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Ford maintains the new Vignale badge is a sub-brand, something akin to Citroen's DS. Something with a bit of luxury and refinement. Something worth paying extra for.
However, in reality, Vignale is, for the moment, the top-specification Mondeo, like Ghia used to be.
Ford has dropped the popular Titanium X Sport from the Mondeo range and instead offers the Mondeo Vignale at very similar money.
In fleet terms, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The Vignale is better equipped than the Titanium X Sport, which means it is already ahead of the game.
And this may just be the heart of it for business car customers, who will make up 70% of the 2000-3000 Ford hopes to sell in a full year.
The Mondeo Vignale is no different mechanically to the rest of the Mondeo range. The same engines are available, although the Vignale sticks with the higher-power offerings and avoids the lower-power (and lower-CO2 diesels), and the suspension is the same, which means the car drives like a Mondeo, while the Vignale versions are available as saloons and estates but not the hatchback.
The only real technical differences are greater levels of exterior chrome, thicker paint (really), better insulating glass, and a noise-cancelling system for the cabin. And in all but the hybrid version, this is a very good thing.
The hybrid makes good sense for the tax-conscious fleet buyer because it sits in the 14% benefit-in-kind tax band, and, at least until April 2016, gains a 3% advantage over a diesel at the same CO2 figure.
However, the hybrid uses a CVT gearbox that is noisy, which ruins the claim that the Mondeo Vignale is more refined than the rest of the Mondeo range.
This is particularly the case round town when the car switches from silent all-electric mode to high-revving petrol engine if you try to nip into a gap in traffic.
Ford claims that as well as the additional standard equipment, including features such as standard leather, metallic paint, reversing camera and powered memory driver's seat, there are also owner benefits that come with a Mondeo Vignale.
These include a dedicated service manager, free car washes, and an equivalent courtesy car during services. However, the advantage of these things to a user-chooser selecting the car through a lease firm is debatable because such services are available through most leasing companies anyway.
KwikCarcost claims the Mondeo Vignale has a small residual value advantage over the rest of the Mondeo range for three years/60,000 miles. For the saloon Vignales it's only £50 because the hatch is the favoured body style - however, for the estate is should be closer to £500.
This should translate favourably into attractive lease rates and make the Vignale an attractive business proposition within the Mondeo range. But what it isn't is a strong rival to the premium players in the market such as the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4.
Ford Mondeo Vignale hybrid 4dr |
Model price range £21,095-£33,085 |
Fuel consumption 67.3mpg |
CO2 (BIK band) 99g/km (14%) |
BIK 20/40% per month £69/£138 |
Service interval 12,500mls |
Insurance (1-50) group 21 (estimate) |
Warranty 3yrs/60,000mls |
Boot space (min/max) 383 litres |
Engine size/power 1998cc/187hp |
Top speed/0-62mph 116mph/9.2secs |
VerdictThe Vignale is good value if you want a Mondeo |
7/10 |
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