Overview & Reviews

As the corporate twin to Ford's Fusion, the Mercury Milan shared much of that sedan's architecture, drivetrain specification and safety technology. Thanks to this mechanical heritage, the Milan provided nimble handling and adequate interior space for five adult passengers. The main difference between the two cars was that the Milan was more upscale in appearance and typically came with more standard features.

While the Milan may not be the first car that comes to mind when you think of family sedans, it's still a respectable choice for a used family sedan. In fact, its sporty handling put it a notch above the dynamic norm. The Milan also featured a sensible interior layout, and its price tended to be lower than those of traditional class leaders. As an alternative to other mainstream models, the Mercury Milan -- particularly in its later years -- is worth a look.

Most Recent Mercury Milan
The Mercury Milan debuted for the 2006 model year. Production ended with the demise of the Mercury brand for 2011. Originally, the Milan was motivated by either a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 160 horsepower or a 221-hp 3.0-liter V6. Four-cylinder models were paired with a five-speed manual transmission with an option for a five-speed automatic, while the V6 models came only with a six-speed automatic. For the final two years, the Milan gained a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower or a 240-hp, 3.0-liter V6. A six-speed manual was standard for the four-cylinder, with a six-speed auto being optional. The V6 again had the six-speed auto. Most Milans you'll encounter will be front-wheel drive, though Mercury did offer all-wheel-drive versions of the V6 for every year except '06.

There were two trim levels: base and Premier. The base model rode on 16-inch wheels and included items like air-conditioning, an MP3-compatible CD stereo, a six-way power driver seat, a split-folding rear seat, cruise control, full power accessories and keyless entry. Antilock brakes, front seat-mounted side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags were also standard for every year starting in 2007. Stability control, however, wasn't available for the Milan until 2009. The Premier's main draws were its 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control. Major optional features included a sunroof, an upgraded audio system, a navigation system and a 12-speaker Sony sound system.

For 2010, there were major changes that significantly altered the perception of the Milan. Although the original cabin was nicely constructed, it was rather plain-looking and its controls were antiquated -- both in appearance and usability. The standard stereo unit in particular wasn't the best fit for the Sync voice-control system that debuted for '08. The 2010 Milan update also included freshened styling, revised suspension and steering tuning and the more powerful engines. If your budget allows for it, we certainly recommend trying to get a 2010 or '11 Milan.

On the road, four-cylinder models provided adequate power while the V6 offered much-improved acceleration, though the V6 was still down on power when pitted against the competition. Stomping the throttle for more power resulted in a rattly and raucous racket with either engine choice. The steering was also pretty numb, though overall the Milan handled pretty well for a family sedan. Build quality was also generally solid. Up front, the seats were well-shaped and supportive, and all but the tallest adults should be content riding in the Milan's spacious backseat.

User Reviews:

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  Not Exactly Pleased - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By Hayley - May 25 - 3:10 pm

  Loved interior & exterior at purchase. Too bad it didnt last. The window control panel on the drivers side door pops out each time you close the door. I feel like the car is straining when I accelerate. Then when the car had about 25,000 miles on it, it began to hesitate when I tried to accelerate. It got to the point where the car would not respond when I pushed the gas pedal, it would hesitate and then eventually would go, but when it did it would shoot my RPMs up high. This was dangerous, especially in an intersection. The car was under warranty at the time, and they ended up replacing the coil packs (?). This corrected the problem. Im not impressed with this car & would not recommend.

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  Me and My Wife Love It - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By Jordan - May 24 - 6:00 am

  Me and my wife recently purchased a 2006 Mercury Milan Premier V6 after looking at the Lincoln Zephyr and Ford Fusion and to us the Milan was the Best For the money it has the best looking exterior out of the three and i like the the all black leather interior with the nice looking wood grain accents and the 221 HP V6 is speedy and gets great gas mileage and the interior is also quite roomy although headroom could be better and the trunk is a good size and i like the bright LED taillights and the Sleek Front Design and to me this is the best car in the midsize car segment and by far the best for the money so i highly reccommend the Mercury Milan because its great

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  Wondering what if I had chosen Camry - 2008 Mercury Milan
  By Dave - May 21 - 3:50 pm

  Chose Milan for $2500 savings over comparably equipped Camry. Ours is standard 4 cyl with auto package. Car pulled to right slightly on test drive, became worse as miles passed. Took to dealer for alignment at 600 miles, they had for 2 and half days. Had to replace upper control arms after alignment didnt fix problem (TSB from Ford.) Though now tracking better, tire pressure monitor system now shows fault. Now I wonder if I should have spent the extra money on the Camry.

