Used 2007 Mercury Monterey

Mercury’s new mission is to offer a line of vehicles mechanically identical to similar Ford cars but with a more distinctive appearance and a posh, upscale interior. Such is the case with the Monterey minivan, a vehicle intended to do battle with such luxury favorites as the Chrysler Town and Country, Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest. Though the Monterey is a capable minivan, it does not offer the largest interior, nor does it have the most powerful engine or the option of all-wheel drive. What the Monterey does have in its favor is ample room for seven and a bevy of clever features.

The Monterey’s suspension settings isolate road noise and smooth out the ride while still providing the driver with the proper amount of road feel. A good deal of sound-deadening material was used throughout the Monterey’s cabin, including a sound-absorbing dash panel, redesigned roof rack and additional floor and ceiling insulation. On the road, you’ll find the Monterey’s steering feel is firm and accurate, and that its automatic transmission shifts smoothly and holds gears for just the right amount of time. The Monterey’s hefty torque can be felt upon acceleration from a dead stop, where the vehicle launches quickly – a useful attribute for passing and merging.

The Monterey has a modern instrument panel and a cabin full of storage bins, cup holders and flexible seating. You’ll find plenty of space for up to seven people. The Monterey’s third-row seat flips and folds flush, making it easy to convert the rear seating area into a massive cargo hold. The seat can also be flipped over to face rearward, a handy feature to have for picnics or tailgate parties. The Monterey is filled with features not normally found inside minivans, such as heated and cooling perforated leather front seats, power adjustable foot pedals (they help any size driver find the perfect driving position) and a standard full-length side-canopy airbag.

The Monterey gets a fresh look consistent with Mercury’s new image. The look is clean and elegant and less rounded than Mercury products of the past. However, Mercury’s signature waterfall grille and bright alloy wheels are securely in place. Befitting its premium minivan nature, both sliding side doors are power-operated and the front and rear bumpers are equipped with sensors to assist with parking. The Monterey’s low ground clearance makes stepping in and out as easy as entering a car, although the tall ceiling puts the roof rack out of reach to all but the tallest users.

Reverse Sensing System
The Monterey’s standard Reverse Sensing System takes the worry out of backing up.

Fold-Flush Third-Row Seat
The fold-flush third-row seat saves you from having to lug out and store a bulky bench seat.

The Monterey’s lengthy standard equipment list includes a 4.2-liter V6 engine, dual-zone front and rear manual air conditioning, Safety Canopy system with side-curtain airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), power locks, power windows, dual power sliding side doors, illuminated remote keyless entry, AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer and cassette, forward and reverse park assist, power adjustable pedals, six-way power driver’s seat, cruise control, leather and wood tilt-wheel with touch controls, second-row bucket seats, aluminum wheels and a rear wiper/washer.

Options include a power rear liftgate, rear DVD entertainment system, automatic air conditioning, power passenger seat, automatic rearview mirror, leather seats, heated and cooling front seats, AdvanceTrac stability control and a cargo management system.

The Monterey’s 4.2-liter V6 is smooth and quick, with enough low-end torque to handle the weight of a fully-loaded van. Although the horsepower ratings are not as high as its competitors, the Monterey’s torque figures are the best in its class. This is important because torque is the force that gives a vehicle the ability to move quickly, either off the line, when passing or traveling up steep hills.

4.2-liter V6
201 horsepower @ 4250 rpm
263 lb.-ft of torque @ 3650 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23