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’10 Mercury Milan, Ford Fusion set new standard for hybrids
By MARK PHELAN • FREE PRESS AUTO CRITIC • January 7, 2009
The 2010 Mercury Milan hybrid is an outstanding and important car.
...Why then, are the 2010 Milan and Fusion hybrids such a big deal?
Because, for the moment at least, they vault Ford Motor Co. to the forefront of hybrid technology, easily topping the fuel economy of competitive midsize hybrid versions of the Toyota Camry and Chevy Malibu.
...The Milan and Fusion hybrids generate 191 total horsepower from a 156-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor. That power is translated to the front wheels through a smooth and effective continuously variable transmission.
The system simply smokes the competition, with eye-popping EPA fuel economy ratings of 41 m.p.g. in the city and 36 m.p.g. on the highway. That compares with
33 m.p.g. city/34 m.p.g. highway for the Camry hybrid,
35 m.p.g. city/33 m.p.g. highway for the Altima hybrid,
26 m.p.g. city/34 m.p.g. highway for the Malibu and Aura hybrids.
Ford’s new hybrid powertrain also provides enough power to run in all-electric mode at speeds up to 47 m.p.h. That’s nearly twice as fast as the Camry and Altima, while the Malibu and Aura — so-called mild hybrids — lack the power for electric-only operation.
Using the accelerator judiciously, I had no trouble driving the Milan on electricity alone at speeds up to about 44 m.p.h. Electric drive also kicked in frequently while driving through neighborhoods and on major surface streets.
In my usual, always late for something mode, I got about 35 m.p.g. in a mix of fast city and highway driving. When I modified my driving style for the best fuel economy I could get without making other drivers crazy, the Milan beat the EPA figure with 42 to 43 m.p.g. in city driving...
...The Milan and Fusion hybrids get a unique and attractive instrument panel that features an LCD display that can be configured in a variety of ways to provide different levels of detail on how the hybrid system is working...
...You can change the display to show a bar graph that gives the same information, but the image of leaves growing or dying depending on how you drive is an amazingly effective piece of positive reinforcement.
Hybrid system aside, the Milan is a comfortable and enjoyable midsize sedan. The electric power steering provides good response and feedback, the ride is comfortable and there’s plenty of power on tap.
The hybrids get the same styling changes — a good-looking new hood, grille, headlights and taillights — as other 2010 Milans and Fusions. They also benefit from a welcome upgrade in interior materials that includes soft-touch covers for the dashboard and doors...
...It raises an important technology to a new level, and does it at an appealing price in an excellent car. It sets a new standard for overall excellence among hybrids.
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sidebar:
2010 Mercury Milan hybrid
Rating: **** (out of four stars)
Reasons to buy: Fuel economy, technical sophistication, comfort.
**** Best in its class
*** Above average
** Competent
. The 2010 Mercury Milan looks way better than the 2010 Ford Fusion and this another reason to keep Mercury alive 
