2007 Mercury Monterey Review
The Monterey is an upscale minivan that first debuted for 2004. Replacing the Mercury Villager, the Monterey added a whole new level of luxury. It has seen little change since its introduction. Due to poor sales, 2007 will be the last year for the Monterey and its sibling, the Ford Freestar.
The BuyingAdvice Team Says:
The Mercury Monterey is a sadly overlooked minivan. With solid reliability, safety, and comfort, it’s about as good as a minivan could get. Unfortunately, it did have some serious issues such as its unashamed minivan styling, poor performance, and clunky handling. Overall, if you can find one at a steep discount, it might be worth a look.
What’s New For 2007:
What is the Predicted Reliability:
J.D. Power data is unavailable. Problems affecting the Monterey include: Faulty ABS modules, transmission leaks, and problematic shifting. The 2005-06 Montereys were recalled due to falling liftgates. Expect above average reliability. The basic warranty lasts for three years or 36,000 miles.
Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:
The Monterey earned 5 stars in government frontal crash tests. The 2006 model earned 4.5 stars in side tests. The IIHS gave the 2006 Monterey “Good” ratings in front and rear tests, and “Acceptable” in side tests. Anti-lock brakes, full side airbags, adjustable pedals, tire-pressure monitoring, and parking sensors come standard. Stability control and run-flat tires are optional.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
+ Excellent safety
+ Solid reliability
+ Tasteful design
Cons
– Stability control optional
– Poor value
– It’s a minivan
Head-To-Head Competition:
The Buick Terraza CX Plus costs $600 less, has traction control, a DVD player, and 40 more hp, but lacks the Monterey’s CD changer, side airbags, and third row. The Hyundai Entourage, for the same price includes traction control, leather seats, a roof rack, and 50 more hp, but it lacks a CD changer. The Monterey’s sibling, the Ford Freestar costs $2,000 less at the cost of a CD changer and side airbags.
What Others Are Saying:
“With its larger size and clean looks, the Mercury Monterey is at the heart of the luxury minivan class.” – The Auto Channel
“The Freestar/Monterey drives with more discipline than the Windstar, with tighter steering and firmer brakes. But the unsophisticated beam axle at the rear allows bumps to crash through the cabin and some corkscrewing to assert itself on undulating roads. In the dynamics department, it’s still no Honda Odyssey. But it’s no Windstar, either.” – Automobile Magazine
“But for all those advances, the Monterey/Freestar ensemble arguably lags further behind the competition than it did when the last version of the Windstar was introduced in 1998. The most obvious deficiency is styling. Nissan and Toyota have raised the bar with minivans that don’t look or act like them, while Ford seems content to paddle along with a conventional, last-decade design that screams ‘Sell-out!'” – U.S.News & World Report
Read more about the 2007 Mercury Monterey at the Mercury manufacturer web site.
