2004 MERCURY MONTEREY NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Mercury Monterey?
Mercury nixed the outdated and outclassed Villager minivan two years ago, replacing it with the 2004 Mercury Monterey. Powered by your choice of a 3.9-liter V6 with 193 horsepower or a 4.2-liter V6 that produces 201 ponies, the 2004 Mercury Monterey dives into the intensely competitive minivan segment armed with a lengthy list of family-friendly features that buyers are seeking.

Advantages of the 2004 Mercury Monterey:

• Impressive roster of standard and optional safety equipment and technology
• Torquey 4.2-liter V6 engine
• Smooth ride quality
• Comfortable front seats
• Excellent outward visibility

Objections to the 2004 Mercury Monterey:

• Poor fuel economy from 4.2-liter V6
• Uncomfortable second- and third-row seats
• Six-footers cannot clear edges of tailgate when it’s raised
• Noisy cabin
• No navigation system option

Editor's Advice:
Despite what advertising suggests, the 2004 Mercury Monterey is not an all-new minivan (nor is it a resurrection of the 1960s sedan bearing that name). It’s a corporate twin of the 2004 Ford Freestar, itself a significantly updated version of the old Ford Windstar. Why is Mercury launching a warmed-over version of the aging Ford minivan architecture rather than a brand-new design? Because in the next few years there will be a complete redesign for both of the Ford and Mercury minivans. Thus, the Monterey lands mid-pack on our list of minivans to consider. The engines are rather thirsty and don’t make as much power as other players in the segment, but the 2004 Mercury Monterey is a pleasant daily driver with very comfortable front seats. Loads of standard and available safety features, as well as thoughtful options such as a power-assisted tailgate and heated and cooled front seats, make the 2004 Mercury Monterey worth a drive. But it doesn’t earn our top recommendation because the rear seats are uncomfortable, the second-row captain’s chairs are heavy to lift out of the vehicle, Mercury has forgotten to offer a navigation system on this new van, and build quality lags behind the leaders in the segment.