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by Christopher Jackson | 9/6/2007 | Vehicle Reviews
Don't get us wrong; the new Milan is a great car and highly recommendable, but we just get the feeling that Mercury isn't trying very hard any more. Apart from the styling and interior trim, there aren't any significant differences between the Milan and the Ford Fusion sedan that it's based on.
And once again, that ain't a bad thing, because there are certainly worse things to be, but it just seems like a weak effort.
This new mid-size sedan is the second half of Mercury's new lineup of four-doors. Together with the full-size Montego, the Milan replaces the aging Sable and faces competitors like Pontiac's sporty G6 and Nissan's Altima in an effort to bring younger buyers into Mercury showrooms. To justify the Milan, Mercury offers up research that shows that 46% of GenX buyers shop outside of the mainstream to satisfy their unique tastes. With this in mind, Mercury's attempt to woo this market with a lightly reskinned version of a mainstream sedan seems a bit lacking in imagination.
Of course, in the car business, marketing common sense and market reality have only a casual relationship at best and often no bearing whatsoever on the product itself. All social policy aside, the Mercury Milan is a great car that's worthy of a test-drive. Forget about the Sable; the Milan brings Mercury up to speed with the competition easily.
This may be one of the few times in recent FoMoCo platform-sharing history that the Ford version looks better than its Mercury counterpart. The Milan is striking, with its waterfall-style grille and LED taillights, but it lacks the visual punch of the chrome-clad Fusion. Then again, there's clearly a corporate plan; while the Fusion looks good in bright, bold colors, the Milan wears satiny metallics best. The squared-off body offers distinctive hood and trunk lines give the Milan a distinctive, semi-classic shape that stands out from the sedan herd and should appeal to buyers who are turned off by the Fusion's look-at-me chrome grin.
Inside the Milan, things improve tremendously, as designers have applied Mercury's fancy (though stain-prone) two-tone upholstery and a choice of metallic or mahogany wood trim to an well-designed interior. The Milan is all about atmosphere, and it's a much more relaxed space to be in than the somber black Fusion's cabin. The seats are comfortable enough for an all-day drive; we drove the Milan from Detroit to Chicago and back and were impressed by its freeway capabilities. Day-trips are enhanced by the available Audiophile sound system. That boxed-out trunk offers 15.6 cubic feet of space and expands with the help of a folding seatback. Side and side-curtain airbags are available.
The Milan's suspension isn't sharp-edged enough for it to be called a sports sedan, but it's responsive and rewarding to drive. Up front there's a short-long arm independent suspension, and a multi-link rear. Handling is crisp and predictable without being harsh. The Milan has a confident feeling, and the handling doesn't go to pieces at higher speeds the way it traditionally has in American cars. Four-wheel disc brakes haul the car quickly to a stop when requested. Our tester was equipped with the optional traction control, which helped to keep things steady in a light snowfall in Chicago.
Engine choices include a 2.3 liter four-cylinder and the 3.0 liter V6 that we drove. The 221-horsepower V6 is well-suited to the Milan's size, and it's a smooth powerplant that highlights the only real flaw in the setup. Like the Fusion, the Milan suffers from a lazy throttle that feels like it's only incidentally connected to the powerplant. There's sufficient power on tap, but a significant delay between hitting the gas and getting a response. We're not sure if the throttle control or the six-speed automatic transmission is to blame, and the Milan's otherwise a smooth driver; it just takes some adjusting when driving in traffic. Mercury calls the Milan's powertrain "city-tuned," but the lazy throttle was most noticeable in urban traffic. Patient drivers probably won't mind, but it's likely to frustrate enthusiasts and aggressive pilots. The four-cylinder makes 160 horsepower, for slightly reduced performance but improved freeway fuel economy, and comes with a choice of five-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
True to Mercury's usual style, the Milan is available in regular and Premier trim levels. It's well-equipped, but still affordable. Prices start at $22,845. Our Premier tester was loaded up with leather steering wheel trim, traction control, heated seats and the Audiophile sound system and stickered for just $25,495. Whether or not you agree with Ford's marketing strategy for Mercury, the Milan would be a decent and handsome addition to a suburban driveway.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2007 Mercury Milan.
Length: 191.4 in.
Width: 72.2 in.
Height: 57.2 in.
Wheelbase: 107.4 in.
Curb weight: 3303 lb.
Cargo space: 15.8 cu.ft.
Base price: $22,845
Engine: 3.0 liter DOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain: six-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 221 @ 6250
Torque: 205 @ 4800
Fuel capacity: 18 gal.
Est. mileage: 21/29
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