Initial Quality – Though the Mercury Milan received a significant update for 2010, it is still quite similar to the 2009 model. In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures owner satisfaction with vehicle quality after 90 days of ownership, the 2009 Mercury Milan received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

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Performance and Design – Though the Mercury Milan received a significant update for 2010, it is still quite similar to the 2009 model. In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures owner satisfaction with performance and design attributes of a vehicle, the 2009 Mercury Milan received 3 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

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Vehicle Dependability – Though the Mercury Milan received a significant update for 2010, it is still quite similar to the 2006 model. In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which measures owner satisfaction with a vehicle’s reliability after three years of ownership, the 2006 Mercury Milan received 5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings when compared to other vehicles in its class.

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Fuel Economy – The 2010 Mercury Milan is equipped with the buyer’s choice between two traditional powertrains: a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a manual or automatic transmission and a 3.0-liter V-6 driving all four wheels through the automatic. A sophisticated hybrid system is also available that can keep the Milan Hybrid moving at 47 mph on electricity alone.

According to the EPA, the Milan is rated to return between 18 and 41 mpg in the city and between 25 and 36 mpg on the highway, operating on regular unleaded fuel. Our review vehicle, a Mercury Milan Hybrid, averaged 33.2 mpg in 1,500 miles of mixed driving with a highway emphasis, employed for a coastal road trip with a full trunk and three occupants aboard. Combined with the Milan Hybrid’s standard 17-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 565-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

Safety – According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2010 Mercury Milan receives 5-star crash-test ratings for the driver and front passenger in a frontal impact, a 5-star crash-test rating for front seat occupants in the side-impact test, and a 4-star crash-test rating for rear seat occupants in the side-impact test. With front-wheel drive, the 2010 Milan receives a 4-star rollover rating and with all-wheel drive, it receives a 5-star rollover rating.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the 2010 Mercury Milan a “Top Safety Pick,” because it received a “Good” rating in the frontal offset crash test, a “Good” rating in the side impact crash test, and a “Good” rating for rear impact protection.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2010 Mercury Milan consumes between 8.8 and 16.3 barrels of petroleum annually, depending on which powertrain is selected. Carbon footprint ratings range from 4.7 to 8.7 tons of air pollution per year. The Milan’s EPA air pollution scores were not published at the time this review was written.

Note: This review was published on October 8, 2009. It may not reflect data that has become available for this vehicle since that date.