FORD'S Mondeo has long been the quiet achiever of the Blue Oval’s local line-up. Sure, it’s lacked the glitz and the glamour of a V8 Falcon, and it hasn’t quite got the pop and sizzle of Ford’s hot hatch Fiesta and Focus ST twins.

But next time you’re out and about mid-week, cast an eye around and see how many sign-written Mondeos you see plying their trade on a day-to-day basis. It really fits the bill as a solid, dependable and sizable middle-order car.

But the Mondeo now has a job ahead of it to take the place of the Falcon in the hearts and minds of those who still see a generously sized mid-size sedan as the family rig of choice, as well as to carve out its own niche in a voluminous but declining category where value for money is vital for success.

There is plenty of competition for the traditionally positioned front driver to contend with, but with this all-new model, Ford reckons it can keep its rivals at bay.

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