The interior looks good and is easy to use. Some of the functions – especially on the top models – are controlled by buttons on the steering wheel and you scroll through menus in the same way you would on a mobile phone. Ford calls this the HMI system – or Human Machine Interface and it’s fairly intuitive to use. The seat adjusts every which way, so it’s easy to get a good, supportive driving positing while forward visibility is good.

On the 2010 refesh, the Mondeo has had a little nip/tuck on the interior. The most striking design tweak is that the central console is now one piece, the plastics feel softer and are of a higher quality.

Comfort is one of Mondeo’s great strengths. The car has grown in both width and length and the space is put to better use than before. As a result, there’s lots of room for two in the back, with impressive legroom, and the third seat is adequate for short trips. Legroom is outstanding, the seats are supportive and a good shape, although the sloping shape of the roof restricts headroom.

On the move – and especially on the motorway – it’s very quiet. Wind and road noise are well suppressed and engine noise is only noticeable under hard acceleration. It means that the Mondeo is well equipped for long distance driving.