FORD

FORD MONDEO
The Mondeo may have undergone many face lifts, but it is starting to look a little long in the front. Quality of materials has improved on the inside but the Mazda 6 still boasts a better finishing in the cabin. Digging deeper, the chassis still sparkles amidst the newer competition. The 2-litre engine may not win any awards but performs adequately enough to propel the Mondeo to 100km/h in a little over 11 seconds.


FORD FOCUS
The best feature of the Focus has to be the car's neutral handling characteristics and sharp steering. Rumors states that a manual variant of the sporty 5-door may soon be available but until then, punters and 'WRC' contenders will have to make do with either the automatic hatchback, sedan or wagon.


FORD FIESTA
The Fiesta features an interior that is skewed more towards functionality than 'cushy' touchy-feely aesthetics. The occupants enjoy a high ceiling and roomy cabin for both front and rear passengers. The firm ride, may not be on par with the Focus, and well-controlled chassis provides some form of entertainment when pushing hard. The 1.4-litre engine is suited for an automatic or a clutch-less manual ASM version, but does not produce enough power to capitalize on the handling.


FORD ESCAPE
Ford' SUV recently underwent an engine transplant. Features a 2.3-litre engine, which replaces the 140bhp 2.0-litre from before. The Escape is now available in 4WD guise compared to the 2WD variant. The interior gives an agricultural and utilitarian feel, which helps accentuate the off-road capabilities. The brick-like Escape features all the usual addenda that help to complete the rugged off-road image. The handling has been tuned to best compromise between on-road and off-road experience.