2002 Ford Mondeo ST220 review
Ever since it first appeared two years ago, the new Ford Mondeo has been crying out for a more powerful engine to exploit the excellent chassis. And now it has arrived. The long-awaited hot ST220 goes on sale in Britain this month, priced at £21,745 as a hatch or saloon, or £1,000 more for the estate.
But is the right-hand-drive ST, which we test here for the first time, good enough to satisfy the keenest enthusiasts? After all, the ST200 version of the previous Mondeo failed to hit the target, suffering from a lack of refinement and prodigious torque steer, as well as terrifying depreciation.
The blue oval is quick to point out that its latest hot Mondeo is a much more complete driver's car than STs of old. It certainly hasn't been rushed into development – the model has been promised for the past 18 months, but only now does Ford feel that it is ready to hit the market.
Visually, the new car has much appeal. It is not as bold as its pre-decessor, opting instead for a subtle bodykit, under-bumper foglamps, xenon headlights and stylish 18-inch alloy wheels. The understated theme continues inside, too, with supportive leather Recaro sports seats, a small ST logo on the steering wheel, white dials and a black ash finish to the centre console. More adventurous buyers can opt for bright red hide trim, but in our opinion the black upholstery fitted to the car we drove was far classier.
Yet the ST220's most impressive aspects aren't visible to the naked eye. The 3.0-litre Duratec V6 powerplant is a real peach, with tremendous in-gear flexibility letting the Mondeo change its nature from serene cruiser to howling beast with a mere prod of the throttle. As the revs rise, the engine note becomes throatier, with peak torque hitting at 4,750rpm. Keep the motor on the boil and the car accelerates swiftly, with 0-60mph possible in a mere 6.8 seconds.
The gearbox also suits the car's nature. Given the fact that Ford offers a six-speed unit on the Focus ST170, it may come as a surprise to find the ST220 is equipped with only five ratios. However, they're so well spaced it hardly matters – at the legal cruising limit the Mondeo pulls just over 2,500rpm. Yet it's off the motorways where this mod-el really shines. Firm but forgiving suspension means the ride isn't too compromised, while perfectly weighted steering and an agile chassis mean the fast Ford approaches corners with relish. The brakes are highly effective, if a little lacking in feel, while those fat tyres give enormous levels of grip.
Ford has got it right with the ST220. It's a niche machine, but one which will add much-needed desirability to the model's already impressive line-up – and which proves just how good the Mondeo was to start off with.
Forget the OTT nature of past hot saloons such as the Sierra Cosworth – the new ST220 shows you can have maturity and refinement with a fast Ford. It's one of the most satisfying, entertaining and practical cars in its class, and with a price that undercuts the BMW 320i SE by more than £1,000, it seems better value, too. Company car drivers should watch out for the tax liability, though.
> Ford Mondeo ST220 on sale now, priced at £21,745
> 0-60mph: 6.8secs; 151mph
> CO2 output 244g/km;30 per cent Benefit in Kind tax
Source : www.autoexpress.co.uk - story by Craig Cheetham
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