Drive: Ford Mondeo Titanium X Estate

Its image has been tainted over the years as the dull but capable rep’s car: in fact, the Mondeo is great fun to drive.

The Titanium X has lots of goodies, including Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), climate front seats and privacy glass. The Titanium Alcantara and leather seats are extremely comfortable and are supportive enough to provide miles of back pain-free travel.

Our test vehicle had a SatNav system (£1,750), which, while pricey, was a breeze to use. It features a large touch screen (7in) and six-disc autochanger, which is capable of playing MP3 files.

This will be a popular choice with people who spend a lot of time on the road. For those who want to keep kids happy in the back, there is also an option of buying two mounted screens in the head restraints; this system can cope with computer games with the addition of auxiliary leads.

There is plenty of room for driver and passengers alike; the Mondeo will cope happily with five adults aboard. But it is also luxurious enough to provide executive-style travel.

The 2.2-litre diesel provides plenty of oomph for the driver who likes to go places as quickly as possible, but it is also smooth enough to cope with sedate city speeds. Foot down, it brings a smile to your face as you pass slower traffic on the motorways. It handles well, and doesn’t pick up on small potholes in the roads.

To private buyers, the Mondeo has the inherent problem of high depreciation: it stands at just 29% after three years.

Ford has a really good car with the Mondeo: it has solid engineering, great safety features, and can still manage to raise a smile when on the open road.

Price: £22,800 (£26,000 as tested)
Engine: 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi; 152bhp @ 3,500rpm; 265lb ft @ 1,800rpm
Performance: 0-62mph: 9.0sec; top speed: 134mph
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Efficiency: 44.8mpg (combined); 166g/km CO2
CAP RV 3yr/30k: £6,125 (29%)
Rivals: Subaru Legacy, Toyota Avensis, Mazda6