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Acceleration
"Despite one of the smallest engines in this class, Five Hundred and Montego
have adequate power and accelerate on par with most V6 rivals. Test AWD Five
Hundred did 7.5 sec 0-60 mph, a front-drive Montego 7.9. CVT has good passing
response, but can allow engine rpm to race ahead of road speed, which can take
getting used to. Disappointingly, 6-speed automatic frequently hunts between
gears and includes neither a manual shift gate nor gear positions between Drive
and Low."
Value
"Five Hundred and the similar Mercury Montego earn Best Buy status for their
generous passenger space and cargo room, take-charge driving stance, good road
manners, and available all-wheel drive. Engine choice is limited to a single
V6, but it has adequate power for this duty. And while the transmissions have
some quirks, they're not deal-breakers."
Ride
"Despite minor variations in suspension tuning, Five Hundred and Montego are
generally absorbent and composed on all surfaces, though sharpest bumps can jolt.
Ride quality differs little with 17- vs. 18-inch tires or with front-wheel drive
vs. AWD."
Economy
"With front drive and 6-speed automatic, test Five Hundred Limited averaged 19.0
mpg, test Montego 15.9 mpg; Montego test included gas-eating acceleration runs.
Test AWD Five Hundreds and Montegos averaged 19.1 mpg. All models use regular-grade
fuel."
Noise
"Wind and road noise well-contained. Test AWDs with CVT suffered audible powertrain
whine, even in modest acceleration. V6 a bit rowdy at high rpm, seems more noticeable
with 6-speed automatic transmission's frequent shifting."
Comfort - Front
"Driving position higher than in other cars. Combines with low dashtop, tall
windows for outstanding outward visibility. Head room ample, leg room fine, though
taller occupants may wish for more rearward seat travel. Seats comfortably supportive;
high positioning eases entry/exit."
Comfort - Rear
"Sofa-high seating with near-limousine leg room, generous head room. Three adults
fit shoulder-to-shoulder. Easy ingress/egress."
Controls
"Clear, simple gauges contrast with button-filled audio and climate panels--the
latter set too low for easy use while driving. And their electronic readouts
can be hard to see. Navigation system absorbs, but doesn't complicate, audio
controls. Steering wheel's look-alike audio and cruise-control switches take
learning, too. Some testers say stalks for wipers and turn signals are too far
from steering wheel. Montego, despite upscale image, differs little from Five
Hundred in cabin decor. Soft-touch surfaces abound, but overall effect pleasant,
not elegant. "
Cargo Room
"Voluminous trunk can hold eight full-size golf bags. Strut-type trunklid hinges
don't rob space or threaten cargo. Rear seats fold, but pass-through restricted
at bottom by angled side supports. Five Hundred SELs, Limiteds, and all Montegos
include fold-flat front-passenger seat, handy for hauling long items. Covered
dashtop bin handy, but interior storage nothing special."
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