Expert answer

Hi John,

I think given the criteria you’ve given us it has to be the Kia. It’s good looking and nice to drive, roomy, comfy and well equipped and above all it has the longest warranty by far. The Ford is great looking and good to drive but the quality isn’t as good as it was on the last Mondeo and while we love the Skoda Superb, it sounds like the Kia would suit you better.

Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Ford Mondeo review

Skoda Superb review

Kia Optima SW review

Expert answer

Hi Troy,

The 508 RXH is a really likeable car, with tremendous comfort and very good quality. It’s a bit pricey, but a surprisingly good choice. We would avoid the Mondeo Vignale with all our might – the depreciation on a Ford that costs that much is going to be catastrophic so instead just go for a well-equipped Mondeo Titanium or Titanium Plus. The best of the three is the Skoda, though. It’s the biggest inside and will have the best resale value.

Here are some of our reviews to help you decide:

Ford Mondeo Vignale review

Skoda Superb Combi review

Expert answer

Hi Gareth,

Is that the 1.6 TDCi? If so the belt is ‘lifed’ for ten years, with no specific mileage limit, but as it’s four years old now, it might be at worth getting it at least inspected.

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Hi Fergal,

In a purely objective sense? No, there’s nothing. Will you get an interior that looks and feels a bit classier? Yes. Will you get a badge that has a bit more appeal? Yes. Do these things really matter? Not to everyone. If you’ve got a Mondeo then you already have a well-made, comfortable car that’s good to drive. So upgrading to an Audi or BMW will get you… a shinier badge. If you want something that feels as good as the premium stuff but costs less, have a look at a Volkswagen Passat or Mazda6 as a potential replacement. The only area in which the German cars are quantifiably better is in resale value.

Expert answer

Hi Linda,

Assuming it's the 2.0 TDCi, then it's every 200,000km or every ten years, whichever is sooner. 

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Hi Cyril,

Actually, the current 1.5 EcoBoost petrol model is rather a nice thing. It’s a very smooth, quiet engine and has just about enough poke to shift that big body around, and actually ends up feeling slightly sweeter than the diesel to drive. Economy works out at around 40mpg in most conditions, so it’s not too thirsty and if you’re not doing really big mileage every year, it’s definitely worth considering.

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi diesel review

Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCi diesel review

Expert answer

Hi Jim,

Nothing to avoid, in particular, but lots of good ones to try out. Start with a Mazda6 Tourer, or a Ford Mondeo Estate, or a Skoda Superb Combi. If you want to save a bit of money (but not compromise on space) go for a Skoda Octavia Combi, if you want something with a bit of class go for an Audi A6 Avant (pricey but the 2.0-litre TDI keeps running costs down).

Expert answer

Hi Deirdre,

Prices for a 2007 Mondeo seem to hover at around the €5,000 mark, so as a trade-in you’re only likely to get offered €3,500 or so – dealers have to allow for some profit margin and expense when it comes to valuing cars.

If you’re going to sell privately, I'd pitch the price at around the €4,500 mark and see how you go.

Expert answer

Hi John,

It depends on the engine. The 1.6-litre petrol needs it to be changed every 160,000km or every eight years, the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 diesels need to have their belts changed every 200,000km or every 10 years.

Expert answer

Hi Aiden,

That’s a good-sized budget so you should be able to get a good-sized car. In terms of car-vans, the best ones are the Citroen Berlingo and the Volkswagen Caddy Life, but both are noisier than a conventional car, and less comfortable over long distances. With that in mind, I reckon you need an estate – have a look for a Mazda6 Tourer, Ford Mondeo Estate or Volkswagen Passat Estate – or keep an eye out for the best of breed, the Skoda Superb Combi. All are comfortable, roomy and have frugal diesel options.