The ride quality suffers only slightly from the adoption of minimum size 16" wheels with low profile 205 x 55 tyres (expensive Michelin Pilots on the test car). But the handling remains the same safe, sure and crisp recipe as the old Mondeo with plenty of steering 'feel-back' to tell you exactly what's going on. Only on very long sweeping bends does the steering sometimes become less than perfect. Wind noise is very well suppressed, right up to that magical 130mph and possibly beyond, but we had to lift for traffic. Strangely, the car is a lot noisier at 80mph than at 90mph and over. Yet even cruising extensively in the 90-110mph bracket, overall fuel consumption worked out at a creditable 33.35mpg which indicates that keeping speed down to 80-85 should result in 40mpg.

There were no complaints from the back seat, which is hardly surprising given rear legroom to rival the old Peugeot 605. This really shames new models such as the new Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Volvo S60. Unlike the old model, the four-door saloon is better looking than the five-door hatch, especially in 'Nantucket Grey metallic'.

It's also likely to be reliable. I've been driving an auction-bought previous-model Mondeo for two years now with no trouble at all. And the new car carries a three-year warranty.

The new Mondeo was pipped at the post for European Car of the Year by the Alfa 147, which says more about the judging system than about anything else. I loved the car. My wife loved the car. My kids loved the car. Our whole family loved the car. I'd obviously prefer a 2.0 litre to the 1.8, but the 1.8 would do me fine. I could pay a lot more for a more expensive car, but I doubt it be a better one.