With the advent of the Mondeo, the rear-wheel drive, which is still mandatory for the Ford middle class, has disappeared without a trace. A remarkable detail: professional test drivers consider the 2000th Mondeo to be a car with "exemplary properties": it points the way to its European rivals, which in comparative tests have so far been the "measure of reference", regardless of the start. The Mondeo convinces us of this in training courses, when driving on narrow streets, during brake tests, as well as in passenger capacity parameters and equipment level – and all this at purchase or selling prices that are "upper class" in the privileged middle class.
In addition, the Mondeo manufacturer immediately received the title of "European Car Number 1": it became an effective advertising "testimonial" from the 23-member international jury of experts, who chose the Mondeo as "the best new car of 2002".
Buyers have approached the choice of body style for their Mondeo differently than their predecessors – a four-door body with a pronounced angle between the rear window and the boot, a five-door body with a gently sloping roof or a five-door estate body (Turnier). In the Ambiente, Trend and Ghia trim levels, as well as the "six engines", the Ford Mondeo meets most of the buyers" requirements for this class. For those who appreciate comfort, Ford offers a practical service for the Mondeo with 107 kW (145 hp) and a 2-litre Duratec-HE engine, replacing the gearshift lever with a shift lever with an electronically controlled automatic system. This "automatic system" offers two driving programs, a clutch for locking the torque converter, freewheel functions and an accelerator for relaxed route driving.
Since the 2000th Mondeo variants hit the roads with already "decent" equipment, it is quite gratifying to realize that the list of user wishes remained compact. Here, in addition to various wishes for convenience, they reproach the lack of, for example, an electronic stabilization program (ESP) with automatic stabilization control (ASR) for the 92 and 107 kW engines. Diesel fans and buyers of "small" models with an 81 kW engine should completely abandon this. The 170-horsepower 2.5-liter Duratec tames the electronic stabilization program in the limit zone as standard.
ESP supports the driver in critical driving situations by targeted interventions in the chassis. The electronic control unit checks approximately 150 times per second whether the actual driving characteristics ultimately correspond to the control parameters set directly by the driver. If there are discrepancies with the parameters stored in the on-board computer, the ESR sensors give the green light to the stabilising electronic system: it instantly "tames" the chassis by braking individual wheels. In very critical situations, ESP also briefly matches the engine power to the current driving parameters.
ASP works effectively mainly during a rapid start from a stop at a traffic light or on a smooth road surface: it brakes the "spinning" front wheels until the engine power is again transmitted to the road without slipping.