|
2004 Mercury Monterey
|
| More room for family comfort |
|
| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:47:15 |
| Rating |
 234 ( -29 -12.39% ) | | Author | Sue Mead |
|
|
Description:
2004 Mercury Monterey
Related Links
Get Pricing
Get E-mail Updates
Consumer Ratings
Vehicle Reviews
Send a Letter
Talk About It
2004 Mercury Monterey. Mercury's latest minivan offers a pleasant, quiet ride.
2004 Mercury Monterey. The Mercury van has seating for up to seven passengers and more than 25 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third-row seat.
Related Links
Get Pricing
Get E-mail Updates
Consumer Ratings
Vehicle Reviews
Send a Letter
Talk About It
2004 Mercury Monterey. Offering numerous high-end features across all three trim lines, Monterey has a sophisticated interior.
Mercury Monterey is the fraternal twin of Ford's new Freestar, the replacement model for the aging Windstar minivan. Offering the upscale amenities of a luxury vehicle and the family-friendly features of a Cub Scout carrier, Monterey shares Freestar's dimensions, its 4.2-liter V6 powerplant, and its Safety Canopy ™ airbag rollover protection system.
As the new Freestar/Monterey pair supplants the old Windstar/Villager lineup, the Blue Oval is looking to inject life into sales of its suburban hauler: year-to-date sales figures for Ford brands (including Mercury) were down in August, including a 33 percent dip in minivan sales. A key element in this revitalization plan is an interior overhaul. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury have tripled their investment in interior design, and the Monterey is designed to showcase that investment.
Model Overview
Monterey, designed for soccer Moms, as well as "free birds" (older women with ageing parents, says Mercury spokespeople) is available in Convenience, Luxury and Premier trim levels. The Convenience level includes a 4.2-liter V6 engine (available on higher-end Freestars), ABS, tilt steering wheel with integrated cruise controls, Securilock™, dual-zone climate control, front console cup holders and storage, a folding third-row cloth bench seat, and forward and reverse park assist.
Luxury models have first and second row leather trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power-adjustable pedals, driver and passenger side heated/memory mirrors, memory function for pedals and driver's seat, anti-theft system, side air bags and all-row Safety Canopy, dual-zone automatic climate control, floor console storage, third-row reading lamps, roof rails and power sliding doors.
On top of Luxury-level amenities, Premier adds driver and passenger heated and cooled seats, lumbar adjustments for the front passenger, first and second row perforated leather seats, AdvanceTrac traction control, split-spoke aluminum wheels and satin aluminum roof rails.
In addition, several options are available, including DVD rear entertainment and self-sealing tires for Luxury and Premier versions; Luxury Montereys also can be ordered with AdvanceTrac.
Exterior
The new Mercury minivan adds two new paint colors and shares the same long wheelbase (120.8 inches) and overall shape with its Ford sibling, but has a more expressive design. The front end includes large headlamps and signature waterfall grille (new to this segment), with satin aluminum accents and monochromatic body cladding for a smooth, elegant profile. The hood is angled slightly toward the raked windshield; picking up at the A-pillar, the roofline stretches long and flat to the rear liftgate.
Base and Luxury models have 16-inch tires and solid-spoke wheels, while Premier models get the same rubber with split-spoke wheels. Self-sealing 16-inch tires are also available for Luxury and Premier Montereys.
Powertrain
Under the hood is a 4.2-liter V6 making 201 horses and 265 lb.-feet of torque and matched to a four-speed automatic transmission. Improvements include triple hydromounts for reduced engine noise and next-generation transmission hydraulics for faster, smoother shifting.
Interior
Offering numerous high-end features across all three trim lines, Monterey has a sophisticated interior. However, the leather surfaces, DVD system, climate control and other amenities are just icing on the cake - this minivan also is a practical family carrier, with a spacious cabin built to stow all kinds of family gear.
The Mercury van has seating for up to seven passengers and more than 25 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third-row seat. The third row can be folded flat and stowed in the floor, and second-row seats can be removed entirely to create 134 cubic feet of storage space; the third-row seat position can be reversed for tailgating. Numerous cubbyholes and storage spaces can be found throughout the front and rear, and a power liftgate will be available within the next few months.
On the road
Mercury's latest minivan offers a pleasant, quiet ride. Significant noise reduction has been achieved through improved body and door sealing, sound insulation and powertrain mounting, along with Ford's Conformable Constrained Layer Damping technology.
Monterey's luxury touches made us feel like upscale soccer Moms. Independent front suspension, including MacPherson struts, is matched to a semi-independent twist-beam/coil spring rear suspension and we enjoyed the responsive road feel, the ample power and gentle shifts from the auto transmission. We also found Monterey's power rack-and-pinion steering easy and pleasant, with a precision and feel more typical of luxury cars.
