It’s been almost 10 years since the Mercury brand died out and we wouldn’t be surprised if no one really remembers it. For those who don’t know, Mercury was Ford’s “premier brand” for about 70 years, in which they provided consumers with more premium versions of Ford products. One such model was the Mercury Milan Hybrid, which was a comfortable and luxurious fuel-saving sedan that was forgotten when the brand eventually went extinct.

What is the Mercury Milan Hybrid?

The Mercury Milan Hybrid was only produced from 2010 to 2011 as its production cycle was cut short due to the Mercury brand being axed in the later part of 2010. The Milan Hybrid was the fuel-saving variant to the existing Milan sedan that was in production from 2006 to 2011. It was the cousin of the Ford Fusion and while it provided a lot of the same features, Milan presented a more luxurious and comfortable alternative.

Short life aside, the Milan Hybrid came at an interesting time in the automotive world. The Toyota Prius was comfortably gaining traction in the hybrid market and the Honda Insight had just been released in its second generation, so the public was used to seeing egg-shaped, spaceship-like hybrid cars. The Milan Hybrid, on the other hand, looked like a regular car, drove like a regular car, and even achieved a really good fuel economy at the time. Unfortunately though, only 2,884 Mercury Milan Hybrids were sold during the time that it was alive.

Somewhat ahead of its time

Nowadays, car interiors are filled with screens and virtual displays, but back in 2010, you would be lucky if a car came with a screen larger than five inches. In that case, the Milan Hybrid was actually somewhat ahead of its time in that the instrument panel had a single gauge pod in the middle with two screens that flanked it on either side. One screen displayed the fuel gauge –

which would fill with a gas-colored liquid – and the other showed the battery gauge which was depicted as a bar graph that would rise and fall depending on if it was being expelled or recharged.

The most fun part about the instrument panel was the fuel efficiency meter that was displayed as a bunch of vines that would grow leaves if you drove more efficiently. Drive less efficiently and the plant starts to die. Back in 2010, automakers were really trying to capitalize on the “earth friendliness” of hybrid cars.

It was comfortable

Aside from the Milan Hybrid’s sleeker exterior and eco-friendly technology, the interior was definitely a nice place to be. The leather seats were soft and it came with all of the creature comforts anyone would expect including auto climate control, heated seats, an available navigation system, and even a 110-volt outlet in the rear seat. So, you know, you can use your hairdryer back there.

It wasn’t powerful, but it was fuel-efficient

The Milan Hybrid’s powertrain consisted of a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that was paired up to a 106-horsepower electric motor and mated to a CVT transmission. Together, this combination was good for 191 horsepower and 0 to 60 runs of around 8.5 seconds. It wasn’t super quick, but the main highlight was that the Milan Hybrid drove like a normal car in that the switchover from the gas to the hybrid motor was smoother than others and the brake feel was more gradual as well.

As for fuel economy, the Milan Hybrid was rated at 41 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. They weren’t exactly Prius-level numbers, but drivers could easily expect close to 600 miles on a full tank of driving.

It’s forgotten, but still a good choice

The Mercury Milan Hybrid might be long gone, but they can still be found on the used market for $5,000 to $7,000 depending on the car’s mileage, condition, and location. However, it could be slim pickings since so few were originally sold. And while there are plenty of hybrid cars to choose from, the Milan Hybrid could be a luxurious alternative if you’re looking to save money on fuel.