Mondeo Man turns into mutant electrical beauty: Ford Mondeo Hybrid

No, it hasn't turned Japanese

That’s not to say the that the drivetrains in the Mondeo and Prius don’t sound a bit similar. The Ford has a 2.0L Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and an electric motor hooked up to a planetary gearset to provide what is described as an “electronically controlled continuously variable transmission”. Engine capacity aside that’s essentially the same as Toyota’s e-CVT set-up.

Powerflow graphic tells you what power is going where, when and why

The Ford actually uses two separate electric motors. An 88kW unit that works as a drive motor and a second built into a powersplit transaxle that acts as a generator to recharge the lithium-ion battery from both the petrol engine and the regenerative braking system.

Lithium-ion? Unlike Toyota, who keep Li-ion batteries purely for the plug-in version of the Prius, Ford uses one in both the standard hybrid and Energi versions of the Fusion/Mondeo. That, I think, is a first.

It’s only a 1.4kWh unit but Ford reckons the Mondeo harvests over 90 per cent of the energy normally frittered away in braking thanks to that dedicated generator. So it’s got plenty of charge available most of the time.

Li-ion battery only holds 1.4kWh but takes up a lot of the boot

I initially thought it strange that the Mondeo didn't have an EV button for forced electric-only driving. But that’s because it doesn't really need one. Electric drive occurs at any speed up to 85mph and whenever the car’s computer thinks it can get away with it. Which as it turns out is quite often.

In the real world the Mondeo moves under purely electric power more often than any other non plug-in hybrid I've driven. If the on-board computer is to be believed it was running on ‘leccy power for more than 25 per cent of the 395 miles I covered in it.

Binnacle shows how much 'leccy distance you've covered and awards leaves for eco-driving!

The installation of the air-cooled 42kg battery pack however isn't quite as subtle as it could be. To start with the fuel tank loses 9.5 litres dropping capacity from 62.5l to 53l. Pop the boot and you’ll also notice the large, irregularly shaped raised lump at the back which is said battery.

There’s still a reasonable amount of luggage space but losing the flat floor may prove to be an issue for some though the rear seat backs still fold forward to accommodate larger objects. Notice I say boot space. The Mondeo Hybrid is only available as a 4-door saloon. In fact, it’s the only 4-door version of the new Mondeo you can buy in the UK, the rest of the range being made up of 5-door hatchbacks and estates.

Hybrid version of Mondeo only available as a 4-door. If you want a hatchback or estate you are stuffed

So, what’s Ford’s first European – it’s built at the Valencia factory, though the battery pack is shipped over from Ypsilanti, MI – hybrid like on the road? Not half bad, as it happens.

To start with, the transition between electric and petrol drive is impressively smooth. Smoother than any other parallel hybrid I've driven. The petrol engine is so well damped that even under hard acceleration you’d struggle to tell it has kicked in if you have the stereo up or the window down. It makes the Mondeo a very comfortable and refined car to drive in town.

Drives as good as it looks even if it's no speed demon

On paper the Mondeo is not what you could call fast. The 0-62 sprint takes 9.5 seconds and the top speed is 116mph, which isn’t that impressive for a 185bhp machine. But thanks to the electric motor’s 117lb-ft/159Nm of torque, low and mid range acceleration never feels less than eager or more than effortless.