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  Wow! - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By Niki - May 11 - 6:40 pm

  We love this car. It drives great and is very comfortable. It offers a lot of interior room. I reccomend the V6 premier with the leather seats. I feel like I am driving a car that should have cost $35,000. Having a family, I wanted something with interior room. This car offers lots of room and comfortable seats. We owned a Chevy prior to our purchase. I will go to a Mercury dealer for any future automobile purchases. We are very satisfied with this car and for once, we do not regret buying this one. We love it and have reccomended this car to our friends and family. My father drove it once and went the next week and purchased one.

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  Lost love - 2010 Mercury Milan
  By gmarch - April 29 - 1:28 pm

  I have always been a Ford man and I loved my Milan Premier until recently. In the last three thousand miles (after it hit 50K miles) I had some kind of solenoid, a tail light, a throttle body, and a battery go bad, all common problems with this car. The one that really killed me was the tail light. Instead of replacing a bulb I had to replace the whole light assembly for $400. What kind of engineering is that? I am so turned off with Ford (and all American engineered cars).

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  Beats my SanteFe any day - Love it - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By ggma1126 - April 20 - 9:00 pm

  Just picked up mine yesterday. Fully loaded with navigation system and satellite radio - am really loving it. coming from an suv I am still getting used to driving a car and being down low again. cabin quiet not much road noise. waiting to see what kind of gas mileage I will be getting as most of my daily driving is highway .

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  Milan is a very competitive car - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By Mark - April 14 - 6:30 pm

  My 2002 Neon was paid off for 8 months and I was happy not having a car payment, but I bit on the 0% financing and am not looking back. I knew this would be a car I keep at least 5-7 years so I wanted to make sure I can pick every feature I possibly can, as well as make sure it will be a car I that will age well. I test drove a few cars and felt the Milan was the best choice, as well as best bang for the buck. The car is very stylish, and I enjoy the ride. I have the Premier package and love all the features (heated seats, auto dimming mirror). Its a great car all around. Ford has its act together when it comes to the Fusion/Milan. You owe it to yourself to at least test drive one.

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  Owner of Milan, 5,000 mile review - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By ron w - April 11 - 9:20 pm

  The outside raised saddle on the front seat creates excessive exterior left thigh pressure when sitting for 8-12 hours traveling accross country. I weigh 200# and I think the seat is to constraining. My 04 Sable leather seat was more comfortable and should have been a design benchmark. The cruise control, radio control and heater control on steering wheel are too small requiring to observe when setting. The size of the 04 Sable steering wheel controls were excelant. The lock/unlock controls on the key fob should be larger. In the dark, confusing which is which. The 04 Sable should have been bench marked. The remote trunk lid should pop the trunk open and not just a release.

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  Nice vehicle, great price - 2008 Mercury Milan
  By Pat - March 5 - 12:40 pm

  I purchased this vehicle used with only 3000 miles! It was not my first choice, but I had read about it online and decided to try it. The dealer had it in a back corner. I like the drive and I feel comfortable and I like all of the features, although I will probably never use them all. I am not impressed with my mpgs so far, although I am told it will get better as I "break the car in". I am getting 17 highway! Except for that, I love the vehicle. It has a smooth ride and I get no interior rattling (so far) as some have reported.

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  2007 Milan I4 Auto - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By scwalburn - February 16 - 1:30 am

  What a pleasant surprise. Roomy, even for me at 65". Feels like a much bigger car. Quiet and responsive, smooth shifting and all for $18,000. Way to go Ford!