Mercury Monterey comes with only one engine, the bigger of the two offered on the Freestar. Its 4.2-liter V6 delivers 201 horsepower and 263 pounds-feet of torque. It doesn't measure up to the horsepower of the new Nissan Quest, rated at 240 horsepower, nor the redesigned Toyota Sienna at 230 horsepower, though torque is competitive. Torque is that force that propels you from intersections and up hills when you have a full load of passengers, so torque is important.Monterey's four-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Ford claims consumer research showed minivan buyers didn't care if it was a four- or five-speed, which others, including the Honda Odyssey and even the Kia Sedona have, as long as shifts were smooth. The Monterey Premier we tested was extremely quiet, on par with the new Toyota Sienna. Its ride is smooth, its power is adequate, and steering and handling are responsive.
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