That’s thanks to a lowering of CO2 emissions to 112g/km and an astonishingly frugal 65.7mpg fuel economy, which adds up to a 17% company car tax banding
• The 1.6 diesel is quiet and refined, too…
• …It will sail smoothly and unfussed along the motorway thanks to its long-legged sixth gear
• And the gearchange and engine pick up is a joy
  

  

• The stop-start system switches between modes barely noticed
• And while the Mondeo might be big, it’s still a great handling car with plenty of engine torque to let you hustle along A and B roads swiftly
• Talking of big, there’s plenty of room in the front and rear, and that’s before you get to the capacious 528 litres available in its hatchback boot extendable with the split/fold rear seats to 1448 litres
• The Graphite specification is generous. Key points are the 17 inch alloy wheels, LED day running lights, fog lamps, sports suspension, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, leather steering wheel, air conditioning, and, and, and…
• …the list goes on, including some of those great Ford staples such as the Quickclear heated front windscreen and Easy-Fuel filler cap to prevent misfuelling
• Business car lease rates from £227 a month also look mighty compelling

What’s not

• The sports suspension and 17 inch wheels means the Mondeo loses some of its usual suppleness over bumps and potholes
• The steering, while precise, has an artificial lightness about the dead-ahead before weighting up as you turn the wheel – it doesn’t feel as fluent as some Mondeos we’ve driven. However, this was a pre-production car
• It’s high-sided so, although there is driver electric seat height adjustment, the view while reversing is still restricted, more so with the rear spoiler – so it’s worth spending the £450 on parking sensors
• And kids in the back won’t see much out of the rear windows
• It has to soldier on for 18 more months before new Mondeo arrives

Business Car Manager verdict

Ford might think of this as a retail focused car, but don’t be hoodwinked. It’s a great value company car that only needs the addition of an aftermarket satnav system to give it all the business kit you might need.

The car drives smoothly and comfortably, takes passengers easily, and sips fuel in a miserly fashion. You’ll have no problems living with this.

And for business car managers, there’s good value leasing rates – with the car qualifying well under the full leasing disallowance tax break – low running costs thanks to that exceptional fuel economy and low National Insurance payable on the already low benefit in kind.

In total, then, the new Ford Mondeo Graphite makes an exceptionally good value company car – and at a price that undercuts the Golf diesel hatchback in the class below.

The Low Down…

…and what it costs