Had a wonderful opportunity to test drive the Ford Mondeo Ecoboost yesterday evening.

The handling, NVH, performance basically knock any of the locally available price range segment car... dare I say even better than the brand above Ford.

Strictly on paper spec and on the road performance, Accord 2.4/Teana 2.5/Camry 2.4/Sonata.... can play far far...

The NVH is very very quiet, you hardly hear much noise as it so well insulated and the powershift is great! Much smoother than DSG on traffic crawl. Left it on D, you wont feel a thing.

Usually traditional slushbox ie those with ATF fluid... tend to be able to absord shift shock better than manual stick or DSG, but with the higher gear count of 6, the DSG/SMG/AMT etc are catching up on the smooth gear shift and the narrow gear gap avoid that "forward/reverse" feeling that many noob describe...(**Human body can detect relative speed change but not absolute speed hence a lot of noob on DSG/SMG/AMT tend to complain on the less than smooth gear shift) However if one to try the Ford Powershift or Volvo equivalent, you will be impressed...However the Powershift in Ford Focus TDCI hatch that I tested was no where near this. Not sure why... same design and ratio... perhaps a different mapping for the wallop torque... The Mondeo Ecoboost is so smooth, I wish they have the paddle shift even for such a long exec car... that usually you wont drive like a mad man...

On some of the short twisties I tested. I put it to S mode and was on 2 coming out of a turn and I gun it manually...to 3rd, 4th, and 5th... its virtually undetectable. and then coming to a 90degree bend, slam it down to 4,3, and 2nd.... there was no bad forward jerk (usually happen when one down shift too high of rpm), although I did not pay attention to full details, I pretty sure the ECU blip the throttle to sync the down shift resulting is super smooth gear transition.

The cornering... WOW! for such a big car and long rear overhang, its impressive considering the suspension is on soft side without any trickery of adaptive damper (although the X Sport version in Europe does...) Pot holes and bump is being soaked up wonderfully.

The audio system and Ford Conver+ was impressive as well. The sound quality is way ahead but not the unit itself... the user interface is crappy and the display was in red vs the car overall whitish illumination setup (heck the car come with 4 LED ambience/map light which each 4 corner passenger can control). The biggest disappointment is no GPS/Multimedia... not even USB/Aux in or reverse cam. If they give the same unit in the previous Mondeo (non ecoboost), the center display in between the meter would have additional navigation display capability.

Price at just less than 179K, its a bargain compare to non ecoboost version. With 7 air bag, 3 years warranty and 3 years free maint...its really a no brainer from spec and street cred perspective.. until you get to the point of typical malaysian mentality... resale value.

But with free maint up to 3yrs or 60k km, that is about 5k worth of maint, and keep it for 5yrs... the losses is lesser. The camry/accord/sonata in the 2.4-2.5 range fare no better either at 45-55% losses and worst, they tend to change model every 5yrs... so 50% off you do and with the new camry coming next year, the current camry will take a hit.

If you are one that enjoy driving more and have budget to own this level of pricing, then resale value should not be your concern..if you care so much about resale, then take a bicycle or kapchai because their absolute losses is peanuts,... at the expenses of everything else. So while the Mondeo owner may lost up to 80-90k in 5yrs vs 50-60k for the Jpn/Kra ride, but I bet you the mondeo driver have better enjoyment and safety ride that the 30k over 5yrs should meant of lesser priority...

How I wish for another car...with BHP and Torque that rival Golf GTI and Passat CC,.... its drooling...

In summary, great spec and performance, great alcantara leather, 2 electric chair w memory on driver, 7 airbags, ESP, TCS, ABS, EBD, rear B pillar AC for rear passenger,....powershift 6 speeder...2.0 roadtax for 3liter performance,

Down on the poor HU/lacking GPS, steering wheel could be a bit more beefier, no sunroof, and 17in wheel, and limited service center

Great review!

I've booked this Mondeo even I'm due to test the car for the first time on Tuesday. The spec on paper alone is awesome.

Ford's brand image should goes up few notch more following introduction of few excellent cars, eg, Fiesta & Mondeo. :-)

Great Review indeed!! The new 2.0L Ecoboost is also making it competitive among the Jap brand.

turbo..turbo...thats all i wanna hear abt a car in our market.

My apology on the spelling n gramatical error. Did not do any proof read as I'm trying to type as fast as I can while recalling the fun I had.

I tested accord n camry on same week so the comparison is very fresh.

