Yes, the Do Not Resucitate order has been issued for Mercury, but I’ve got one more drive in Ford’s mid-range brand in me, so here goes.

Spiritual successor to the 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser?  Not exactly.  The 2010 Milan Hybrid doesn’t even appear to be from the same species as that chrome-frosted beast with whom it shares a parent company.  Nevertheless, I cruised the turnpikes with Mercury’s hybrid sedan, and it was quite a good match.

New for 2010, the Milan Hybrid offers a capable balance between the extreme-green, in-your-face hybrid systems of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight and real-world usability.  Rather than carrying a bunch of technology for gadgetry’s sake, the Milan Hybrid just quietly makes sense.

I took the Milan Hybrid on a quick trip from Detroit to Manhattan, racking up miles on the turnpike and then sharing the mean streets of New York City with hordes of Ford Escape Hybrid taxis, of which there are more every year.  The hybrid system that powers the Milan is similar to that used in the Escape, and both are well-suited to urban duty.  A 2.4 liter 155-horsepower Atkinson-cycle engine is coupled to a 275-volt electric motor and a compact nickel-metal hydride battery.  Variable cam timing helps to smooth the transition from gasoline to electric power.  The ability to travel up to 47 mph on fully electric power coupled with the automatic engine shutoff means that the Milan Hybrid isn’t burning any gas at all when it’s stuck in traffic.  It’ll coast up to speed without kicking the engine on too, but this requires a light foot on the accelerator–something that won’t make you many friends in Manhattan.  Still, it’s good for 36 miles per gallon on the freeway.  Out on the turnpike, the Milan Hybrid takes advantage of the 2.4 liter’s frugality at speed, and maintaining a steady 70mph netted me about 35mpg.  This meant that the trip to New York and back was dispatched on just two tanks of fuel.  As with most hybrids, a continuously variable transmission gets the power to the road seamlessly.
Those two tanks of gas went by quickly in the Milan Hybrid’s comfortable cabin.  Though it’s not a luxury car, the Milan Hybrid is a comfortable place to spend a road trip, thanks to pleasant appointments, an attractive, airy cabin, and a healthy dose of technology.  The available navigation system features a large, easy to use full-color screen and is voice-activated.  The Sync infotainment system is also included.  The SmartGauge dash is an animated, fully electronic and configurable LCD display, allowing drivers to take advantage of Ford’s leaf-growing EcoGuide efficiency monitor or to display other selected vehicle information on screens entitled, “Inform,” “Enlighten,” “Engage” and “Empower.”  The cabin is quiet on the freeway, and with its satin silver trim, wood accents and contrasting stitching the Milan Hybrid could easily pass for a full-on luxury vehicle, even with its eco-friendly recycled seat fabric.  The only obvious difference between the Milan and the Milan Hybrid is the lack of a trunk pass-through; the Milan Hybrid’s battery pack is mounted behind the back seat, precluding a folding seat.  With barely twelve cubic feet of trunk space, some of my luggage had to ride in the back seat.  The Milan Hybrid’s a road-tripper for two, not four.

The ride is comfortable and responsive, thanks to a short-long arm front, independent rear suspension. The Milan Hybrid is just as engaging as its conventional counterpart on the road.  Regenerative brakes help to charge the batteries, and Mercury has dialed out the grabby feeling that often characterizes hybrid vehicles’ brakes.  Anti-lock brakes and stability control are standard equipment.  To make things easier when dealing with the unforgiving traffic in Manhattan, the Milan Hybrid is available with Ford’s Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, which sounds an alert to keep you aware of the cars you don’t see.  Fighting with the taxis and limousines was almost stress-free in the Milan Hybrid.

Handsome, contemporary looks have always been one of Mercury’s strong suits, and the Milan Hybrid doesn’t disappoint.  Where many hybrids are deliberately aerodynamic and kind of strange-looking, the Milan Hybrid is differentiated from its conventional counterpart only by badging and a set of unique seventeen-inch wheels.  Mercury’s trademark waterfall grille has been deepened for 2010, and drops into the bumper.

The Milan Hybrid’s handsome looks and high-tech interior appointments help to justify the $27,500 starting price.  Add in options like a moonroof, rearview camera, Blind Spot Information System and a navigation system, and you’ve got a $34,000 vehicle like my test car.  There are quite a few other excellent road-trippers and urban traffic-fighters available at that price, some with more prestigious names.  The Milan Hybrid’s edge is in eco-friendliness without compromise.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
Length:  189.0 in.
Width:  72.2 in.
Height:  56.9 in.
Wheelbase:  107.4 in.
Curb weight:  3729 lb.
Cargo space:  11.8 cu.ft.
Base price:  $27,500
Price as tested:  $33,735
Engine:   2.5 liter DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle inline four-cylinder
Drivetrain:  continuously variable automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 156 @ 6000
Torque:  136 @ 2250
Fuel capacity:  17.0 gal.
Est. mileage:   41/36

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