Mercury is Ford Motor Company's mid-range brand, neatly filling the gap between more basic Fords and more expensive luxury Lincolns. Compared to most Ford models, they have more expressive styling and more upscale features. Compared to Lincolns, they are less ostentatious and more affordable. Savvy buyers see them as just-right in-betweeners. So Mercury's mid-size Milan sedan sits in Lincoln-Mercury showrooms a comfortable notch above Ford's popular Fusion but below Lincoln's MKZ, both of which share essentially the same basic mechanicals. And it offers a distinctive Mercury look and character as well as feature and interior differences, including advanced electronics and soft ambient lighting. "Mercury Milan challenges the perceptions of what an exceptional mid-size car should be," Mercury says, "by combining distinctive, sophisticated styling, an expressive, modern interior and segment-leading quality, all at an unexpected value." One key new available feature for 2008 is the company's industry exclusive Mercury SYNC, a voice-activated, hands-free communications and entertainment system. Introduced in 2005, Milan added optional all-wheel drive (AWD) for 2007 and received a "Vehicle Satisfaction Award" from AutoPacific, Inc. as a top-performer among mid-size cars. More kudos followed in 2007, as Parents Magazine named Milan one of its "Best Family Cars," Consumer Guide named it a "recommended buy," and it placed highest among mid-size cars in J.D. Power's 2007 Initial Quality Study (IQS).
Style and Function
Milan's exterior begins with its trademark Mercury waterfall grille in satin aluminum and finishes in back with distinctive standard LED taillamps. Its chiseled body sides are highlighted by a bright chrome belt line, and its long wheelbase and dynamic stance give it a strong visual profile. The interior offers standard satin aluminum or available Wales Mahogany accents and optional two-tone leather trim seats. AM/FM radio with an MP3-capable single-disc CD player and an auxiliary audio input jack come standard, while SIRIUS Satellite Radio and two upgrade sound systems are optional-six-speaker premium or eight-speaker "Audiophile"-both with six-disc in-dash CD players. The available SYNCsystem, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, fully integrates most mobile phones and media players into the car using wireless Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The new available ambient lighting illuminates the front and rear footwells and front cup holders with any one of seven colors. Also new for 2008, a reverse sensing system helps drivers avoid running into or over things they may not be able to see when backing up. Making it easier getting into or out of the roomy rear seat, the rear doors extend all the way back to the C-pillars. A standard fold-flat front passenger seat and 60/40 split fold-flat rear seats with spring assist (a class-exclusive) provide best-in-class storage space, including for items up to nine feet in length, and the large 15.8-cu.-ft. trunk has a flat floor and a low lift-over height
Powertrain, Chassis and Safety
Milan's 160-hp 2.3-liter I4 drives through a choice of a five-speed manual or optional five-speed automatic transmission and in California emissions states, meets California's stringent Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standards with the automatic. The optional 221-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 is paired with an advanced 6-speed automatic transmission. The short/long-arm front suspension utilizes double ball-joint lower control arms and coil-over shocks for improved ride comfort, while the multi-link, "twist-blade" rear suspension provides an excellent balance of crisp handling and supple ride. Like mechanical cousins Fusion and MKZ, Milan has received the highest possible ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its performance in both frontal and side impact crash tests and a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) five-star rating for driver side-impact crash safety. For 2008, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and anti-lock brakes (ABS) are added to the Milan's standard features. Also standard is Ford's "Personal Safety System," which includes dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, belt pretensioners and both crash-severity and passenger-seat-weight sensing. Thorax side airbags for front seat occupants, two-row side impact air curtains are standard as well.
Major Features and Options
In addition to what we've covered above, Milan's generous standard equipment list includes quad halogen headlamps, a keyless entry fob transmitter and (Ford's exclusive) keyless entry touch pad, air conditioning, speed-sensitive power-assist steering, tilt and telescopic steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, six-way power driver seat with manual lumbar, four-way manual front-passenger seat, heated power mirrors, power locks and windows with one-touchdown driver's side window, "quasi-dual" chrome-tipped exhausts (on V-6 models), speed-sensitive windshield wipers, analog clock, center and overhead consoles, a dash-top storage compartment, dual 12-volt outlets, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors and Ford's SecuriLock passive anti-theft system. Up-level Milan Premier models add fog lamps, automatic headlamps, automatic temperature control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, P225/50R-17 tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels, premium six-speaker audio with in-dash, six-disc CD player; and leather seating surfaces. Among the more interesting options are the Mercury SYNC, reverse sensing, voice-activated DVD navigation, ambient lighting, all-wheel drive, heated front seats, power moonroof and a rear spoiler. A special Appearance Package (optional only on Milan I4 and V6) includes the rear spoiler, fog lamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with Ice Blue Alcantra leather seat inserts and door trim and contrasting stitching. "Moon & Tune" Packages combine the power moonroof, Premium or Audiophile audio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. We liked Ford's latest mid-size cars when they were new, and they've gotten better since. Their pleasing combination of styling, dynamics, performance (especially with the V-6), quality and fuel economy make all three (Ford Fusion, Lincoln MXZ and Mercury's "just-right," midrange, mid-priced Milan) excellent choices in today's increasingly competitive mid-size sedan market. This one from Mercury deserves a careful look and an extended test drive.
By Gary Witzenburg of autoMedia.com
