Overview & Reviews
When the Mercury Montego first showed up in the late 1960s as a replacement for the popular Mercury Comet, it was meant to compete with the rising tide of imports. These Mercury sedans and coupes were larger than the Comet and offered additional performance and luxury variants. The Cyclone version was the division's entry in the then-popular muscle car segment. Under the skin, the Montego shared its platform with sister Ford division's Torino.
But by the mid-'70s, the Montego had grown considerably in size and was eventually discontinued. However, the Montego name wasn't without its successes; in the early '70s a Mercury Montego won several NASCAR races.
The Montego name was MIA throughout the 1980s and '90s. Then Mercury resurrected the Montego nameplate for the 2005 model year. It was still a clone of a Ford, however -- in this case the Five Hundred -- but with a different grille and taillights. Alas, this latest Montego revival was short-lived, as Mercury dropped the name and returned to the more well-known Sable moniker beginning with the 2008 model year.
Before its name change, the Mercury Montego didn't exactly light the large sedan segment on fire. However, it offered a roomy cabin and trunk, available all-wheel drive and an unusual elevated driving position, and its Volvo-derived underpinnings imbued it with a solid feel from the driver seat. If you find the Montego appealing, you're in luck -- low resale values make the Montego a bargain on the used-car market.
Most Recent Mercury Montego
The Mercury Montego large sedan remained largely unchanged during its brief existence. The Montego and its Ford twin, the Five Hundred, were built on a modified Volvo platform. Though it was never a segment leader, the big Mercury did have some interesting features. For example, it offered a notably high stance, which gave the driver a commanding view of the road similar to that of an SUV. The car also boasted a spacious rear seat and a large trunk with 21 cubic feet of storage space.
All Montegos came with a 3.0-liter V6 good for 203 horsepower. A six speed automatic was standard. Acceleration from this powertrain was adequate at best. Front-wheel or all-wheel-drive models were available. All-wheel-drive Montegos came with a constantly variable transmission (CVT). The six-speed automatic transmission performed decently, but the CVT was smoother and did a better job of keeping the engine in its power band.
What the Mercury Montego lacked in pure power, it partially made up for by offering engaging handling dynamics. It delivered both a comfortable around-town ride and a moderately sporty demeanor when the road turned twisty. The Montego's interior was also spacious and attractive. However, the quality of the materials was somewhat lacking when compared to the car's Japanese competitors.
Offered in two trim levels, Luxury (base) and Premier, this full-size Mercury was nicely equipped right out of the box. The Luxury came standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, HID headlights, foglights, dual-zone climate control and full power features including a six-way power driver seat.
The Premier added heated leather seating, wood-grain trim, an upgraded audio system and a two-person memory feature for the driver seat and mirrors. Exterior changes to the Premier included 18-inch wheels and perimeter lighting. Many of the Premier's upgraded features were available as options on the base Luxury trim.
Standard safety features included ABS, traction control, front and rear head curtain airbags, and front and rear side-mounted torso-protecting airbags. Stability control was not available on any Mercury Montego.
Past Mercury Montego Models With just a few years in production, the Montego received only minor changes after its 2005 introduction. For 2006, the Montego was endowed with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, and a DVD entertainment system and a navigation system were added to the options list. Bottom line: If you're looking for a used large sedan that prioritizes spaciousness over performance, there are worse choices. Moreover, the Montego's low resale value certainly adds to its appeal for shoppers on a budget. But if you're looking for a car that offers plenty of room along with spirited acceleration, you might want to consider other large sedans.
drives well. very comfortable. looks very nice. taillights can be seen from far away, good safety feature
I was somewhat worried when going to
test drive this car, mostly about how
it would accelerate. Turns out, its
completely fine, I put it to the test
on the highway and was perfectly
satisfied. Great Interior design,
Exterior design is where these cars
shine, they look great from all angles.
Handling is much better then I
thought, feels smaller than it is.
