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.
As a Professional Engineer with many years of automotive experience I find my 2005 Mercury Montego,Premier FWD, to be of excellent balance between fuel economy and performance. After 7600 miles of driving I averaged 28.5 mpg HWY and 20.2 mpg city. The inside space and trunk size is best in class, overall quality is excellent,as is the driving and handling performance. For those who complain about engine size and power, I suggest get yourself a sports car and disqualify yourself commenting on an excellent family car,which is very appropriate considering current gas prices !
this is our first full size car in 17 years. we had three minivans in the interim. nice driving car. sure holds a lot in the trunk.
Comfortable to drive and ride in. Lots of room for luggage and passengers. A really good car for everyone seeking safety, economy, comfort and dependability. I have owned several town cars and this car is equal or better than the town car. The size is perfect for driving and parking in heavy traffic and mall parking lots. I can not understand why mercury has not promoted this car the way it deserves. I will recommend this car to anyone.
I was looking for a bigger car, really an SUV, but when I started looking I realized I couldnt afford it. So I saw the Montego and at first I was unsure but after I drove it and tested it to the max its wonderful, great on gas, roomy, and of course with the leather its perfect. It rides smooth and quite comfortable I must say. So if you are looking for a car the Montego is a great way to go.
I picked the Montego after exhaustive research and trying a number of different new vehicles. We needed a second car after buying the 2007 Acura TL. The Montego, a fully equipped AWD/CVT model with all the bells and whistles, has been superb, and from the standpoint of inital quality upon ownership, completely trouble free, more trouble free than the well regarded Acura TL, which was in the shop more than half the time the first 6 weeks to replace the a/c compressor which failed because someone had neglected to install some required seals during its build. The seating position is outstanding, view in every direction excellent, ride sure footed and stable, and fit and finish first rate.
Since all of the test drives were done in the daytime, we didnt realize that there were no daytime driving lights until after the final deal. I like DTDLs especially for overcast and rainy days. I like to be seen. The interior is great except that there is no automatic unlock feature when you put the car in park. I did notice this before but thought it was minor. My mistake, very inconvenient. Did have the emissions light come on during a trip, took it to a Ford garage but they couldnt look at it for about 4 days. Couldnt even tell me if it was OK to drive. Very poor customer service IMO. As it turned out the gasket on the gas cap was bad. Dont like the gas cap design. Hard to use.
This car is unbelievable! Im 36 years old and NEVER in my life would have thought Id own a Mercury, but this car converted me. I was shopping for an upscale sedan that was good-looking, fun to drive, well-built and could carry people in comfort. I looked at everything from Audis and BMWs to Toyotas and Hondas, but NONE of them compared to this car. The Montego has European ride and handling with Japanese build quality! Sure its not as exciting on the outside as some of the others, but it is very elegant looking and the interior far surpasses them in style, quality, and comfort. Ive driven nothing but imports for 15 years and I have to say, this is the best car Ive ever owned.
Replaced a Ford Windstar that was too large for the wife. She loves this vehicle. I now have my truck back.
I went into my search expecting to go with one of the Japanese sedans, but quickly found they all have a center console that juts into the leg room of the middle backseat passenger -- so they were eliminated. I bought mine 3 summers ago -- now with the warranty set to expire, I wondered: do I keep it or trade it in? My answer -- keep it, I like it so much. When the Montego crossed my radar, it met or exceeded every criteria -- very roomy interior, good gas mileage (31mpg on a recent hiway trip), trunk that can hold many sets of golf clubs, sun roof, cvt, awd. And the price was very reasonable. I feel a little luxury every time I drive it, and I didnt overpay.
I love my new car. It drives wonderfully. Nice and roomy inside, but doesnt appear too big from the outside. User Reviews:
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