Safety and security
More than 30 safety features are offered on Monterey, including the segment-first Safety Canopy, a side curtain airbag system designed to provide protection for all three rows of seats in the case of a rollover or other severe crash. Other safety features include occupant-sensing airbags, four-wheel ABS, AdvanceTrac stability/traction control, three-point safety belts and head restraints for all seating positions and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Overall impressions
As the uptown half of Ford's set of new minivan twins, Monterey combines high-end features with down-to-earth practicality. Although the Monterey/Freestar pair faces stiff competition, the vehicles' innovative safety features and capable road manners make them worth a closer look.
2004 Mercury Monterey5 Reviewer's Notes
Base price: $29,995
Engine: 4.2-liter V6 (201 hp @ 4,250 rpm; 265 lb.-ft @3,750 rpm)
Drivetrain: Four-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 120.8
Length x width x height: 201.0x76.6x68.7
Weight: 4434 lb.
Fuel economy (estimated): N/A
Standard safety equipment: ABS, Safety Canopy, AdvanceTrac traction/stability control, head restraints and three-point safety belts for all seating positions, occupant-sensing airbags.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where is the Monterey built and what percentage of the minivan market is considered luxury sales?
The Monterey is built at Ford Motor Company's Oakville (Ontario, Canada) Assembly Plant. The high-end minivan segment ($29,000 MSRP and above) has been growing and now represents about 40 percent of the minivan market.
What are some of the Monterey's best features?
Monterey's interior includes innovative features such as a standard third-row bench seat that can be folded into the floor when not in use, creating a completely flat load floor and features a reversible function for tailgating. The seat is counterbalanced for easy use, and has pop-up head restraints that do not need to be removed before stowing the seat. Other features include segment-exclusive front heated and cooled seats, standard front and rear parking sensors, a premium audio system, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, tri-zone temperature control, and power adjustable pedals with memory. A power liftgate will be available later in the year.
What about the safety features of this family hauler?
Monterey comes with a comprehensive safety package with more than 30 safety features. These include: a segment-exclusive side air bag and Safety Canopy™ system that includes a rollover sensor and provides protection for all three rows of passengers; AdvanceTrac™ stability control system with traction control and panic brake assist; occupant-sensing passenger front air bag; four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes; a reinforced structure designed for offset frontal impacts; three-point safety belts and head restraints at all seating positions; a low tire pressure warning system and available self-sealing tires.
How does it handle?
Mercury's first long-wheel base, luxury minivan, is powered by a standard 4.2 liter V-6 engine that delivers 201 horsepower and
a segment-leading 263 foot-pounds of torque. Notable are the following; its quiet and pleasant interior, with good ergonomics; strong brakes, with a great pedal feel; and comfortable ride, derived from a compliant suspension.
What are the three trim models and pricing?
Monterey is available in Convenience, Luxury and Premier trims:
Monterey Convenience ($29,995 base MSRP, including $685 destination charge)
Standard equipment includes a 4.2 Liter, V-6 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, anti-lock brakes, tilt steering wheel with speed control, Securilock ™, dual-zone climate control, front console cup holders and storage, folding third-row-cloth bench, forward and reverse park assist. Side air bag and Safety Canopy™ system are optional.
Monterey Luxury ($33,995 base MSRP, including $685 destination charge)
Standard equipment includes all Convenience Package equipment. Luxury add-ons include first- and second-row leather trim, driver and passenger heated seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power-adjustable pedals, memory package for the driver's seat, pedals and mirrors; anti-theft system, side air bags and Safety Canopy ™, dual zone electronic automatic temperature control, first row floor console storage, third row reading lamps, black roof rails, and power sliding doors. DVD rear entertainment system, self-sealing tires and AdvanceTrac™ are optional.
Monterey Premier ($35,525 base MSRP, including $685 destination charge)
Standard equipment includes all Luxury equipment. Premier adds: driver and passenger heated and cooled seats, front passenger lumbar adjustment, first and second row perforated leather seats, AdvanceTrac™, unique split-spoke design aluminum roof rails.
Pricing for options: DVD rear seat entertainment system ($1,395), Safety Canopy side curtain air bags ($695), AdvanceTrac ($395) and self-sealing tires ($195). Incentives available at launch will include customer cash of $2,000, or financing rates as low as 2.9 percent for 60 months.
---Story by Sue Mead
---Photos courtesy of Mercury
© 2003, Sue Mead, All Rights Reserved. |
|