This post has been edited by gamenoob: Sep 25 2011, 01:11 PM

Great great car, best selling in the UK speaks for itself.

from TS post, seems like a lot of noobs driving DSG/AMT/SMT car

how bout s-max??

Fact is it's a new car and new design. No surprise if it outshines the rest of the d segment cars.

try to wait the new camry. See how it goes.

i think not even come close,
ford got good reputation of their vehicle, that got pretty good handling.
somemore with 179k this price you only can get new camry with 2.4L or 2.5L(don't know malaysia will follow us equip with 2.5L engine or not) with properly 17x hp to 200hp, but new 2.0L ecoboost mondeo, 240hp , pretty bargain deal, you pay for 2.0L roadtax, you get a good handling and powerful car.
i saw taiwan magazine review, get pretty high rating.

How can u conclude camry is not even close to mondeo when the car isnt out yet?

Well, feature wise-mondeo gonna win in term of performance. Camry isnt made for performance either. More toward luxury and comfortable. For ford, it is a little bit hard to find the spare-parts in east malaysia.

Probably the same 2.0 or 2.4 with dual VVTI mated to a CVT.

In my opinion the problem isn't Toyota, the problem is UMW. Toyota has lots of options for the new Camry yet UMW will almost always choose the lowest possible option, probably to save cost, while keeping their prices among the highest in the Japanese D-segment market.

Why is the top of the line Camry today still stuck with 2 airbags and a 4-speed automatic while the equivalent Honda for example has better specs?

The Camry isn't specced for performance by UMW, but it's not specced for safety or fuel efficiency either. Let's all be discerning buyers and stop giving UMW our hard earned cash blindly.

Camry still using hard plastics in their cars?

I'm looking forward to the new 2012 Camry as well. If the Malaysia version materialize like what shown on the web, then its a fairly big departure of the typical boring Camry interior. Its almost as if Toyota hired a PS3 or Gameboy fan to design the steering!

If indeed we have 6sp/2.5L/DVD/GPS console/min 6 airbags, then Camry will be very hard to beat!

One will argue why need such for the new Camry..? Because the current Camry driver typical profile are not keen on fancy and tech design, so with the 2012 design, it may be a bit of shock and could alienate the typical camry driver ie older/middle age uncle! Those goodies will compensate so to speak on the "radical" design for them....

And those goodies will also make it a trump point for those who willing to forgo the driving dynamic without giving up too much... We all can conclude the next Camry and Accord is 100% unlikely on forced induction so driving performance and dynamic will be poor compare with anything non asian...

But as someone mentioned, the problem lies at UMW going for the lowest base model.... for goodness sake they still on 4sp tranny... And to correct some, camry is not luxury car... for goodness sake and Mondeo is not new... its already out there for last few years...

Again, my POV is strictly based on the car merit and driverability more than anything else. If we want to get into resale value and sales chart... its a different ball game entirely and might as well start another flaming thread on A vs B and end it with ."...........Although B is good but suck resale value as such B will fail........."

This post has been edited by gamenoob: Sep 26 2011, 08:32 AM

Gamenoob,

What do you think about the interior? Does it hav the luxury feel compare to Accord 2.4/Camry 2.4/Teana 2.5/Mazda 6 or any other car at its range?

Thanks!

Mas Chan

The Mondeo interior is way ahead in terms of quality and premium barring one thing..... The center console!

The silverish/aluminium trim although looks good, the HU was a big let down for the price. Its not the most luxury design (remember Mondeo MK4 is about 3-4yrs old now), but the accord and Camry is no better either and worst the overplasticky of the Sonata. Only the Accord come close in terms of premium feel among the 3 asian. Current Camry is bored as hell.

However, the alcantara leather combo mix in black color with tubing/stitching adds lots of sportiness to the interior. The rear leg room is very good. All the parts give a feel of very well put together as a package. The NVH is way ahead and this give it even more upper class moments. The asian car you mentioned seems good at first but as you caress the parts and fitting, and you will see so much low end plastic and tackiness that you wonder why would anyone pay RM160+ onward for them. Mazda6 was nice until Bermaz messed it up with the low rent seeking DVD/GPS console...

So its not the boring luxury but rather premium sportiness that the Mondeo bring to the table that the other brand you mentioned, does not have....

I went for test drive today, performance is as good as the spec sheet has shown. And you are right, the center console is a big let down. Other than that, I don't really like the material of centre portion of every seats, the tackiness just put me off even SA claims they are allergy tested leather.

