Official Ford dealers have started selling the Mondeo with a unique 2.2-liter diesel engine. This engine is the most powerful among four-cylinder diesels.

Our market recently saw the debut of the Ford Mondeo with a 2.2-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel engine producing 155 horsepower. The dynamics of this engine are truly impressive: top speed is 216 km/h, and acceleration to 100 km/h takes 9 seconds, which is better than direct competitors. At the same time, in the combined cycle, the car consumes only 6.3 liters of fuel per 100 km.

The engine uses an advanced common rail fuel injection system with a shared fuel rail. The variable-geometry turbocharger has an overboost function: if you sharply press the accelerator pedal to the floor, the boost pressure briefly increases, and torque jumps from 360 to 400 Nm. Engineers also worked on the quality of mixture formation: new injectors have seven thin channels instead of the previous five, improving fuel atomization and combustion. Thanks to this, the engine meets Euro-4 standards.

Diesel and silence are practically incompatible things, and our Mondeo is no exception. Already a few meters from the car, you can hear the characteristic clatter. However, when you sit in the comfortable driver's seat, you realize that sound insulation is top-notch: at idle, the engine sound is soft and unobtrusive. And if you turn on quiet music, the diesel's grumbling is not heard at all.

Getting off to a quick start is not always possible — you need precise pedal control. The clutch travel is long, and engagement occurs sharply and harshly at the very beginning of the pedal's return stroke. If you don't hold the clutch and add gas at that moment, you can easily stall.

On the highway, the car holds a straight line perfectly, even at 200 km/h without requiring steering corrections. The steering wheel clearly feels a near-zero zone, and in sharp turns, the wheel fills with pleasant heaviness, helping you feel the car better. In the city during active driving, you have to shift frequently, keeping the revs in the 1500–3500 range. The diesel instantly revs up to the maximum 5000 rpm.

But this is not turbo lag — rather a habit developed on other turbo diesels. The name Duratorq translates as "constant torque," and these are not empty words. The peak torque here is achieved over a wide range: the engine confidently pulls from 1500 rpm and fades around 4000. The pull is simply locomotive-like, something to be proud of. The gear ratios in the gearbox are selected so that even at low revs, the car confidently accelerates from 70–90 km/h in fifth and sixth gears.

If you don't watch the instruments and drive calmly in traffic, you can drive through the entire city in fourth gear. When the tachometer needle drops to a thousand rpm and below, the engine reminds you of discomfort only with a barely noticeable vibration, but it still faithfully executes commands — both maintaining speed and accelerating without downshifting.

+ Excellent engine, rich equipment, good driving characteristics.
– Noisy engine at idle.

Technical specifications of Ford Mondeo Ghia X

Curb weight, kg – 1486
Gross weight, kg – 2005
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm – 4730/1810/1460
Wheelbase, mm – 2755
Top speed, km/h – 216
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s – 9
Fuel consumption, l/100 km:
- city – 8.2
- highway – 4.9
- combined – 6.3
Engine:
- type – diesel, turbocharged
- displacement, cm3 – 2198
- power, hp – 155
- torque, Nm at rpm – 114/3500
Tire size – 205/55R17
Suspension (front and rear) – independent, spring
Brakes (front/rear) – disc, ventilated/disc
Steering – rack and pinion, with power steering
Price, $ – 29,094–36,282

The diesel Mondeo has prospects

Larisa Suikova, General Director of Yu. S. IMPEX:

We started selling diesel versions relatively recently. This became possible because domestic refineries improved fuel quality — at least in central regions. Previously, Russian diesel fuel did not meet European standards: it had a lot of sulfur and water. When combined, these elements form sulfuric acid, which damages parts and disrupts the operation of fuel equipment. Now the situation is changing for the better. Nevertheless, many still have a wary attitude toward diesels, although their advantages are obvious. Diesels are economical: at the same price as gasoline, diesel fuel is consumed twice as slowly. This is not only a financial benefit but also comfort — you will have to stop at gas stations much less often. The diesel version of the Mondeo has good prospects, especially given the rising cost of fuel.