Used Car of the Year 2014 - why the Ford Mondeo is our favourite estate car

Putting an estate boot on the back of a family hatchback generally adds £1000, which means you’re looking at spending around £9000 on a good used estate car. This makes the Ford Mondeo Estate a steal when you consider just how much boot you get for the money. Our pick would be a four-year-old 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec.

Despite its large proportions the Mondeo Estate feels sporty to drive; the steering is responsive, the handling sharp and the ride well-controlled. It also makes an amazingly comfortable cruiser, with a supportive driver’s seat and a generally hushed cabin that helps makes car journeys relaxing at motorway speeds.

The 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine is smooth and delivers all the power you’ll need.

With a Government combined mpg of 47.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 156g/km, the engine isn’t quite as efficient as the newer version fitted in current Mondeos. However, reasonable insurance premiums and competitively priced servicing and repair costs all help to keep overall running costs low.

There are no widely reported reliability issues with this age of Mondeo. Engine problems make up the biggest number of claims to Warranty Direct at 28%, but less than a third of Mondeos on their books are the subject of any claim at all. Although Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the Estate, the hatchback got the maximum five stars for adult safety.

For an even bigger bargain, wait until the launch of the all-new, Mk5 Mondeo Estate later this year, as this should help drive down used prices even further. As a result, you’ll pay less for the model we recommend here, or pay similar money for a car after the 2010 updates were made and get a newer look.

To read the full list of winners from the What Car? Used Car of the Year 2014 awards, click here.