|
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 speed 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. |
