2006 Mercury Monterey

Until Ford discontinued the brand in 2011, Mercury sat in the middle of the company’s lineup—fancier than Ford but not as luxurious as Lincoln. The brand had its heyday from the 1950s through the 1980s, with cars like the Cougar, Monterey, Montclair, and Turnpike Cruiser still commonplace at classic car shows. Nearly all recent Mercury models were based on Ford counterparts. The Mercury Milan was a gussied-up Ford Fusion and the Mercury Grand Marquis was a more comfortable take on the Ford Crown Victoria. Since the brand has been gone for many years, most Mercury vehicles will lack modern convenience and safety features, and used examples will likely have high mileage.

The Monterey is a slightly upscale version of the Ford Freestar, and both are freshened versions of the Windstar. Overall, the Monterey lags behind the competition. It features a third-row seat that folds flat into the floor when not in use. The second-row seats are too low. Stability control is available. The engine is still noisy, and road noise is pronounced. Handling is more responsive than the old Windstar's, but the ride is unsettled. Fit and finish trails the class leaders. The Monterey has been discontinued.