The all-new Montego, based on the same platform as the Ford Freestyle, is really nothing at all like the Freestyle. And for this reviewer, that’s just fine. Montego stands on its own merits as a midsize car with a bit of ‘old’ style appeal. The most obvious statements of old school design are the chrome trimmed gauges and analog clock. But the satin finish aluminum on door trims, for instance, compliment Montego’s interior – an environment not over-adorned with knobs, buttons, screens, etc. Mercury Montego also recognizes that its prime buying audience likes to pack the trunk with golf clubs and groceries. And with a 21 cubic foot trunk (much more if rear seat and front passenger seat are folded flat), that’s a huge amount of space. Montego is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 that produces 203 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 207 pounds-feet torque at 4550 rpm. The front wheel drive Montego is far from being underpowered, but the car doesn’t race to higher speeds effortlessly. Engine mates to a six-speed automatic transmission from Aisin. The ride is relatively smooth, and most definitely there is an enormous amount of cabin space for passengers. One standout example is the 6.1 inches of knee clearance for rear seat riders. The Montego is peppered with standard fare, like Homelink garage opener, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, AM/FM/6-disc CD with MP3 player, 18-inch aluminum wheels, and heated driver’s seat with memory. Mile per gallon estimates are 21 city/29 highway. MSRP is $26,545.