The Ford Fairmont MkII is the best car to use on critical missions involving stealth and cunning in cities. Resplendent in ‘overcast grey’ (that’s not Ford’s name for it), it sticks out like leopard in long grass. It’s unnoticeable as far as cars go; an inoffensive automobile for legions of company executives who want big inline-6 power but without the risk of making an unnecessarily ostentatious statement with gaudy paint and challenging body kits. Perhaps they are used as undercover cars, but we just don’t notice.

The greyness of the Fairmont’s exterior spills into the interior, so much so that I didn’t bother taking a photo of it. It was far too boring, so I sat beside the lake for 20 minutes instead, watching the occasional fish jump, and pondering what I could write about.

There have been some styling revisions since the MkI. There’s a new bonnet with interesting tapered channels, a chrome grille, and revised colour-coded front and rear bumpers.

The rear bumper incorporates parking sensors, while the boot features a subtle lip rather than the spoiler you might find on a Force 6.

The 190kW 4-litre inline six cylinder mill has enough stealthy grunt to whisk you away to any lakeside retreat without being held up by slower traffic. Should this heady power get the better of you, the car will be there first with traction control, and on the other end of the equation ABS and EBD to bring it to a halt. The driver can even adjust the pedals to get the most comfortable position.

In-car entertainment is courtesy of a standard Ford unit — LCD display, six-disc in-dash CD and acceptable speakers.

Despite my assertions that this is a sleeper and incredibly dreary to look at, Ford says that it has a ‘new stylish tapered hood, new prestigious chrome grille and chrome front headlamps, and new sporty front bumper and revised rear bumper design’ (the rear bumper even has reversing sensors as standard.) Use of the words ‘sporty’ and ‘Fairmont’ in the same sentence is a tad extreme.

Once again, Ford has created a car that quietly goes about achieving all that’s required of it, feeling like it’s been put together by the Germans but for twenty grand less. It actually does have a German-engineered 6-speed automatic transmission with sports sequential mode.

It’s a pity then that the Fairmont is actually a pretty good car. It rides with poise on the blacktop, it’s comfortable, and as far as handling goes it’s good for a large car. In my lakeside ruminations I really wanted to slate this car for all its dullness. In hindsight, if Ford had supplied one in a different colour I would have ended up writing a review about its practicality for the family, and its executive presence for a reasonable price.

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Price: From $47,990

What we like:

• Inconspicuous for those who want it
• Quiet achiever

What we don’t like:

• Characterless except for the engine

Words and photos Darren Cottingham

Performance

Interior Features

Interior Dimensions

Engine

Audio

Fuel

Luggage Capacity (L)

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Seating

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Suspension

Minimum Turning Circle (m)

Exterior Dimensions

Safety & Security

Exterior Styling

Ride & Handling

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Maximum Towing Capacity (Subject to New Zealand regulations)