Now I'm in dilemma, I don't like interior but love the engine performance to the max. At this price range, I'm considering Mazda 6 2.5 because of its overall design. But it can't match the feeling of driving the Mondeo with turbocharger! Not to mention higher road tax and FC.

This post has been edited by mas_chan: Sep 27 2011, 05:39 PM

o.O Mas_chan.. are you by chance known as Sam?

where got new car, this car has been around since casino royale james bond movie la..

Mas Chan

You will realize the Seat hugging/comfort of the mondeo is way better than the M, T, H....

If its any consolation, the Mondeo is on same platform as Volvo S60 and that is only 1.6 costing 220k... and 2.0 (240hp... same engine as Mondeo with diff mapping) is 260k.... so you getting a good stuff at almost 40-80k off...

That center part of the leather seat add some "young" feel to it so to speak...

just got back from a short test drive at puchong showroom. a powerful car with good acceleration. and considering it's a 200hp d-segment car for rm179k, i say it's value for money.

I think you rae absultely on the bulls eye

Hihihi..the Mas ..is a give away..

Hahaha, my nickname is not meant to hide my real identity :-p

Tim, you the one who served me during my visit at Mazda showroom??

Jim not Tim... Sigh you don't even remember my name... loL

Mas Chan

If you keen on the non Ecoboost Mondeo, I heard got 40k discount... saw it in Mudah...

40K?! I think you are talking about the previous gen Mondeo 2.3, not the latest ecoboost one.

Thanks for the info anyway.

http://www.mudah.my/Ford+Mondeo+2+3L+Brand+New-11384144.htm

but that's not ecoboost model.

http://www.mudah.my/Ford+Mondeo+EcoBoost+N...ch-11572156.htm

this one is..

tat 1 is 2.3 duratec tat currently going for huge discount...

120k++ for such a car is really worth the price... with d condition u dun mind tat is not a new engine...

very worth the price, instead of civic altis, better get this car.

but if i get this car i will lost hope for future career promotion lol. this is seriously bosses car.

buy one, keep at home for personal weekend use lah, then use the other car, which is your inspira to work. Enjoy your rides during the weekends loh, i know a friend doing this.

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Added on September 30, 2011, 6:36 pmeh , how come persada auto eco boost got navigation one? the one i saw before launch in mid valley no navigation, plain like old mondeo.

This post has been edited by sonyman: Sep 30 2011, 06:36 PM

Hi, I'm a proud and disappointed owner of the the Ford S-Max Ecoboost. Proud in the way that I'm absolutely thrill with the performance and chasis quality and the compactness of the car any Japanese cars hard to match with the same standard. However, I'm very disappointed too that the second batch of Mondeo and S-Max are now having standardized with 240hp and 340NM torque, leaving the 1st batch of owners, including me, with 40hp and 40Nm torque lesser. I'm making a complaint to Ford management and I'm taking it very seriously into the issue and requesting to re-flash our 1st batch cars with the updated performance. I've strong reason why the current owners should request for it.

There isn't any modifications involved, the whole car and the engine are 100% the same unit. The only difference is the engine which is is now programmed in the ECU to have much higher horse and torque value and it will be standardized globally inclusive China, and leaving us behind with the 200hp and 300NM torque. I repeat, it s only the ECU programme management dealing with the difference engine performance, it has nothing to do with warranties and their pricing with their latest stock. I urge all 1st batch Mondeo and Smax owner stand it out and request them to update our engine performance, and don't just leave us behind quietly. This is very unfair to us when we are having paid and own the same old cars with the same technology.

Again, I'm taking this very seriously, and I'm awaiting the reply from them. Volvo and Range Rover Evoque are having the same 240hp performance output, there is no way they are leaving us behind quietly. My car has been driven not even more than 7000km. I will involve with local tribunal whenever necessary to fight for this. They should be holding some responsibility to entertain the 1st batch of owners not even long after the 2nd batch of restocks in Malaysia market.

Maybe some parts were changed, made stronger? Otherwise, if Ford/Sime Darby won't help you, maybe you can find a company that remaps the car for you? Of course it won't be free, but better than nothing I guess.

LOL! The new Camry is a joke. No offense, but that is what it is.

Isn't sime going to increase the price for the higher output Mondeo?

