Traction control, standard in the Millenia S and optional in the base model, can be switched off. That's a useful feature when, for instance, the car is being operated with snow chains. And speaking of winter, our test Millenia S was furnished with the optional 4-Seasons Package ($300). This grouping includes heated front seats, a heavy-duty wiper motor, a large-capacity wiper-fluid tank and two-position wipers. As in numerous cars, the Millenia's standard cruise control is accessed with a main off/on switch.
Front seating in the Millenia is excellent, with good bolstering and lateral support and a fully adequate range of electrical adjustment. The rear seats offer only average space, however, and flimsy-looking cargo netting is affixed to the rear of the front seats, a fashion that has come and gone. A major rear-compartment improvement in the '99, however, is the trunk pass-through feature incorporated in the rear fold-down center armrest. This makes it easy to load a pair of skis or other long items into the car.
The Millenia S's leather upholstery is utterly first-quality, buttery and rich. The center panels of the seat cushions and backs are elegantly gathered to give the interior living-room sumptuousness. The whole is finished in gentle earth tones that are understated without being mud-hut maudlin. Next Page