thanks for your thoughts on the XR5 Mondeo – have you taken delivery yet? I am currently tossing up between it and the Focus XR5, which I just took for a test drive at lunch today. Love the sound of that sweet little engine and the punch from the line just brought a smile to my face every time I took off, unreal little car. But that’s just the thing, it’s small. I’m used to driving a Mazda6, so am struggling with the down-size, but am worried that the Xr5 engine isn’t quite as much ‘fun’ in the Mondeo as it is in the Focus. What do you reckon?

I know no one cares about fuel consumption, but for an every day car it’s important to me. The engine in the XR5 is brilliant! It’s not nearly as quick as the focus XR5 if you want something to earn a ticket in, but it’s still very respectable and it sips the same amount of fuel as the 4 cyl. Mondeo.

We looked at everything from the Toyotas, Audi, Holden, BMW 1 series, Renault, and so on. For the list of features, build quality, fuel efficiency and price I challenge anyone to name a better mix, especially in a package that is pretty good on the eyes.

Are their faster (thirstier) cars? You betcha. Are there more luxurious? Yup…and my pa would love em. Cheaper? More expensive? yes and yes. The Mondeo definitely isn’t for everyone, but it hit my sweet spot dead centre. It’s the right price, with the right features, in the right sized package, with decent performance in a fairly frugal fuel sipper.

For whoever said the XR5 is trying to be a race car….uhm….no. I think you’ve missed what’s it’s about. The focus XR5 (with the same engine) is far quicker as are many other “hot hatch” type cars. That’s not the point at all. The turbo in the mondeo is just a way to put a bit more punch in a car to ensure that it’s not quite a motor head’s choice and quite the grampy sedan choice…but a happy medium for those of us who have to compromise.

the fact is, im almost 17 and am lucky enough to have my dad in this industry. saying that, i have driven an XR5turbo mondeo from dads work (which my cousin then baught and i drive around today) and i got to drive an Aurion AT-X when it was my families hire car in port douglas, and let me tell you, Mondeo absolutely shreads it to bits!

i hated the Aurion… yeh, fair enough my ‘rents drive an MY07 sportivo and i love it, but i hated the Aurion. i love the mondeo, i think its brilliant, and im not being biased coz i am a ford fan – ITS A FACT!

quality and technology even – can’t compare the two.

good review CA.

We liked the look of the XR5 on the road (the standard Mondeos are not much to look at) however we have spent nearly 3 months test driving other cars in the same class (Aurion, Commodore, Mazda6Turbo, Liberty) and both agreed the Mondeo was much more fun and stylish, both inside and out. Not to mention that the space in the back seat of the Mondeo is bigger than ALL of the other cars. We have kids.

Add to that the sheer arrogance of the Holden new car salesman who obviously pre-qualified us as non-serious buyers. At the Holden dealership we had to walk into the showroom and ask for assistance – even though they saw us looking at their top line commodores on the lot.

The Ford dealer we have bought from could not have been more attentive and helpful. This also adds to the Mondeo experience.

As I said, can’t wait to pick it up tomorrow, the only 2 things we argued about were the colour (he wanted black and I wanted Ambition Blue) and the personalised plate, which we still haven’t agreed on.

I got the Ambition Blue. Well it is my car.

Although wouldn’t trade the M3 on one,what model BMW was it out of interest?

It’s also a shame that Aussie made cars are of inferior quality to their European imported counterparts, although Aussie made cars compare favourably with most things that come out of Korea.

Paddle shifts are gimmicks and are usually poorly executed. Some people like them, but they are not my cup of tea. Call me a staid old traditionist! My comments were directed more towards the car jockeys who want a Commonbore type automatic so they can “commute”.

I would have seriously considered an Aurion TRD but the price difference between the XR5 and the TRD did not mirror the difference between the cars. The TRD is overpriced for what you get.

Come on now – check out VW’s DSG gearbox that sits on the R32 and special edition golfs (and the new Bugatti Veron – so expensive I cant spell it) what about the M3 DSG or just about any of the paddle shifts or tip tronic gears out there – the XR5 is not a track car.

I completly agree about your comment The XR5 is a shade better looking than the Camry/Aurion/Presara. its just a shame the XR5 is not made here to support Aussie jobs!

I drove a Presara from Perth through Margaret River last year. It has a great engine but being surrounded by grey leather and faux timber it still felt like an old man’s car. Sure the Presara may be half a second faster to 100kph, that matters little. As a car to drive to work in everyday, I smile every morning when I leave in the XR5. The XR5 is a shade better looking than the Camry/Aurion/Presara. I tried to like the Presara, I just couldn’t.

I hear complaints that its a manual and not available in automatic. Well, if you are serious about driving and call yourself an enthusiast and still drive an automatic then you are a hypocrite. I don’t understand why people want to drive an automatic. It’s just laziness.

For the record, I didn’t even both test driving the Epica (Holden’s Mondeo equivalent). Do you think that was a mistake????

Pity there is no auto version. Would team great with the turbo motor…..if only.

Until they bring one out, will have to keep looking elsewhere.