Otherwise, the 2006 Mercury Milan is a carbon copy of the Ford Fusion, from its four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and four-wheel-independent suspension to its interior control layout, optional side-curtain airbags, and snug rear seat accommodations. Choose between a 2.3-liter, 160-horsepower, inline four-cylinder engine (PZEV-rated in some regions of the country) and a 3.0-liter, 210-horsepower V6 - each driving the front wheels. The four-cylinder can be equipped with a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 is matched to a six-speed automatic. Either engine can be installed in the Milan's two available trim levels of base and Premier.

Indeed, when selecting a new midsize sedan from Ford Motor Company, all you need to do is decide how much you want to spend and which styling cues you prefer. Yet, with an all-wheel-drive option arriving for 2007 and a planned hybrid version slated for 2008, the future of the new Mercury Milan appears to be bright and shiny. Like the satin-silver trim that decorates it inside and out.

Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company