It was no surprise then that Scion was the pinnacle of trendy, followed by VW, Jeep, Porsche (sports cars, not SUVs) and Mini. Even Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Nissan and Suzuki SUVs had class-action cachet.
Lincoln, Buick and Oldsmobile were the frumps, even below Mercury.
The onset of years is not kind. I doubt many owners of a Mercury consider themselves stodgy, and in this segment of buyers Mercury will always attract a more mature audience than someone looking for a $16,000 economy car.
And while 18-year-olds can be trend spotters, how many of them actually buy new cars?
I spent a week in a 2006 Mercury Montego, and visions of the Stodgy Index played through my head. The refrain stopped when I pulled up at a traffic light opposite another Montego, and my first thought was: "Hmm, good-looking car. What is it? Oh."
Montego came out last year, just as Chrysler was hitting a home run with its new full-size sedan, the 300, which had the power of Hemi carrying it around the bases.
A design diva the Montego isn't, but the styling resists trendiness for a theme that is enduring and streamlined.
This is the glamour version of the Ford Five Hundred, and working within that blueprint, Montego is a substantial sedan, full in its American footprint of space and comfort.
Safety, too. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives Montego a Best Pick for offset frontal crash performance and five-star ratings for front- and side-impact performance in government testing.
Not much changes from the 2005 models, including the price.
It is sold in Luxury and Premier trim levels, with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive and a 3.0-liter V-6 engine. AWD models use a continuously variable transmission; the front-drivers come with a six-speed automatic.
Prices range from $25,130 to $29,430. The Luxury model test car had an as-tested price of $28,560. The 2006 prices reflect increases of $90 to $165.
The Premier adds 18-inch, 15-spoke alloy wheels; memory function for power seats and mirrors; adjustable pedals; a trunk cargo net; and most of the other options that were on my test car.
Adjustments for '06 include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with satin-aluminum cuffs and audio and speed controls standard on all models, an optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system and an optional navigation system on Premier models.
Power-adjustable pedals will be available on the Luxury series later in the model year.
There are three new colors: satellite silver clearcoat metallic, dark blue pearl clearcoat metallic and vivid red clearcoat metallic.
Montego's biggest asset is its size, which allows much function and utility inside.
There are more than 39 inches of headroom up front and 38.6 in back. And back-seat passengers get about a half-inch more legroom than those in front. Shoulder room is also appreciable, and there's room for an adult in the center back seat, at least for the drive to lunch.
The trunk, too, is among the biggest on the market; the back seat has a 60/40 split; and the front passenger seat folds forward to further elongate cargo space. Also, the all-wheel-drive model sits about an inch higher because of the Nivomat load-leveling rear shock absorbers, which is somewhat of a boost for visibility and entry and exit.
If there's any stodginess to the Montego, it's in the suspension and power, at least for enthusiastic drivers. The ride quality is smooth and competent, though it's not much of a sport sedan when pushed through turns.
The 203-horsepower V-6 - the only engine choice - offers acceptable performance and fuel economy: 21/29 on 87 octane. But the kick down for power could be quicker and the acceleration sharper. A 3.5-liter V-6 is expected for the 2008 model year.
Montego is dressed up with a satin aluminum grille, and the rear gets a stylized taillight.
The interior has a two-tone treatment with a satin-aluminum finish on the door handles, chrome trim rings on the gauges and dash-mounted analog clock. The steering wheel and shift knob are wrapped in leather.
The quality and assembly appear well done. The test car had no misaligned instrument panel seams, like the new Dodge Charger I drove recently. But there is an engineering quirk to how much glass the wipers clear. On rainy days there is about a 4-inch margin along the driver side that does not get wiped. And as the water dries, it leaves spots and smears that can interfere with visibility.
Working on its stodgy image, this fall Mercury will add the Milan sedan (cousin to the Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr), which is smaller than Montego and will have a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine and an optional 210-hp, 3.0-liter V-6. Pricing ranges from $18,995 to $23,495.
There's also talk of a Mustang-based coupe, but don't hold your breath waiting for that one.
Mercury may never be a brand for college-age buyers, but it has its appeal for those grown-ups who pay the college tuition.
SPECS BOX
2006 Mercury Montego
Body style: Large, front-wheel-drive sedan
Engine: Aluminum 3.0-liter, DOHC, 24-valve V-6
Horsepower: 203 at 5,750 rpm
Torque: 207 foot-pounds at 4,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 21 mpg city, 29 highway
Fuel tank: 19 gallons; 87 octane recommended
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.9 inches
Length: 200.9 inches
Front head/leg/shoulder room: 39.4/41.2/57.8 inches
Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 38.6/41.9/57.6 inches
Curb weight: 3,656 pounds (3,819, AWD CVT)
Cargo capacity: 10.5 cubic feet behind 3rd seat, 39.7 3rd seat folded, 80.6 2nd row seat folded
Trunk space: 21.2 cubic feet
FEATURES
Standard equipment: Remote locking, dual-zone climate control, AM-FM stereo with single CD, six-way power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio and cruise controls, power locks-windows, power (heated) mirrors with puddle lights, overhead console, illuminated vanity mirrors, rear reading lights, floor mats, HID headlights (auto on and off), fog lamps, 60/40 split folding back seat, adjustable rear headrests, two power points and a battery saver.
Safety equipment: Personal Safety System includes belt pretensioners and load limiting retractors, optional seat-deployed side air bags, safety canopy and crash sensors that monitor weight, seat position, crash severity for front air bag deployment
CHASSIS
Suspension: four-wheel independent; front MacPherson struts, rear multi-link; stabilizer bars front and rear
Steering: hydraulic power assist; 39.7-foot turning circle
Brakes: four-wheel discs with ABS and electronic brake force distribution
Tires and wheels: P215/60 17-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels (18-inch for Premier models)
PRICING
Base price: $25,130, including destination charge; price as tested, $28,560
Options on test vehicle: Power moon roof ($895); Comfort Package ($795) with power driver seat recliner, two-way power passenger seat, MP3 and CD six-disc changer audio upgrade; safety package ($595) of side air curtain with rollover sensor, front side air bags, traction control; reverse sensing system ($250); and leather-trimmed seats ($895).
Waranty: three-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper
Where assembled: Chicago
Coupe competition: Buick Lacrosse and Lucerne, Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300 and Nissan Maxima
PLUSES: Large interior, large trunk, large back seat area, large value.
MINUSES: Could use more horsepower and an automatic transmission that allows manual shifting for at least the perception of sportiness. Large outside mirrors give the big picture, but also can create blind spots.
Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at mark.maynard@uniontrib.com
