A distinctive and elegant redesign of its front and rear fascias gives the 2010 Mercury Milan a look of refinement that helps distinguish it from its sibling, the Ford Fusion. The Milan, therefore, is aimed at those who equate the Mercury name with a step up in luxury, and the 2010 Mercury Milan doesn’t disappoint, with its traditional two-tone interior décor and simulated alloy and wood dashboard trim.
The 2010 Milan is a five-passenger, midsize sedan available in three trims, the base I4, I4 Premier, and the high-end V6 Premier. Additionally, Mercury adds a hybrid to its 2010 Milan lineup. The two I4 trims of the Milan are equipped with a standard 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, with the base I4 carrying a standard six-speed manual transmission and the I4 Premier featuring a six-speed auto-manual tranny. The 2010 Milan V6 Premier, as its name implies, packs a 3.0-liter V6 mated with the six-speed auto-manual transmission.
For the 2010 Milan I4 and I4 Premier, its new 2.5-liter I4 engine replaces, by popular demand, a somewhat anemic 2.3-liter I4, giving the Milan 175 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque and supposedly getting 33 mpg on the highway. Testers claim the new engine brings the Milan from 0 to 60 in 9.5 seconds. The 2010 Milan V6 Premier’s 3.0-liter powerplant puts out 240 hp and 223 lb-ft of torque. As yet, there are no EPA estimates on actual gas mileage for either engine.
The 2010 Milan is a comfortable cruiser that can handle winding back roads as well. A reduction of about a foot in the Milan’s turning radius gives this midsize sedan a bit of an edge in tight quarters and heavy traffic.
Standard comfort, convenience, and appearance features for the 2010 Mercury Milan base I4 include 16-inch alloy wheels, premium cloth front bucket seats, a six-way, power-adjustable driver’s seat, digital keypad power locks, power windows, heated power outside mirrors, cruise control, a leather-wrapped, a tilt-telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning with cabin air filtration, Sirius/XM satellite radio, and a single-CD/MP3 player with six speakers. Options for the base I4 include the Sun and SYNC Package, with a power sunroof, Ford’s SYNC hands-free communication system, Bluetooth technology, and USB connectivity.
The I4 Premier and V6 Premier add such standard features as 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, multi-level heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth wireless technology, and a voice-activated phone. Options like a voice-activated, DVD navigation system, blind spot information system (BLIS), 390-watt Sony, 12-speaker premium audio, and a backup camera are all available with the 2010 Milan Premier trims.
Safety-wise, the 2010 Milan has it covered, with standard four-wheel disc ABS, traction and stability control, dual front side-mounted airbags, front and rear head airbags, a remote anti-theft alarm system, and a post-collision safety system.
Owners of the 2009 Mercury Milan complain of lackluster performance with the 2.3-liter I4 engine, and Mercury responded by equipping the 2010 Milan I4 trims with a beefier 2.5-liter I4. Daytime running lights are also an issue for the owners of the ’09 Milan that has since been corrected in the 2010 Milan trims. Other complaints noted by owners of the 2009 Milan are less-than-stellar gas mileage with the 3.0-liter V6 as well as some issues with the headrests. However, looks and interior appointments of the 2009 Mercury Milan, as well as ride, handling, roominess, comfort, and its wealth of features, all draw praise from owners.
By Eric Tallberg
