A look back at the history of the Ford Mondeo.

From inception to the current fourth generation, a concise history of the Ford Mondeo.

Originally released in 1993, the Ford Mondeo is one of the American manufacturer’s most popular models to date. Brought in to replace the Ford Sierra, the Mondeo was introduced during a turbulent time for Ford. Criticised for producing poor quality cars for a high price, the manufacturer was under extreme pressure to produce an impressive vehicle that ticked all the boxes.

Available in three different body types – estate, hatchback and saloon – the first generation Ford Mondeo was initially produced at the manufacturer’s Belgian plant in Genk. Although it originated from the Sierra, the new Mondeo shared very little design traits with its ancestor. Boasting a velour interior trim, central locking and power windows, the ground-breaking Mondeo managed to show that Ford about more than just average models and high price tags.

Billed as the ‘Mark 1 Facelift’, the second generation Mondeo was released in 1996. The Mark 2 Mondeo sort to address some of the key issues highlighted by the Mark 1, most notably its bland styling and poor headlights. This meant the Mark 2 Mondeo was virtually unrecognisable from the previous generation – the interiors were revised, nearly every external model was replaced and exterior was also redesigned.

In addition to an improved aesthetic, the Mark 2 also boasted an improved safety specification. So impressive were the new safety features that the Mondeo was awarded 3 stars in the Euro NCAP tests, placing it ahead of key rivals such as the Peugeot 406 and Vauxhall Vectra.

The third generation Mondeo was released in October 2000. Larger than its predecessor, the Mark 3 Mondeo was described by critics as having a more ‘mature’ feel than previous generations. Boasting a range of engines including two all-new Duratec engines, the Mark 3 was billed as a versatile choice for the modern motorist.

The current Mark 4 Mondeo was first introduced to the market in late 2006 and to the UK market in 2007. Based on the EUCD platform, the fourth generation Mondeo was available in five different trim levels – Edge, Zetec, Ghia, Titanium and Titanium X. A sportier trim level – the Titanium S – was also introduced in 2008.