To make the ride more compatible with American tastes, Ford has softened the suspension of both the Contour and the Mystique from the setup used in the Mondeo. Despite the adjustment, the Mystique delivers a very sporty feel and terrific response. The body stays level going around corners, and the steering is quick and accurate. We found the ride of our LS test car to be slightly on the firm side, though. The optional V6 engine displayed some real spirit. Even with an automatic transmission, its response was snappy, particularly in the middle range of engine speeds, when you want a burst of acceleration to pull out and pass. Another endearing feature of this engine is its maintenance schedule. Aside from regular oil changes, you shouldn't have to visit your dealer for the first 100,000 miles. In a segment of the market that's awash with good V6 engines, the new Con-tour/Mystique V6 stands out as one of the very best. It also has a side effect that might not be quite what Ford intended. Compared with the optional V6, the performance of the basic 2.0-liter 4-cylinder seems very ordinary.
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