The 2006 Mercury Montego Premier adds more upscale features to the front-wheel drive mid-size sedan. Seating five with over 41 inches of front and rear legroom, and a 21.2 cubic foot trunk that expands with the fold-down rear seats and front passenger seat, the 2006 Montego Premier adds leather upholstery, a CD changer/MP3 player, heated front seats, driver's memory for the 6-way power seat and controls, more wood trim, and an upgraded audio system with wheel-mounted controls. This is in addition to cruise control, a trip computer, security system, front power outlet, tie-downs and hooks in the trunk, intermittent wipers, and a compass and tachometer.
The 2006 Montego Premier has larger 18-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires. Safety, stability, and smoothness comes with a fully independent suspension, 4-wheel ABS and disc brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, and standard traction control. Other five-star crash test features include dual front airbags, automatic headlights, xenon headlamps, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and foglights. Side impact and curtain airbags are extra, along with parking sensors. The powertrain is a 6-speed automatic and 3.0-liter V6 that gets 203-hp. Other options include a new DVD player and sunroof. Another new option for the Premium this year is a navigation system. High marks go to the interior room, trunk space, elevated seating, and convenience features. Most criticisms focus on the underpowered engine, but drivers love the handling and feel of the 2006 Montego Premier.