2004-2007 Mercury Monterey: Road Test

Monterey and Freestar drive more like trucks than most all other minivans, lacking the carlike responses and refinement most buyers crave. For example, the 4.2 V6 has sufficient power for most situations, but sounds coarse and strained under full throttle. It's also shy on power for quick highway passing and heading up long grades, especially with a sizeable load. The automatic transmission delivers smooth, prompt shifts, but has only four forward speeds vs. five in most competitors. That's a drawback for performance and contributes to slightly subpar fuel economy, a test Monterey averaging 16.6 mpg in city/highway driving. A good thing only regular-grade fuel is required. Handling is merely minivan-competent, with noticeable body lean in turns and a less-nimble feel than, say, a Honda Odyssey. Brakes are smooth and progressive, but don't seem exceptionally strong. The long wheelbase and standard 16-inch tires contribute to a stable, mostly absorbent ride, but sharp bumps and ruts still register clearly. Rough pavement induces minor but unpleasant body vibration and marked tire thrum too. Add in the gruff engine note that never fully disappears and you have one of the noisier late-model minivans. The one upside is surprisingly little highway wind rush by minivan standards. Not surprisingly, Monterey shares the Freestar dashboard with its clear instruments and mostly handy, intuitive switchgear, though climate controls mount too low for easiest driver access. The cabin abounds with budget-grade plastic, belying Monterey's upscale pretensions. On the plus side, front passengers have ample room on comfortable seats. Very tall drivers might wish for more rearward seat travel, but that's somewhat offset by strandard power-adjustable pedals on Luxury and Premier models. Outward vision is good to all directions, but this is a bulky vehicle, so Mercury was wise to include front and rear obstacle detection on all Montereys. All rear seats are nicely padded and supportive. The second-row buckets slide fore and aft a few inches, but leg room is limited for lanky types even when they're pushed all the way back. They also fold-and-tumble for third-row access, but that's best left to kids, as is the third row itself, though the "tailgate party" seat is a fun feature. There's ample cargo space even with a full passenger load, thanks to the deep floor well that houses the flush-fold third row seat. Second-row seats fold without the need to remove headrests and can also be removed for maximum load space. The third row stows easily, but exposes two metal sidewall brackets that intrude into cargo space. Small-items storage disappoints for a family-oriented vehicle.

Value for the Money
Monterey, like Freestar, offers laudable safety features, but is otherwise outclassed by newer-design rivals. In particular, contemporary Dodge Caravans, Honda Odysseys and Toyota Siennas all offer better performance, road manners, refinement, and workmanship. That's why they were far more popular as new vehiclesÑand will be easier to find used. On the other hand, poor original sales generally mean lower secondhand prices, so a Monterey (or Freestar) would be a decent budget buy if you don't mind its shortcomings.