FORD of Europe has created some cracking cars over the years. Tragically, though, we have missed out on a few – Puma, S-Max and Capri 2800i spring to mind. And it appeared that we were not going to see the Mondeo MkIII either, after the poor sales performance of the first-generation models of the 1990s. But you can’t keep a brilliant car away forever, and the latest version of a lineage that commenced with the Consul Cortina back in 1962 undoubtedly rates as one of the world’s finest family cars. The big Ford from Belgium has almost got it all. If you are in the market for a sub-$40,000 five-seater of any shape or description, the latest Mondeo must make it on your ‘to try’ list. So go on, we dare you - it's that good. Case in point: Zetec 2.3-litre petrol sedan.

HE Mondeo Verona
Released: Feb 2000
Ended: Dec 2000
Family Tree: MondeoThe final version of the first-generation Series II Mondeo was the price-leader Verona sedan, conceived too late for the ageing European family car to make any impact against the hard-charging compact SUVs that decimated sales of mid-sized segment vehicles at the time. And yes, the Verona looked dated by the new millennium, but – like all Mondeos – it steered and rode like a sports sedan, even if the 94kW/170Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine was no fireball. Yet nobody cared, so Ford Australia picked up the US-devised Escape to challenge the Honda CR-Vs and Toyota RAV4s of this world. Keen drivers would prefer to drive a Mondeo, though.
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