New entry-level Ford Mondeo to start at €27,500

Ford has released details on the pricing for its new Mondeo, with cars due in dealerships for test drives next week.

While the mid-range Zetec versions will start at €28,995, it’s expected that the entry-level Style version could start at €27,500 when it arrives on forecourts in January.

A lot of focus has been on where the Mondeo would be priced against its arch-rival the VW Passat, a new version of which is also arriving on the market for 2015 sales. While Ford has only released official prices for the mide-range Zetec and high-end Titanium versions a like-for-like they are slightly lower than the new Passat.

Take the Mondeo 1.6-litre diesel with mid-range Zetec specification. It’s priced at €28,995. That compares with a VW Passat 1.6-litre diesel in Comfortline for €30,815. Even with VW’s entry-level Trendline specification on this particular Passat is €28,940. Ford’s entry-level 1.6-litre diesel - the upcoming Style version - is likely to start at €27,500.

Moving up the mix let’s look at the 2-litre 150bhp diesel versions of either car with mid-level specification. The Passat Comfortline is €32,990 while the Mondeo Zetec is €31,845.

There used to be an argument that the added value on the Passat would be negated by a higher resale or residual value but according to Eddie Murphy, managing director and chairman of Ford Ireland, leasing firms are saying they are setting the values of the Mondeo Zetec at the same level as those of a Passat Comfortline.

Murphy says the Mondeo should mean Ford will be vying for the title of best-selling new car brand next year. “This year from a passenger car perspective it was a difficult year because we didn’t have the new Mondeo. The Mondeo this year represents one per cent of our market share and I think next year the new model will be worth 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent. That will get us back up towards a 13 per cent market share, which should see it chasing for the top spot.”

Ford is offering a finance package on the new Mondeo which Murphy says will see a new Zetec 1.6 litre 115bhp diesel available from €299 per month, based on a 4.9 per cent APR interest deal.

The full list of prices are:

Mondeo Zetec 1.6 litre TDCI 115 bhp diesel (emissions: 109g/km) - €28,995

Mondeo Zetec 2.0 litre TDCi 150 bhp diesel (emissions:115g/km) - €31,845

Mondeo Zetec 2.0 litre Powershift TDCi 150 bhp diesel (emissions:125g/km) - €33,945

Mondeo Titanium 1.6 litre TDCI 115 bhp diesel (emissions:109g/km ) - €31,495

Mondeo Titanium 2.0 litre TDCi 150 bhp diesel (emissions:115g/km) - €34,345

Mondeo Titanium 2.0 litre Powershift TDCi 150 bhp diesel (emissions:125g/km ) - €36,445

Mondeo Titanium 1.5 litre EcoBoost 160 bhp petrol (emissions: 134g/km) - €32,470