If
you're going upper class, there's no reason to be anything
else. That is the simplified strategy from Mercury which
abandoned two trim flavors and is keeping one luxurious
Monterey minivan offering. For 2006, all upmarket Monterey
models -- the cousin of Ford's more urban Freestar minivan
-- will come equipped to the nines. There is no shortage
of amenities one would expect in a luxurious, quiet-cabin
class minivan.
This
is a refinement of the Monterey that debuted two years ago
with great expectations from Mercury's parent, Ford Motor
Company. Since then, it has butted heads with some riskier
designs from competitive auto makers. On a radical design
scale, Monterey (and Freestar) fits roughly in the middle
of the pack, trim, attractive, well thought out and comfortable
with excellent handling and a lot of attention paid to such
issues as safety and comfort for pregnant women drivers
or constricted older drivers, among others. It is neither
too large nor too small, but a just-right size full of thoughtful
amenities and surprises. The Fall football crowd could enjoy
a tailgate party with the fold-in-floor third row seat flipped
rearwards, for high and dry seating under the raised liftgate
even in a sudden downpour.
Monterey
has not gained the intensely loyal following of some other
similar minivan offerings, despite its top, Five Star crash
test rating and much of the Number 2 American auto maker's
value pricing as of late. This vehicle, on Ford's trusty
and time-tested Windstar underpinnings, offers a blend of
good driving characteristics, adaptable seating and storage,
comfortable ride and impressive mileage (a 600-mile round-trip
from Detroit to Chicago on one 26-gallon tank fill-up, says
Ford).
New
for '06 are redesigned wood and leather-trimmed steering
wheel, optional 17-inch, nine-spoke bright aluminum wheels
and Dark Toreador Red and Smokestone clearcoat metallic
exteriors. Other standard or available goodies include "sleeping
baby" overhead light, speed control, leather and suede
seating, roof rack, power liftgate, power adjustable pedals
with memory, tri-zone temperature controls, cargo management
system, premium audio and DVD entertainment, and more.
The
front drive Monterey comes with a single, 201-HP, 4.2-liter
high-torque "hill climber" V-6 powertrain paired
with four-speed automatic. Tire pressure monitors are standard.
For a loaded vehicle in the mid to high 20's range (not
factoring in rebates), we think it's a deal waiting to happen.
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