'95 Ford Contour SEFord's Contour SE, with its powerful V-6 engine and BMW-like handling, can lure even the most diehard coupe enthusiasts into the sedan fold, especially with its aggressive body styling and front fascia. The refined Duratec engine feels faster than its 9.0-second 0-60-mph time due to its strong torque surge, which is delivered seamlessly without the high revs required of many other engines in its class. The deep, cloth bucket seats keep the driver planted during assertive maneuvers, but the large thigh bolsters have shown the need for a tilt wheel to ease ingress and egress. Back-seat legroom is limited when adults occupy the front seats, but if you think of the Contour as a sport coupe with four doors, it has reasonable accommodations for four. We visited the local Ford dealer to have an intermittent rattle quieted; tightening the rear shock towers solved the problem. Recently, an altercation with a curb had us limping on the spare to a nearby garage, where we had the undamaged tire remounted for only a dollar.
| Base price | $15,695 |
| Price as tested | $19,830 |
| Body style | 4-door, 5-pass. |
| Engine size/type | 2.5-liter V-6 |
| Transmission/driveline configuration | 4-speed auto./front engine, front drive |
| 0-60 mph, sec. | 9.0 |
| EPA mpg, city/highway | 22/30 |
| Total mileage | 8144 |
| Test mileage | 7867 |
| Fuel consumed, gal. | 364.0 |
| Fuel cost | $447.25 |
| Average mpg | 21.6 |
| Additional oil/cost | None |
| Routine maint. | $48.00 |
| Additional maint. | Warranty, $1.00 |
| Previous maint. | $49.08 |
| Problem areas | Transmission, |
| | rear brake |
| Total operating cost | $544.33 |
| Operating cost/mile | 6.9 |