Ford’s North American and Canadian mid-market contender continues to be given the automotive equal to a course of Botox injections, with new lights along with a fresh grille to assist push away signs and symptoms of ageing.

It now looks distinctly European, that is no bad thing. V6 power (in either 155PS or 205PS forms) is standard, is a four-speed automatic transmission along with a suspension package that’s biased towards comfort in the tariff of precision.

The 4 door sedan may be the main seller, but there is also a station wagon variant providing you with an optional third row of seats.

Never intended like a car which will enhance the blood pressure, the vehicle signally achieves its modest ambitions.

A key player in the vital fleet market sector that keeps the majority of Europe’s auto makers alive, Mondeo’s nondescript looks (it is the very essence of Euro-bland, to a lot of eyes) mask a great performer.

Offered in sedan, hatch and estate variants, and available with a variety of engines that fit just about every taste (in the excellent workhorse turbo diesel to some supremely powerful and sporting 3.0 litre V6) and ride and handling at levels that excellent isn’t an exaggeration.

Pick from the bunch may be the ST220, that is blisteringly fast, and which has a slick new six speed gearbox – but the entry-level two litre four, with 125PS and also the basic five speed transmission, is a respectable performer.

Created being an economical, compact city car, Ka has become an entire group of interesting little machines; it is far nearer to delivering the spirit and joie de vivre from the original Mini compared to current BMW incarnation of this model.

The standard Ka, offered in various trim packages, is offered just with a 1.3 litre petrol engine, that is sufficient to supply quite good performance.

The truly fun variants – SportKa three-door hatch and StreetKa two-seater roadster – possess a 1.6 litre engine, which in StreetKa compensates for the weight penalties of additional body stiffening measures, but in SportKa translates right to sharper acceleration.

Handling of models is neat and precise, and all offer plenty of smiles per mile.

Take the last series of Fiesta, give it a brand new tail that turns it from the hatchback to a sedan, and you’ve got the perfect mass market car for the South American and South African markets.

As may be expected the vehicle is lacking in modernity, but it is durable, practicable and cheap to construct and run – all factors that count highly anywhere south of recent Mexico.

Suspension and drive-line are carried over in the European models which the Ikon is based, but which has its advantages in the type of lively performance and good, otherwise ultra-precise handling.

Nobody is ever going to come total emotional concerning the Ikon, but so long since it sells Ford isn’t bothered.

It could seem like a 1965-built race car, but underneath the skin it becomes an all-new car. Built in homage towards the GT40 which thrashed all comers in the 24 Heures du Mans through the latter half of the 1960s, GT is a true supercar, by having an aluminium space frame wrapped in a slick aluminium body shell which, although modelled about the GT40, is considerably bigger on every elevation.

Power comes from a V8 with quad cams and 500 horsepower, and also the transaxle is likewise pure Modern day in execution.

These combine to provide monster-sized bites of acceleration, handling is flawless, and in contrast to the original, the cabin has heating and cooling ac. Think before queuing for one – they all are sold.

Still selling – although its best days are perhaps behind it – the Galaxy seems to have existed forever. Yet still stacks up in relation to both dynamics and practicality.

Pick from the bunch may be the mid-range 2.3 petrol, which provides decent performance with acceptable economy; less thirsty since the 2.8 V6 and sharper-performing than the 1.9Tdi.

Ford claimed car-like handling once the Galaxy first appeared a decade ago, and there’s still some substance to that particular claim – it depends on the car that you compare it.

The tall body shell creates more roll than some find acceptable, but in all honesty the vehicle is much more nimble and agile than may be expected.

There was a rather malicious rumour doing the rounds not long ago that Ford was selling badges which read ‘con’ – ready for buyers from the fusion to place immediately in front of the tailgate badge.

Behind this is actually the suggestion this is a car without any real place in the market – hence its nickname of Confusion. Essentially a Fiesta on stilts, the vehicle is exactly what Ford describe as a urban lifestyle vehicle.

Get over that and you find a car that’s quite civilized, actually. The ideal choice of engines (the very best of that is the 1.5 turbo diesel) and handling that’s quite good – the additional height creates a bit more body roll than Fiesta – combine with a good quantity of interior space to create a useful town car.

Made to slot in between the Fusion and also the Galaxy, C-Max is dependant on a revised version from the Focus floor pan, hence its Sunday name.

But there, all similarities end, C-Max is a sophisticated late entrant towards the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) marketplace dominated for so long by Renault’s Scenic – however it was well worth the wait, as C-Max has bounced right to the top from the pile for five-seater leisure vehicles. And that’s its only weakness; critics expected it to seat seven.

In other respects – handling, performance, versatility and flexibility, C-Max outperforms your competition. Rumours abound that the four wheel drive variant is going to appear.

Still the benchmark car in its class, the one that each other manufacturer uses to judge the prosperity of its competing products, Focus emerges in four different body packages, with engine choices to satisfy almost any requirement.

Handling is great through the range, and also the high-series 2.0 litre 170PS cars are very lively performers. The entry-level 1.4 litre unit (not offered in all markets) is swifter than may be expected.

Accommodation is preferable to the body size suggests, noise levels superbly managed, and also the complete dynamic package co-ordinated to some level that many other auto makers aspire to attain.

Developed alongside Five Hundred, Freestyle is heralded as leading a brand new market sector for those who do not want a regular sports utility, but who desire something tougher than the usual saloon.

The type of thing that people Europeans have experienced for many years, such cars since the Audi Allroad and Volvo Cross-country.

Freestyle draws heavily about the latter car for inspiration and format – although four wheel drive isn’t standard, but an extra-cost option.

Under the hood lies a V6 with constantly variable transmission (another novelty in the American market) and within the car is a flexible and accommodating passenger area with estate load area.

It will likely be interesting to determine how the American public responds for this newly-flown kite.

Taking on the Chrysler Voyager will need something a little special; the Voyager has generated an enviable reputation for itself how the competition has previously been not able to match.

Ford’s Freestar – which builds on the functional but unspectacular, soon-to-depart Windstar being a very larger contender in the multi-purpose vehicle sector- seems set to offer the required success.

Cleaner handling that could be expected may come as standard. Featuring sliding rear doors and the capability to seat up to eight on three rows of seats, with a newly-announced V6 of 4.2 litres, Freestar is heralded since the best Ford Minivan ever.

Ford’s flagship sedan, Five Hundred is described as the very first crossover vehicle. Which means that Ford has recognised most of the features that buyers like about sports utilities – the high command driving position, the inside flexibility, selecting four wheel drive – and applied these phones a conventional two-box 4 door car.

The result is much more harmonious than may be expected; Five Hundred handles cleanly, and performs to expected amounts of acceleration (there is a selection of V6 or V8 petrol engines) with quite good economy.

Additionally , it looks more European in execution than continues to be the case with other Fords from The united states, because of input in the British-based design team that actually works on Volvo, Jaguar and Ford Europe products.