Mondeo STline Hybrid estate
Discussion
I've had a few days in one, driver training and some driving on the road. Probably a ~2016 model, unsure if they changed the hybrid config since.
My conclusion was that the hybrid drivetrain was poorly developed / integrated, I presume they threw it together without taking a lot of time or care over it in order to have an economical option for the states, which don't take diesels and generally are fairly undemanding.
It was just a bit inconsistent really, didn't always do the same thing each time. So braking was inconsistent depending on charge state, surface and how you braked, and power too. It's possible to empty the battery and get into 'tortoise mode' where it feels like a very small engine dragging a very heavy car through a CVT. That said, with charge in the battery it went pretty well, and this was Millbrook where we emptied it so perhaps not normal use.
I think it'd be 'ok' with some combination of (a) being happy to drive fairly gently and (b) spending time to learn its quirks. However personally I'd want a car I can rely on to react predictably to the throttle and brake.
The rest of the car was up to Ford's usual high standards, great chassis all around, comfortable, liveable.
I'd personally struggle to pick the hybrid drivetrain over a nice EcoBoost or a Euro6 diesel drivetrain, both of which would seem more consistent, likely not that much less economical if any, and feel intuitively like a safer maintenance proposition into middle age, as at least they're a car your local garage would be au fait with even if they do need attention.
My conclusion was that the hybrid drivetrain was poorly developed / integrated, I presume they threw it together without taking a lot of time or care over it in order to have an economical option for the states, which don't take diesels and generally are fairly undemanding.
It was just a bit inconsistent really, didn't always do the same thing each time. So braking was inconsistent depending on charge state, surface and how you braked, and power too. It's possible to empty the battery and get into 'tortoise mode' where it feels like a very small engine dragging a very heavy car through a CVT. That said, with charge in the battery it went pretty well, and this was Millbrook where we emptied it so perhaps not normal use.
I think it'd be 'ok' with some combination of (a) being happy to drive fairly gently and (b) spending time to learn its quirks. However personally I'd want a car I can rely on to react predictably to the throttle and brake.
The rest of the car was up to Ford's usual high standards, great chassis all around, comfortable, liveable.
I'd personally struggle to pick the hybrid drivetrain over a nice EcoBoost or a Euro6 diesel drivetrain, both of which would seem more consistent, likely not that much less economical if any, and feel intuitively like a safer maintenance proposition into middle age, as at least they're a car your local garage would be au fait with even if they do need attention.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff