The Mondeo, aka the Fusion, was eliminated from our market last year.
Soaring SUVs sales leave little room for the midsize sedan.
Unlike North America, Europe still holds a significant soft spot for cars. That is not to say that SUVs are not thriving, because they are, but even here, some cars are no longer making the cut. Goodbye Ford Mondeo.
The Ford Mondeo was introduced in 1993 in Europe, the same cars we came to know as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique, did generally well in most markets. They morphed into the Fusion by late 2005 up until last year. Over its near three-decade career, more than 5 million have been sold, but now the game is over.
Demand for cars is dwindling everywhere and even the attractive Mondeo Estate (the wagon) has found itself unable to compete with not only the growing demand for SUVs but Ford increasing its offering of so-called sport utility vehicles, according to Automotive News Europe (subscription required).
Even if the Mondeo is on its way out, European markets are still privy to the Fiesta and Focus, both also gone from Ford’s lineup in the US and Canada. With entries such as the new Puma, the EcoSport, the Kuga (Escape), and others, few consumers are likely to mourn the midsize sedan’s departure.