Used 2008 Mercury Milan

As part of the brand’s revival plan, Mercury has aimed the 2008 Milan squarely at customers who place a premium on upscale styling both inside and out. Sharing its engines and chassis with the Ford Fusion (and thus with the Mazda Mazda6), the Milan wades into the lucrative midsize family sedan market with a sense of individual style and available all-wheel-drive capabilities not found in the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Offered with a choice of a fuel-efficient four-cylinder or powerful V6 engine, the Milan features enough diversity to satisfy all but the most hardcore driving enthusiast. With prices starting just below $20,000, 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 2008 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. After moderate delay on initial acceleration, the Milan is eager to pass or merge, delivering ample energy in a steady flow. The automatic transmission is generally well-behaved, but low-speed operation can produce occasional uncertain jolts.

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.

Two-Tone Interior
Premium touches are the main reason to buy a Milan rather than a Fusion, and two-tone 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 2008 Mercury Milan comes nicely equipped and includes front-seat side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls, remote keyless keypad entry, air conditioning, speed control, a Securilock passive anti-theft system, power heated mirrors, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and power windows and locks. The standard six-speaker stereo plays MP3-encoded CDs and features an auxiliary input jack. The Premier V6 model adds the Sync audio system (late availability), fog lights, electronic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel with touch controls, six-disc CD changer and leather seating surfaces.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio, all-wheel drive (V6 only), the Sync audio system and a DVD navigation system lead the options list for 2008. Other options include ambient lighting, a two-tone interior, a power moonroof, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, an active perimeter alarm and puddle lamps. The interior can be dressed up with a Wales mahogany wood center panel, and four-cylinder models can be equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Like the Ford Fusion, Mercury’s Milan has either a four-cylinder or V6 engine, and each engine is available in either the base model or the Premier edition. A five-speed manual transmission or optional five-speed automatic mates with the four-cylinder engine, while the V6 comes only with a six-speed automatic.

2.3-liter in-line 4
160 horsepower @ 6250 rpm
156 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 (manual), 20/28 (automatic)

3.0-liter V6
221 horsepower @ 6250 rpm
205 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 (2WD), 17/25 (AWD)