2005 Mercury Montego Test Drive

The Closer You Get, the Better it Looks

Not everyone on the planet wants a vehicle that sits two inches off the ground and snaps a different vertebra in the back every time the throttle is tapped. Some of us want comfort, convenience, and safety, which is why the 2005 Mercury Montego is a great choice for those who like to drive across the country enjoying the trip The Montego comes in two trim levels, and the base price starts at a reasonable $24,995. All Montegos come with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance.

First Glance

The Montego may not set the world on fire when it comes to design, but what's there is a shape that will stand the test of time and not burnout quickly. As proof, its sales numbers continue to increase each month as buyers take a second look. I like the standard High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps that add more light to the road, and the Light Emitting Diode (LED) taillamps that come on quicker when the brakes are applied to give drivers behind more notice. I also like the tall roofline that makes getting in and out of the front and back seats a pleasure. The entry-level Luxury and top-end Premier models are based on the Volvo P2 platform, which is also the backbone for the Volvo XC90 SUV and the S60 and S80 series sedans. Good company to be with, wouldn't you agree?

Other pluses include 18-inch Pirelli tires on the Premier array, and a large greenhouse and good visibility add to the luxury feel this value-priced sedan delivers. And it's hard to understand how no other manufacturer has glommed onto the keypad entry on the driver's door, which unlocks and locks the doors and opens the trunk via a personal code, so you don’t need to find the key if you just wanted to run out to the driveway and grab your sunglasses.

In the Driver's Seat

There's more room inside the Montego than in Oprah Winfrey's walk-in closet. It's a true 5-passenger sedan with seating for real adults, not a pretender like many others in the segment. I'm not a big fan of the woodgrain trim, but some older buyers like the upscale feeling it imparts. I must give kudos to what Mercury calls "Command Seating." The seats are about four inches higher off the ground than the competitive sedans, which means there's a better view of the road, and getting in and out is truly a non-event. I find the older I get, the less I like having to contort myself just to get behind the wheel (two-door low-slung coupes take note). The leather seats that come standard on the Luxury model could use a bit more lateral support, but then again, you're not playing boy racer in this ride.

As far as that convenience point I talked about, let's talk trunk capacity. This cargo area is so spacious that no other sedan in North America can match the capacity. And I love the fold-down front passenger seat and 60/40 split folding rear seats that provide storage for items up to 10 feet long and still close the trunklid! That means you don't need to borrow someone's pickup truck to run to Home Depot for weekend warrior jags.

On the Road

Sitting on the Volvo platform provides good structure upon which to build the rest of the vehicle. The Duratec 3.0-liter V-6 engine is good for 203 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. While not a screamer, the engine is fairly bulletproof since it’s been around for many years. The rumor is a 3.5 V-6 is due for the next model year, which should be fun. But the Montego can outrun the 250-hp Chrysler 300 Touring sedan if equipped with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which provides seamless shifting, so there's no loss of power waiting for the revs to come up after switching gears. Another plus is the Volvo-based Haldex AWD system that catches slips almost before they start. I liked the steering feel that wasn't overboosted at speed, and the soft but not mushy ride from the independent suspension. And added bonus on AWD models are the Nivomat self-leveling shocks that keep the vehicle level no matter the load inside. That really helps smooth out the highway ride.

When it comes to stopping the Montego, you'd be hard-pressed to find brakes that can press harder and stop better. The rotors are huge: vented 12.5 inches in front and 13s in the back, and ABS and Electronic Brake force Distribution are standard issue on both trim levels.

Journey's End

The Mercury brand tends to play the stepsister role in the Ford family lineup, and that's a pity. I prefer it over its sister ride the 500 simply because there are fewer of them on the road, which makes it more of a standout. I like the high level of safety that comes standard because of the association with Volvo. Things like the segment-exclusive side canopy with rollover protection provides peace of mind, as do important things like knowing the trunk area meets 2008 government standard for rear impacts. I recently saw photos of a 500 that had a head on collision with a gravel truck. Amazingly, the entire cabin held together, and the doors opened as if the vehicle was intact. In fact, if you only saw it from the A-pillar back, it looked perfect. Perhaps that's why the Montego carries a quadruple five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I also like the fact that you get a more upscale feeling than in the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.

It's easy to fall in love with speed and good looks. But when you stop and take a deeper look, you often find that what you really need is a vehicle that offers ease of use, excellent safety, and peace of mind. That's what the Mercury Montero is all about.