2007 Mercury Milan Review

No doubt about it - you have to admire the Mercury Milan for accomplishing at least one thing: having the guts to go head to head with the likes of top-selling sedans such as Altima, Accord and Camry.

Minimal refinement with rock-solid reliability put those three sedans among consumers' favorites. While refinement in this class can range from the base $18,700 Milan to the top-end $32,900 Accord, I think the Milan offers an admirable interior mix of functional design with an exterior that neither breaks out of the crowd nor hides in a corner. Accords and Camry's are often criticized for this conservative approach and it has not hurt sales in the States.

There is not a lot to dislike about the Milan. While it shares its platform with the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, it does have some distinctive exterior cues that I felt added nicely to the otherwise milk toast exterior. With my tester's alloy exterior paint color, the 17-inch rims were a great-looking accent paired with the chrome-tipped dual exhaust. I also really like the aluminum grille treatment. I imagine a black or sapphire color might make this accent have even greater impact.

My tester was the Premier model ($25,145 base) with $1,800 Navigational system upgrade and the Interior Trim Package ($795) that brought the final total to about $29,445.

Both the Base and Premier models are offered with a 160-hp I-4 with a 5-speed manual transmission or optional 5-speed automatic. My V6 tester came with a smooth shifting 6-speed automatic. Few cars are worth the hassle of a manual shifter these days and this is not one of them. Upgrade to the automatic no matter what. All Milans are front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is available with the V6 upgrade.

Inside my Milan tester I found myself pleasantly surrounded by plenty of soft-touch surfaces, refined charcoal colored leather seating and steering wheel, a huge moon roof ($795) and real wood trim. Milan offers a choice of wood or metal trim and I think either creates a wonderfully, sophisticated feel.

Gauges are big and really easy to see without taking your eyes off the road. The audio and climate panel is centrally located and I found all the controls' functions to be intuitive.

Seating in the Milan is roomy for five. I thought headroom was ample and legroom generous in front and back seat positions. Cabin noise from the engine and road is minimal. Besides some windy highway conditions, I thought the Milan was above average for quietness.

Driving the Milan was enjoyable. While acceleration is somewhat stunted and often sluggish depending on your need for speed, handling and maneuverability is above average and in many cases spirited for this class.

My Premier Milan had the optional Audiophile sound system, a steal at $420. Adding a few more speakers to the already robust sound from the 6-CD in-dash digital system featuring MP3 input was overkill that was music to my ears.

This is a very capable mid-size sedan. Milan delivers function and form at levels that, depending on the car parked next to it, can be heart-warming at times and rather stark at others. Overall, I like the refined lines and interior of the Milan. The ride is great and for the below average cost of admission this is a deal at whatever level you invest.