.
Pound for pound the Fords are better cars and certainly better value than the 1 and 2 Series.
The latter IN MY VIEW are the equivalent of the Mercedes A Class....built to a budget to attack a particular market at a price point, and the Mercedes in particular remains a dismal machine.
I have had a 1 Series and two 2 Series as courtesy cars, both were poor. Particularly the 2 Series cabriolet. No doubt an M1 is fun, but probably for about five minutes like the Mini Cooper S for the same reasons.
The Mondeo has been a class act in the real world from the start...if it had a BMW or Mercedes badge on it it would have got the recognition it deserves...some will argue 'front wheel drive', fair point to a degree but not really in the real world for the average driver, also gives a ton more internal space. PERSONALLY I would rather spend the money on a well appointed Mondeo.
It did. They put a Jaguar badge on it!