The 2007 Mercury Milan is a midsize sedan that
shares much in common with the Ford Fusion and was based off the Mazda6
platform. It is Mercury's entry-level car and serves as Mercury's most
affordable model. For 2007, more standard features have been added: side curtain
and seat-mounted side-impact airbags, as well as all-wheel drive. The
Milan comes in two versions: a basic four-cylinder package and a loaded V6
Premier model. The 2007 Mercury Milan drives well and is the product of
some of Ford's best engineering. The Milan seats four comfortably, and has an
inviting cabin. The sedan is versatile, with fold-down rear
seats for extra space and utility. The new for 2007 all-wheel drive stabilizes
handling, improves traction, and adds confidence in foul weather by sending
power from the transmission to all four wheels instead of just the front or
rear wheels.
Lineup for 2007
The 2007 Mercury Milan comes in four versions: a
basic four-cylinder package, a Premier V6, a Milan V6 AWD, and a Milan Premier
V6 AWD. The Milan comes with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a choice
of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Standard
features include ABS, side-impact and side curtain airbags, air conditioning, a
premium audio system with AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, an analog clock, an overhead
console with sunglasses holder, a covered flip-up storage bin on top of the
dash, six-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar, 16-inch wheels, speed
control, tilt and telescoping steering wheel with secondary controls, a
perimeter anti-theft system, standard auxiliary audio input jack, and remote
keyless entry.
Milan Premier upgrades with leather seating
surfaces, automatic electronic climate control, 6CD changer with MP3 and six
speakers, leather-wrapped steering wheel with secondary audio, speed and climate
controls, automatic headlights, fog lights, puddle lamps, and an auto dimming
interior rearview mirror with compass.
Milan Power Options
The base Milan comes with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder
engine and a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
The Milan Premier comes with a 221-horsepower 3.0-liter V6, a six-speed
automatic, anti-lock brakes, and 17-inch machined aluminum wheels. Four-cylinder
and V6 engines are available. The V6 six-speed automatic transmission, gives
both better acceleration and better fuel economy than a five-speed automatic. Both engines run on regular-grade gasoline. Traction control is now standard on
V-6 models; however, the engine feels limited and a bit underpowered, and
doesn't sound like a powerful engine when prodded. A full-throttle maneuver will
also get the front end to pitch.
Driving a Mercury Milan
The V-6-powered Milan delivers ample acceleration
for passing and merging. The automatic transmission is decent, but it doesn't
change gears consistently every time. The steering has a fairly hefty feel
and effort at the wheel and high-speed handling is good. The ride handles
bumps well; there is not too much body roll, and the Milan offers a quiet,
smooth operation.
Cabin Features
The quality of design and materials for a car in
this price class was generally quite high; it is satisfying to touch and look
at. Considering its cost, the 2007 Mercury Milan has impressive cabin materials.
Leather upholstery is complemented by Satin Metallic or Wales Mahogany wood
trim. Two-tone leather seats with contrast stitching are optional. The deeply
bucketed front seats are cozy. The rear seat folds down in a 60/40 split,
and is enabled by an easy-pull latch on each side. The interior, which seats
four, has plenty of headroom and legroom even in the rear. The rear door
panels are scooped out for more elbow room. The rear armrest includes two
cupholders, for a total of six. With the seat down, you get the 15.8 cubic
feet in the trunk, plus another 46 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front
seats. A fold-down front passenger seat is standard on all 2007 Milan
models, adding to the vehicle's versatility. For organizational storage,
the Milan offers a lot. There are two cubbies in the console, one at the top
center of the dash with a latching lid, two more in each front door pocket, and
one in the bottom center of the dashboard. The Milan has a six-way power
driver's seat, and an audio input jack for portable MP3 players and
other devices have become standard for 2007.
Mercury Milan Design
The Milan is a sedan that has a crisp and modern
look. For 2007, the Milan adds a new rear spoiler option and Silver
Birch, Alloy Clearcoat and Dark Amethyst exterior colors. The traditional
Mercury waterfall grille, as opposed to the Ford Fusion three-bar grille, is
surrounded by more conventional combination headlamp units. In the rear,
the high decklid is framed by a pair of bright LED taillamps that are large and
nicely integrated. The side view is pumped up several notches on the Premier
version with its 14-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and relatively fat 225/50R17
tires.
Safety
Side-impact and side curtain airbags are standard,
as are antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. Safety features
have been upgraded for 2007; The anti-lock brake system comes standard, along
with side-impact airbags for torso protection for the driver and front
passenger, side curtain airbags for head protection for front and rear
passengers, and an anti-theft perimeter alarm system. Traction control is
also standard on all V6 Milan models in 2007.
Though the 2007 Milan is Mercury's entry level
vehicle, it has the feel of a much more up-class sedan. The Milan's cabin
is spacious and the materials are nice. The Mercury Milan works well for a family
sedan and would be an excellent value for anyone. Although the Milan is on
a Ford platform and is very similar to the Ford Fusion, it does have more
standard equipment than the Ford version. The 2007 Milan gets a fuel
economy range of 31 mpg Hwy, and 23 mpg City.