WOW! IT ONLY TOOK ME A FEW MINUTES TO
KNOW THIS WAS THE CAR FOR ME. "MERLOT"
IN COLOR I ADDED AN AFTER MARKET HIGH
END KENWOOD EXCELON NAVIGATION SYSTEM
WITH EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK!
THEN I ADDED ROXX CHROME WHEELS AND
TINTED THE WINDOWS. WHAT A CAR. THE
DEALERSHIP COULDNT KEEP OTHER PEOPLES
HANDS OFF IT AFTER MAKE READY. THIS
GOES HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE CHYSLER 300C
MINUS THE HEMI AND AT A MORE AFFORDABLE
PRICE. I WISHED IT HAD MORE POWER AS I
AM A V8 FAN BUT ALL IN ALL IT HAS SOME
GET UP AND GO THAT WILL MAKE ME HAPPY.
FINALLY, MERCURY (VOLVO ENGINEERS?) DID
A FANTASTIC JOB!
Purchased this car in 08 2006 ,125. mile tranny started slipping bought a used one to replace , , not expecting cars to last forever but this is a really nice car over all, when we had guest in it they said wow attorney doctor car , had all the options plus extra components handles well on gravel roads with out the abs, car almost drives it self it does get 2 to 25 mile on open road
This car has exceeded my expectations in terms of its performance and comfort. My 64" son can sit in the back without being cramped which says a great deal about the size of the interior. On the highway, the car holds it own and seems to command respect from other drivers. Also, its reassuring to press the accelerator to get an extra surge of power when needed. On top of everything else, the Mercury Montego is exceptionally beautiful. I am very happy with this car.
Excellent car. A lot of car for the money. Performs well, quiet and handle well. Kind of wild design. AWD is an excellent feature if you live in a cold climate.
This car was my first choice in 2005, and when I was finally was able to upgrade in 2006, I choose the Montego. Although I am leasing this one, I am not sure if I would purchase the "Sable". I dont care for the renaming of the car. Dont know why it had to be changed. "Montego" has a swinging sound and sounds classy and elegant. I find that the features that came standard are great. The price was also great at under 30,000.
Im a long-time car enthusiast, reading everything automotive & owning too many cars. For the 1st time ever, I had to buy a car for comfort over sportiness. After 3 mo. of research & test drives, the Montego w/employee discount + $1000 won me over. The "underpowered" blather in reviews is off- base...horsepower ratings are over- emphasized. Its funny, too, that the new SAE methodology for rating HP (stricter w/independent observer reqd) dropped the Camrys base V-6 from 210 to 190 HP, a car often compared to the Montego. Honda didnt rate the Accord V-6, but their other engines that have been rated dropped. Im getting high 20s for mpg, many compliments, & riding in comfort & style.
Traded my 1995 caddy in for this
stylish newcomer. Looks great, handles
very well and the gas mileage is very
acceptable on regular unleaded. The
interior is very roomy as I am over six
foot tall and need head and leg room.
All the little extras that come on this
premier model make it easy to like.
Highly recommend taking a test ride to
anyone taken by it good exterior
design. By the way, lifelong GM owner
who is very pleased with this Mercury!
I am extremely pleased w/ the design of the vehicle, it is comfortable for 4 adults and luggage. Also the gas mileage is very good - power on highway is adequate - traveling 75-80 on interstate. Very roomy interior and trunk is very large. Vehicle handles very well in traffic and responds well. sound system is very good and I am just plain very pleased with the vehicle after 12,000 miles. User Reviews:
Showing 111 through 120 of 186.00
By Linwood Farmer
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- July 2 - 10:00 am
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- May 20 - 10:00 am
By katcarving
- May 2 - 1:36 am
By 2005 Mercury Montego
- April 27 - 11:30 pm
By Don
- March 27 - 9:40 am
By Satisfied
- January 7 - 7:50 pm
By Better Fords
- December 8 - 1:23 pm
By privateograv
- October 12 - 2:00 am
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- September 3 - 7:50 pm
