The residual value of the new Ford Mondeo, due to arrive in UK showrooms in June, will be significantly higher than that of the outgoing model, and will even outperform those of some of the new car's key rivals.

According to EurotaxGlass’s, the new £18,197 five-door Mondeo 2.0 TDCi (138bhp) Zetec is forecast to retain 35% (£6,300) of its purchase price as a trade value after three years and 60,000 miles, compared to 29% (£5,450) for the current model five-door Mondeo 2.0TDCi (130bhp) Zetec which comes with a higher list price (£18,497).

The news is even better for the estate version of the car. The Mondeo 2.0TDCi (140bhp) Zetec Estate has a list price of £19,447, and after three years and 60,000 miles, EurotaxGlass’s forecasts a trade value for the car of £7,000 (36% retained value).

Over the same three-year/60,000 mile period, EurotaxGlass’s is predicting lower trade values for the Toyota Avensis 2.2 D4-D (148bhp) T3-X five-door (34%), Vauxhall Vectra 1.9CDTi (148bhp) SRI five-door (31%) and Saab 9-3 1.9TiD (118bhp) Linear four-door (30%). However, the new Mondeo will continue to trail its rival from Volkswagen - the Passat 2.0 TDi (138bhp) SE four-door is expected to be worth 38% of its list price in three years’ time.

“The Mondeo has never really been an emotional purchase - more often than not it has been the traditional mainstay of fleets which has merely satisfied a need for transport rather than become a status symbol in the company car park,” said Jason King, forecasting editor at EurotaxGlass’s.

“However, with the new car a premium feel is far more evident inside and out, injecting a much needed shot of desirability into the Mondeo name.

“The materials and build quality in the cabin would not be out of place in a product from either of the Ford-owned Jaguar or Volvo brands. The standard specification now includes items such as ESP, cruise control and a trip computer, and confirms that buyers of D-sector cars in the UK demand the highest equipment levels of any market in Europe,” adds King.