This post has been edited by Yeapy: Apr 24 2012, 11:54 PM

that's the misunderstanding everyone of the higher output means higher price. It is not always how it is. It is the technology and the manufacturer's decision of the engine output. As far as I concern, the best example of these engines are the VW Golf GTi and Ford Ecoboost 2 litre engine, there are more and more continental car manufacturers having this turbo charging direct injection technology, which it provide extremely high output yet efficient. Due to the direct injection and turbo charging technology, these engines are extremely flexible. These engines can be tuned with just the ECU programming to decide the final output with quite a good range. In the beginning, Ford was obviously having a more conservative approach with these ecoboost engines tuned at 200hp and 300nm torque. It was lately that the later batch of these ecoboost engines were standardized and tuned at a much more aggressive output which it was designed for. And Ford seems standardising the higher output globally now, leaving the older batch behind with lesser output, I repeat, there is not modification, probably the only difference is the ecu chipset and obviously the tuning of the ecu. There is no modification of the engine nor the engine is a different unit. It is only the decision of the ECU tuning of having the final output.

I'm definitely fighting for this. Volvo S60 and other models and the Range Rover Evoque is having this engine unit supplied by Ford, they are all tuned similarly at 240hp. It is totally not fair to the 1st batch of customers in Malaysia getting the same car but left behind and could not enjoy the technology at its maximum.

If all Golf Gti user go make noise about their car deserve ABT stage 2,3 tuning for free using the same logic, then ABT can close shop... If newer gen Civic using the same old engine with better tuning come out then meaning 8th Gen Civic users can all protest ?

If I am Sime I will throw ur letter into the bin or post it as jokes of the day

it does not need flaming here, it is a different situation and they are making it with a bad timing with the product launching to the owners, why suggesting irrelevant 3rd market tuning stage and start a flame here? I'm only trying to share info here, flaming is unnecessary. The examples you are giving is too extreme, it is totally not what I'm approaching with the situation. I'm not asking Ford to change me a 2010 Mondeo to a 2013 Mondeo. The sales person dealt with me encourage me and fully agree with the situation.

I'm trying to share info to the Ford owners, and it is not a product update, it is not a facelift, I already mentioned the 1st batch and the current 2nd batch is a very close period, Sime have no choice as Ford international is standardising their produciton line. Let me tell you it is not an upgrade, please understand it. I've never ask them to tear down my car roof and the passenger seat and upgrade me with the electronic seat which they are offering different specs now. The engine is very different situation to the Gold and the so called Civic example you are giving, please stop flaming

This post has been edited by precsmo: Apr 25 2012, 08:02 AM

I just think u are funny, that's all about marketing tactics

butthurt i guess.

101% agree. Butthurt. Like Forte 4 speed owners COMPLAINT when Forte 6 speed out. LIKE Lancer GT Complaint when Inspira OUT. Like 2001 Kia Carnival owners who paid RM160k COMPLAINT when NAZA Ria launched 2 yrs later Priced RM60k Cheaper...

And the Butthurt stories goes on...

actually, don't even need to look at ABT
the same engine is doing 180hp in the polo GTi
but then with the same logic, shouldn't the cross touran buyers complain too as the same 1.4 engine is giving less HP in it compared to the golf and polo GTi

Oh, btw. VW for example offers their 1.4 TSI with maybe 115 hp, 140 hp, 160 hp, 170 hp... depending on the car and how much you are willing to spend. Each step higher will add maybe RM 4k...

-deleted-

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Added on April 26, 2012, 12:10 amnvm...found it edy...

This post has been edited by dinwaja: Apr 26 2012, 12:12 AM

At least they did not price it the same as the older tune.
New car is more expensive partly because of the tune also.

Tunes costs money: engineers, testers, marketers, assembly lines...

is this a solid info or just your personally opinion?

To my concern, I've been hearing lots of Mondeo owners are complaining like me now. We are considered as new car owners too, under the same model launching. And to my understanding, they can't claim of price increase due to more horses and performance. It has been the currency exchange and also probably some hardware changes such as the moon roof and the passenger electric seat, but not the engine related changes. I'm telling them to tear down the roof nor the seat and change the new ones for me. If they do claim to me as such the engine caused the asking value increment, I would argue that the engine has totally now hardware changes nor anything that is affecting the value, nor their warranty coverage. The 2nd batch of engines only gone under some tunings, which Ford has finally go with the more aggressive settings globally which the engine is designed for.

A good news actually, superchip has finally released the tuning for the Ecoboost 2.0l in Malaysia, which will tune the engine to 250hp and 350NM for only RM2200. It is entirely software based, no modification needed.



This post has been edited by precsmo: May 15 2012, 05:02 PM

Hi to all Mondeo, how was the car after owning for 2 or 3 years now?
headache with maintenance ?
any small glitch?
Fuel consumption?

Appreciate your brief review or at least clue to search more review. Thank you very much.