2007 Mercury Milan AWD V6 Test Drive

The large rear door, extended back to the C-pillar, allows easier access for all rear-seat passengers. A roomy, 15.8cu.ft. trunk with flat-load floor and low liftover height is one of several easy-to-use storage spaces in the Milan . Class-exclusive standard 60/40 rear fold-flat split-seats with spring assist makes for easy packing for long items and best-in-class storage space. The standard fold-flat front passenger seat back makes accommodating extra-long items is hassle-free, as well. A standard audio input jack and available Audiophile in-dash six-disc CD player with 6-speakers provides premium entertainment and connectivity.

The interior is available interior two-tone leather seating surfaces and standard satin aluminum or Wales Mahogany interior trim accents providing a dramatic flair. I was very impressed with the interior because all of the surfaces are made of soft padded material that shows Milan ‘s striving to add an upscale look and feel to the interior. There are grab handles at each door making entry and exit easy and safer.

The rear bench seat features a pull-down center armrest with dual cupholders. The instrument cluster is easy to see and understand and all buttons, switches and dials are easy to reach and operate. The leather wrapped steering wheel is both tilting and telescoping for the perfect fit during spirited driving and when driving long distances.

Mercury added acoustic materials and extra sealing around the engine bay and windows to keep out the noise as you travel.

Milan was one of Consumer Guide’s recommended buys in the mid-size category for 2007, based in no small part on the strength of its driving performance. It presents a refined driving experience with available first-in-class all-wheel-drive technology for more responsive handling and extra traction when driving over slick road surfaces.

Milan ‘s standard 2.3 liter DOHC I-4 engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual or optional 5-speed automatic and delivers 160hp and with the automatic meets California ‘s stringent

Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standards. For a power boost, you can option for the 221hp 3.0 liter DOHC V6 which is mated to a 6-speed automatic for smooth shifts and excellent fuel economy.

A smooth ride with responsive handling is assured by the sophisticated short/long arm front suspension that features double ball-joint lower control arms, coil-over shocks and a stabilizer bar. Ride comfort and enhanced traction are further increased through the use of a multi-link rear suspension with lower control arms, coil-over shocks and a stabilizer bar that performs like a double-wishbone setup. The Milan AWD V6 rides on 17X7in., 14-spoke machined aluminum wheels wrapped with 225/50R17in. all-season radial tires.

The all-new Milan is one of the safest sedans to be driving in as it has received 5-star rating for both frontal and side impact crash test performance. Safety systems include front and rear crush zones, side impact beams, dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, thorax side airbags up front, safety belt pretensioners, seat weight sensing system for the passenger seat and crash severity sensing. Side air curtains are also standard, as well as child safety locks on rear doors and the LATCH child seat anchor system.

Standard features not already mentioned above include four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution, power-assisted rack & pinion steering that is very responsive with a very good feel for the road, quad halogen headlamps, integrated key fob transmitter, keyless entry/lock, heated power sideview mirrors, speed sensitive windshield wipers, AC, 6-speaker AM-FM audio system with MP3-capable, single-disc CD player, auxiliary audio input jack, double-tiered center console with dual cupholders, overhead console, analog clock, dash-top storage compartment, solar-tinted glass, dual 12-volt power plugs, six-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, cruise-control and audio system controls on the steering wheel, power windows/door locks and Driver Information Screen.

The Premier Edition that I tested came with fog lamps, automatic headlamps, electronic climate control, auto-dimming mirror with compass, leather wrapped steering wheel, premium 6-speaker audio system with in-dash, six-disc CD player and 6-speakers, power sunroof, leather seating with white contrasting stitching, heated front seats, and a great navigation system.

I’ve chosen the all-new Mercury Milan as my ‘sleeper’ sedan this year because it fulfills

the most of what I would like a mid-size, mid-priced family sedan to be.

The base price for the Milan V6 Premier AWD model is just $25,145.00 and $28,745.00 for the loaded model that I tested.

ALL NEW 2007 MERCURY MILAN AWD V6
“SPEEPER SEDAN GETS GREAT MARKS”

COPYRIGHT:2007:HARVEY SCHWARTZ – EDITOR, AUTOMOTIVE ADDICTS

Price: MSRP $25,340 Invoice $23,291

Type: Midsize Sedan
Where Built: Mexico
EPA Class: Midsize Cars

Dimensions
Exterior
Length: 191.4 in.	Width: 72.2 in.
Height: 57.2 in.	Wheel Base: 107.4 in.
Interior
Front Head Room: 38.7 in.	Front Hip Room: 54 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 57.4 in.	Rear Head Room: 37.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 56.5 in.	Rear Hip Room: 53.4 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.3 in.	Rear Leg Room: 37 in.
Luggage Capacity: 15.8 cu. ft.	Maximum Seating: 5
Performance Data
Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 6	Base Engine Size: 3 liters
Base Engine Type: V6	Horsepower: 221 hp
Max Horsepower: 6250 rpm	Torque: 205 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4800 rpm	Drive Type: AWD
Turning Circle: 40 ft.

Fuel Data