New Releases 2015 – Ford Mondeo v’s VW Passat
At the moment we are seeing a number of car releases for 2015, the most eye catching of these would have to be the Volkswagen Passat and the Ford Mondeo. These two heavy hitters are about to go head to head with their new executive vehicles.
With a recent drops in sales, along with the new release in 2014 of the Opel Insingnia, these new releases were long overdue for both manufactuers. The time is now for the two top trumps to come back onto the scene.
Volkwagen Passat
The market leader in mid-range vehicles, with Volkswagen stating that there are two Volkswagen Passat’s sold every minute worldwide; this new release only needed a few tweaks to keep its place at the top of the marketplace.
The new model has a larger cabin, and longer wheel base but is actually lighter than before. It was built on the MQB Platform and demonstrations the great interaction with cars and computers. Features include Mirror link which integrates with all smartphones, it also has emergency brake function and pedestrian monitoring to keep you and others safe as you drive.
Driving the new VW Passat is an extremely smooth affair and the vehicle is well poised even over the toughest terrain. The engine’s efficiency has improved from the last release.
The diesel engine line-up consists of the 1.6-litre TDI with 120bhp and emissions of 106g/km, a 2.0-litre TDI with 150bhp with emissions of 108g/km, and a 2.0-litre TDI with 190bhp with emissions of 106g/km.
Specifications of Passat in Ireland
Trendline features: air conditioning, a 5-inch touch screen infotainment system, Bluetooth, an electric parking brake, Front Assist including City Emergency Brake, leather steering wheel and keyless engine start system “Keyless Go”.
Comfortline features: 16-inch alloy wheels, a 6.5-inch touch screen infotainment system, Park Distance Control front and rear, Cruise Control, a leather multi-function steering wheel, “Climatronic” 3-zone automatic air conditioning, front fog lhts, an interior ambient lighting package and rain-sensing wipers.
Highline features: 17-inch alloy wheels, Adaptive Cruise Control, Alcantara / leather, heated front seats, Electrically folding exterior mirrors, rear tinted windows, interior ambient lighting package “Plus”, dark red tail-lights with LED technology and an interior chrome trim.
Ford Mondeo
On the outside, the first thing you notice about the new Ford Mondeo is the larger grille. The inside of the vehicle is extremely high tech and is powered by the Microsoft Synce System. Drivers will be happy to know that the new Mondeo has a large touchscreen, and Ford have de-cluttered the centre piece with less buttons than the previous model. The Mondeo has the added features of Active park assist, and Parallel Park where the car does all the steering and turning for you. It also has the added safety feature of inflatable rear seatbelts.
When it comes to driving, the Mondeo is extremely comfortable, cornering well, with reduced noise when running. The Mondeo has a two-litre, six-speed TDCi 180bhp diesel engine and it is impressively responsive. There is also a 150bhp version of this engine on offer, along with a 1.6-litre 115bhp diesel, which might seem small for such a sizable car.
Specification on Mondeo for Ireland
Zetec includes: 16in alloy wheels; front fog lamps; quick-clear windscreen; daytime running lights; trip computer; My Key; Sync; cruise control; leather steering wheel/gear lever; power front and rear windows; and auto start-stop.
Titanium features: 17in alloy wheels; chrome door-line; auto lights and wipers; power-fold mirrors; front and rear parking sensors; lane-keeping aid; traffic sign recognition; Sync Gen 2; 8in touchscreen; sport seats; and auto dimming mirror.
