Introduction

Ford Contour combines sporty driving dynamics with the comfort and practicality of a four-door sedan. The Contour comes standard with a V6 engine. Ride and handling were improved last year. It doesn't have the rear-seat space of a Taurus, but Ford improved rear legroom two years ago and revised the styling. Contour SVT pours on the coal with a higher output version of the Duratec V6, a sports suspension and bigger brakes.

Walkaround

The Contour looks like a Ford with its classic jellybean styling. The organic styling of the Ford Contour is attractive. The smooth, rounded lines meld into an elegant shape that is pleasing to the eye. It's also an aerodynamic shape that contributes to lower fuel economy and reduced wind noise. It looks a bit dated at this point, however, having been introduced more than four years ago. The Contour blends easily into the traffic, so consider a yellow Mustang if you want to attract a lot of attention. A less radical approach would be to buy an SVT Contour. It comes with a unique front fascia with round fog lamps, rear valance panel, rocker sill extensions, grille texture, and stainless steel exhaust tips. The front fascia includes ducting to improve the cooling system's performance. SVT Contour is available in Black Clearcoat, Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic, Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic and Tropic Green Clearcoat Metallic.

Interior Features

Contour's interior design was influenced by Ford's European designers. The interior looks sculpted, cozy and warm. The dashboard flows gracefully into the door panels. The layout is practical, clean and logical. Controls are located right where you'd expect them to be. Switches have a solid, dependable feel. Gauges are more than adequate in size, well-lighted and easy to read. We give special praise to the placement of both the radio and climate control switches. You don't have to go stretching to change stations or turn the heat up on a cold winter's drive. Our only criticism is with the audio system buttons themselves, which are undersized and hard to operate when the car is moving. Also, the cupholders are shallow and don't work as well as they should. During the past five years, Ford's engineers have improved seals and other areas to reduce noise. The front bucket seats are first rate, comfortable and supportive. They offer plenty of room, even for taller drivers, with a wide range of adjustments including height. Adjustable shoulder harnesses contribute further to comfort. Ford increased rear legroom a couple of years ago by scooping out the front seatbacks and making subtle adjustments to the rear seat cushions. Still, rear headroom remains on the short side, due to the swooping roofline. SVT Contour features perforated leather on all seating surfaces available in Midnight Blue or Prairie Tan. It comes with a great leather-wrapped steering wheel along with a leather-covered shifter boot and shift knob. A specially designed driver's seat features 10-way power adjustment, including power lumbar. The front seat's lateral bolstering is accentuated on both the seat cushion and the seatback. The rear seat bottom cushions have been given greater bolstering to more firmly hold the two outboard passengers.