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 previous owner of vehicles by Mazda, Saab, Toyota, etc., I was pretty much conditioned to believe that American cars were inferior. My experience with my Montego FWD Premier has changed all of that. This is a very nice car!!! The exterior appearance speaks for itself; it exudes class. The interior is very elegant as well; I particularly like the two-tone leather and audiophile radio. The safety features (I have the safety package option)are world class. I traded in a Pontiac GTO (built by Holden in Australia) on this car. Coming off a 350 HP car and reading the stinging criticism of this car being underpowered, I havent found anything to be concerned about! Its a non-issue
In past years we have driven Mercury Grand Marques but more recent we drove a Ford Windstar(2002). It was large and intimidating for the wife so it was traded for the Montego. The Montego has more room than the GM, a little shorter also, and rides great. The gas mileage is "right on the money" what the advertised numbers are. The complaint of being "underpowered" is overstated. We are not buying this vehicle for the "drag-strip" but for comfortable and fairly economical family sedan which it is.
I looked around a lot. Was looking at the 300C. Not worth the $12,000 extra for the hemi. This has been a fun car to drive. Its really well put together and handles great.
Nice car, lots of options on the Premier. Handling is solid and power from the 3.0 V6 is very good. Not what the reviewers say. If you want super performance, buy a Mustang GT. Very happy with it. Comfortable too.
Despite the fact that the original dealer went belly-up last year, we still love our Montego. Its by far the most comfortable vehicle weve ever had - or will have. It has been totally problem free except for a recall to replace the rear disk brakes at no cost to us. Were really saddened to see the Mercury brand go away and would love to find another vehicle that has the tremendously comfortable seating of the Montego.
I am happy with it, but it is now my
wifes car. The lack of get up and go
after pushing the accelerator just
wasnt worth it. I need more power than
that, and with it coming with Pirelli
Tires and 18" rims, I was deceived at
first sight. The Montego is a nice
vehicle to look at and is ultra roomy.
Ive never been in a Ford/Mercury
vehicle with this many features for such
a low price. The price was obviously
put into the interior/exterior over the
performance. I was told that the AWD
model has even less torque. The wife,
who doesnt mind the lack of power,
enjoys it though, as will many that
dont have a huge need for horsepowers.
Currently my 05 mercury is in the shop with a bad strut mount. I have gingerly gone over bumps so to not have this problem. Im in my early 40s and have driven cars up to 225,000 miles, and never needed to buy a strut mount. The gas mileage is also so, so, Ive been getting about 19 city, and possibly 26 highway. Boy my next car is going to be a Toyota.
So far it has been just what I wanted. I have three grandchildren and they fit in it just fine, car seats and all. I also work out of my car and the seat going down in the back makes life much easier for me.
The ride is very comfortable. My wife and I like the way the adjustable seating works. We both like the looks of the interior and exterior of the car. I like the view one gets while driving. We only have 3000 miles driven, but we are very pleased with the car so far.
I bought a low-end model for less than
$24K; priced about the same as a Sable
wagon, but much nicer. Even the
popular priced model has many luxury
appointments, a quiet, controlled ride
and smooth transmission. Im 64" tall
and need lots of headroom and legroom.
This car has it in abundance, plus a
huge trunk. It wont seat six
passengers like the Grand Marquis, but
its design, styling, interior
appointments and ride are much more up-
to-date. If this new model proves to
be reliable, then Mercury has a real
winner. User Reviews:
Showing 21 through 30 of 186.00
By ejko
- January 7 - 4:30 pm
By Montego
- January 6 - 1:06 pm
By Young40
- November 27 - 3:30 am
By VOORHEES
- October 17 - 11:40 pm
By Denali89107
- September 11 - 5:33 pm
By jdesir
- August 24 - 10:00 am
By montego crap
- August 1 - 11:00 pm
By 2005 mercury montego
- July 27 - 5:06 pm
By R. Long
- April 21 - 3:53 pm
By Lewis
- January 21 - 1:10 pm
