2006 Ford Fusion Milan Premier from North America - Comments

Nothing.

This review is for a Mercury Milan Premier. The web site does not have the Milan in the selection for mercury cars yet.

I know that the fusion is the same car, or so I am told.

The car drives 100X better than my old SUV and I am getting about 25mpg average with most of it being mid city driving.

My only issue with the car is that the center arm rest for the front seat occupants is so short that you can’t drive and relax you right arm at the same time. The solution is to drive with your left arm, but guess what, the radio controls on the steering wheel are on the right side.

I don’t see how Mercury/Ford could have built such a perfect car and overlooked such an obvious thing.

I have 22,000 miles on the car now and it drives as it did when new. The car handles great in the rain and interior noise is very low.

The car will surprise you in room with all categories being very pleasing except the windshield sets a bit too far back and intrudes into head space.

I noticed that same problem. I was driving an Expedition previous to the 2006 Fusion and I don't know what what Ford was thinking as far as the arm rest goes. Must have had someone with long arms testing the car.

The console storage is ridiculously small. Other than that I like the car.

You should not have one arm resting on the armrest.

You should have both hands on the wheel.

Having owned several cars with the exact same problem with a too-short armrest, I know how uncomfortable that is. You do wonder why such things are not thought of. I suppose the designers must all be gorillas. As for driver comfort, however, be VERY THANKFUL that you got the Milan. Overall it is an AWESOME car. My mom just got a Volvo S60 and in driving it last week I was so uncomfortable I don't plan to drive it any more unless I HAVE to. The interior is so cramped that the center console rubbed against my right leg and forced it into an uncomfortable, bent position. And no, I'm not that big. I am only 5'-10" tall.

Most all new cars don't have full center armrest. The center arm rest have been deleted due to the fact that most newer cars have moved the gear selector on the floor and the e-brake has been located behind the floor mounted gear selector.

There is simply not enough room for a full arm rest to extend over the e-brake, not to mention a possible liability issue.

Some cars that still offer the full arm rest are the top line Lexus cars, Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac, Buick, Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis, Ford Crown, and most premium branded large SUV’s and trucks.

Virtually any car that cost under $40,000 will not offer a full length center arm rest.

I drive a company car, which is a 2004 Lincoln Town Car, which I love to drive, that does have a full arm rest and I can drive with both arms totally relaxed at 9 and 3 o’clock while still being able to control the radio on the steering wheel.

In my 2004 Honda Accord EX, I can’t relax my right arm and reach the steering wheel and in my daughter’s new Ford Fusion, it is the same way. No full arm rest.

Once you get spoiled by driving a car with one, you will notice not having one.

I was at a Mercury dealership today and happened to look over a new 2007 Milan. I was VERY IMPRESSED. I had already checked out the Fusion and MKZ, both of which are versions of the same platform, but I had yet to look at a Milan.

What threw me for a loop was the PRICE. The one I looked at was a nice, well equipped model with a moon roof, and it only listed for $21,000. I had just looked at a $30,000 Pontiac G-6, and I can assure you the Milan is twice the car. I even like the styling of the Milan better than the much more expensive MKZ. Tough decision, as I had started out considering a Mustang, but with the rave reviews about the Fusion, and its reliability and build quality being rated way above Camry and Accord, I may opt for a Milan.

My only concern is resale, as Mustang will return much more of its purchase price in 5 years than the Fusion/Milan. Sedans are the worst in losing value.