How can a 1.6-litre diesel engine manage a car like the Mondeo?

I wish to get the 1.6-litre diesel engine explained to me. The Ford Focus has a 1.6d and now the Mondeo has a 1.6d engine. Can both do a good job? One is small car, one is large and heavy. Is 1.6d a good engine generally?

Fergal Reidy (Celbridge)

Feb 2013 Filed under: diesel

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Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

This engine downsizing is prevalent and not just by Ford, and it has been made possible thanks to advances in engine technology, such as high pressure fuel injection and turbocharging.

A close look at what's offered by Ford Ireland reveals that the Mondeo 1.6 TDCi is the 115hp version, where as the Focus can be had with that and a cheaper 95hp unit. The raw data reveals that the 115hp Focus does the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.9 seconds - a second faster than the Mondeo with the same engine. Likewise, the Focus is more efficient with lower emissions and fuel consumption - though the differences are not as big as you might think.

Essentially, it boils down to the engine's torque output. This engine produces 270Nm from as low as 1,750rpm, which is more than enough to deal with a car the size of the Mondeo. Naturally a 2.0-litre diesel with the same technology will be more impressive again, but the 1.6 is just fine.

For the record, we find that Ford's 1.6-litre TDCi engine has a very narrow power band, but once you learn to keep the engine within that it never feels slow. Obviously, driven like that it won't come close to its official fuel economy figures.

Hope that all helps.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser
@Shane_O_D