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.
I like the size at 200" it fits into the garage much better than my F150. The ride is smooth but not at Cadilac standards. The sound system is good but could use a sub-woofer -- and an amp. Watch out of large bumps and dips. The wheele travel is short and bottoms out quickly. The seats offer good support but are by no means sport buckets -- more for comfort which they do very well.
This car really takes the bumps & railroad tracks nicely. Its very solid feeling and it has great acceleration. The interior is very roomy. The dash is impressive and I particularly like the analog clock, it seems classy. The trunk is quite large and the vertical grill is cool. And what makes this car all-the-more sweeter, itÂ’s assembled in America with 86% American parts. Ford Motor got the Montego right!
The first thing I noticed was the power.Getting on the freeway It is slow.Also the audio system sounds a little cheap.Be fore this car I drove a 04 Sable that was much quicker and the audio system was better. Other than that it is a nice car and my friends think it is too.So far I have had two small problems with the car. During a trip of 200 miles I was getting 28+ MPG.At 70 MPH
Wanted the all wheel drive, but concerned about fuel mileage. This car exceeds all expectations on mileage so far. Car handles great and CVT is terrific. It seems a little slow from dead start, but it gets going pretty quick so Im not sure what the complaints are about. If youre looking for neck snapping performance, this wont give it to you, but room, comfort, style and economy all together make this a great choice. Looks good in most of the available colors.
Bought this car with only 18,000 miles! I just love having factory warranty. I get 29 city and 33 highway, and on one trip that was 4 hours, I got 36 MPG. I even checked it at the pump against what the computer said, and they were both dead on! I live in the great white north, so on the cold mornings, the heated seats are a plus, and I have lots of heat. My last vehicle was a 99 Taurus, and I had to get the heater core flushed every year in order to have heat. My daughter has the same problem with her Taurus of the same year. The moonroof is awsome. I use the vent feature the most and it is open even on the cold mornings on my drive to work. This is an amazing car!
I love the car. Bought it as a family car. The warranty expired, the car began having electrical problems with its climate controls and the heating seat. Heating seat will no longer work. Climate control will keep switching from leg, to window, to etc, all by itself. I still love the car. Driving stability on the road is awesome, the car corners very well without wobbling like others. Its also very quiet on the road. I can fit the stroller and groceries into the trunk with more than enough space left over.
Bought the Premier version, Merlot exterior w/ two tone tan interior. Car is a wonderful driver, there is plenty of hp for the everyday driver, maybe not for hp junkies. Very pleasant ride and is optioned out nicely. The HID lights are a plus at night. 18 inch wheels are attractive, but harder to clean with the multiple spokes. Getting a comfortable setting on the seats is easy and the available memory seat is great. A fine automobile, try it.
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.
we found the interior more attractive and of better quality than the Ford 500, Somewhat sporty drive with "firm" suspension. Mercury Salesmen are better informed about the car & had better choices. In the past, we have found the Mercury service departments to be very good. Price was comparable to "500" and good in this period of "employee type" discounts. better trunk space & controls than our "Avalon" User Reviews:
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