Ford Mondeo Hybrid starts to roll off the production line

The first Ford Mondeo Hybrids – Ford’s first hybrid car for the UK and Europe – is now rolling off the production line and will be available in the UK in December.

Ford Mondeo Hybrid (pictured) starts to roll off the production line

The UK and Europe has had to wait a long time for Ford to take the US Fusion and turn it in to a new Ford Mondeo for Europe. But it is finally here in a multitude of offerings for engine, trim and body style.

But what’s completely new for Ford is a hybrid, so the news that the first Ford Mondeo Hybrids are now rolling off the production line for UK and European buyers is interesting, even if it’s debatable why anyone would want one.

Costing £25k, the Mondeo Hybrid comes with a 2.0 litre petrol engine and a 35 kW electric motor for a combined output of 184bhp, with economy of 67.2mpg and emissions of 99g/km. Hardly startling, but not too bad.

But because Ford doesn’t have any real expectations for sales of the hybrid Mondeo, it’s only available as a saloon and comes with a CVT ‘box, just when makers of other hybrids are finally (thankfully) starting to give up on them.

In every way that matters, the similarly priced 2.0 litre diesel Mondeo with the 180PS is by far the better buy, offering a similar price with comparable economy, a choice of body styles and better driveability.

But if you just must have a Mondeo that manages just 99g/km of emissions, then the hybrid Mondeo is the one to have.

But it’s probably the least appealing Mondeo by far.