Used 2011 Mercury Milan

Mercury’s long run as Ford’s near-luxury division sadly comes to an end this year. 2011 is the last year for the storied brand, meaning it’s a great time to get a really good deal on leftover inventory. One of Mercury’s most alluring offerings is the Milan. Sharing its engines and chassis with the Ford Fusion (and thus with the last-generation Mazda MAZDA6), the Milan wades into the lucrative mid-size family sedan market with a sense of individual style and available all-wheel-drive capabilities not offered on the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Offered with a choice of a fuel-efficient four-cylinder, powerful V6 engine and even a hybrid model, the Milan features enough diversity to satisfy all but the most hardcore driving enthusiast. With prices starting in the low $20K range, the affordable Milan should appeal to fashion-conscious buyers who want to look good but don’t want to spend a fortune doing so.

Overall, the 2011 Mercury Milan feels a tad more refined and luxurious than Ford’s Fusion. Although the ride is generally good, occasional hard bumps can produce harsher reactions than expected. Easy to drive, the Milan doesn’t lean much in curves and stays on course, but more enthusiastic drivers might prefer it to be more precise. Except for slight road noise on some surfaces, plus some engine noise during hard acceleration, the V6 Milan is impressively quiet. The new SelectShift six-speed automatic produces quick, clean shits and can be manually shifted via a thumb switch mounted on the gear selector.

The use of satin aluminum finishes and high-quality materials is meant to extend the appeal of the Milan’s body into its five-passenger cockpit. Roomy and open-feeling up front, the Milan offers plenty of head and elbow space for the driver and front passenger. Seats aren’t especially firm, providing modest bolstering and support. Rear-seat knee, toe and head space are ample at each side, but the center spot is a somewhat hard perch with scant headroom. A 60/40 split-folding rear seat is standard. The extended back doors make entry easier for taller passengers.

Mercury says the Milan’s design was inspired by large, modern cities. Signature styling cues start with the satin-finished aluminum "waterfall" grille, which has been a Mercury hallmark in recent years. This helps set the Milan apart from the Ford Fusion, which shares the same profile and structure. Built on a comparatively long (107.4-inch) wheelbase, the four-door sedan has a clean, modestly-adorned overall appearance, brandishing gentle curves as well as body lines that could be called "chiseled." Headlamps wrap up and over the sharply-creased front fenders. A bright chrome beltline accents each body side, and LED taillights promise quicker illumination.

Stylish Interior
Premium touches are the main reason to buy a Milan rather than a Fusion, and contrasting piping on leather upholstery helps give this sedan a stylish, additional inducement.

Dashboard Covered Tray
The Milan isn’t alone in having a covered tray atop the dashboard center. Still, it’s a handy extra space for small items.

The 2011 Mercury Milan comes nicely equipped and includes front-seat side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls, remote keyless keypad entry, eight-way power driver’s seat, air conditioning, speed control, a Securilock passive anti-theft system, power heated mirrors with integrated blind-spot mirror, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and power windows and locks. The standard six-speaker stereo plays MP3-encoded CDs and features an auxiliary input jack and a six-month subscription to SIRIUS Satellite Radio. The Premier V6 model adds the SYNC communications and entertainment system, fog lights, heated front seats, electronic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, adjustable ambient lighting, 10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar and recline, four-way power passenger seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel with touch controls, six-disc CD changer and leather seating surfaces.

Options include all-wheel drive (V6 only), the SYNC communication and entertainment system (base), voice activated hard drive based navigation with HD Radio, a power moonroof, an active perimeter alarm, remote start, rear view monitor, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Sony 12-speaker audio system with single CD (six-disc on Hybrid), rear parking sensors, and puddle lamps.

Like the Ford Fusion, Mercury’s Milan has either a four-cylinder or V6 engine. A six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed automatic mate with the four-cylinder engine on the base car, while the Milan Premier V6 and AWD trims feature the new, SelectShift six-speed automatic.

2.5-liter in-line 4
175 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
172 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 (manual), 23/33 (automatic),

3.0-liter V6
240 horsepower @ 6550 rpm
223 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/28 (2WD, gasoline), 13/20 (2WD, E85)
18/26 (AWD, gasoline), 13/18 (AWD, E85)