The Mercury Milan is a nice family car. From the waterfall grille up front to the brushed metallic trim inside, this is a Ford platform upgraded to Mercury status, with more standard equipment and more soul. Milan doesn't have the engines to compete with the best in the class, but it is comfortable, classy, and attractively priced. It rides nice on rough roads and is highly stable on the highway. All-wheel drive greatly enhances its safety and handling in slippery conditions.

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Jim McCraw filed the original report from Dearborn, Michigan. Correspondent Kirk Bell contributed from Chicago.