2011 Mercury Milan

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.

A Hybrid version, added for 2010, got 34 mpg overall in our tests. The 2010 update also rectifies the turning circle shortcomings of the original car. The V6 engine is still responsive and gets good fuel economy. Ride and handling remain competent and stability control is now standard. Interior fit and finish are improved. Rear-seat room is acceptable, but falls a bit short compared with the competition. The SYNC system, which allows hands-free, voice-activated control of music players and cell phones can be used through dashboard and steering wheel controls. A rearview camera is offered as part of a package, which also includes blind spot monitoring.