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Acceleration
"Montereys have sufficient power for most driving demands. Transmission delivers
smooth, prompt shifts."
Value
"Monterey, like Freestar, is attractively priced and offers laudable safety and
convenience features. But an aging basic design dims its overall appeal compared
with Toyota's Sienna, which is more refined, or the Honda Odyssey and Dodge Caravan,
which are more pleasant to drive."
Ride
"Mostly stable, absorbent, but sharp bumps and ruts jolt through. And coarse
pavement can induce minor but unpleasant structural vibration."
Economy
Test Monterey averaged 16.6 mpg in a city/highway driving mix. Mercury recommends regular-grade fuel.
Noise
"V6 sounds hoarse and strained when cold or at full throttle. Very little wind
rustle at highway speeds. Road noise modest in front, much louder in back. Despite
upscale positioning, Monterey seems only marginally quieter than Ford Freestar
overall."
Comfort - Front
"Height-adjustable seat with lumbar support, available power-adjustable pedals
accommodate most any size driver. Still, rearward seat travel not quite enough
for 6-footers. Optional front-seat cooling works quickly to enhance hot-weather
comfort. Outward vision good to all corners. Note Monterey's standard front/rear
obstacle detection vs. Freestar's available rear-only system."
Comfort - Rear
"Seats nicely padded, supportive in both 2nd and 3rd rows. Second row seating slides fore/aft a few inches, but leg room still limited for tall adults. All 2nd-row seats fold and tumble for access to 3rd row, which is best left to kids, though adults can enjoy the seat's ""tailgate party"" position."
Controls
"Dashboard design shared with Freestar offers clear instruments and mostly simple,
handy switchgear, though climate controls sit too low for easy driver access.
Monterey has more bright accents than Freestar and some materials that feel slightly
richer, but budget-grade plastic still abounds."
Cargo Room
"Lots of space even with all seats in place, thanks to deep floor well that stores
easily folded 3rd row. But that seat is one-piece, not split for versatility
as in many rivals. Second-row seats are removable, fold up without taking off
headrests. Interior storage a bit skimpy for a minivan; parking brake lever reduces
utility of front center console. Folded 3rd-row seat exposes two metal sidewall
brackets that eat into load space."
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