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.
This is the best car Ive ever owned. Former owner of: 99 Contour SE Sport 00 Cougar v6 00 F-150 Lariat 5.4 liter v8 01 Taurus SEL 01 Cougar v6 02 Cougar v6 35th aniversary edition Currently own 05 Mercury Montego Premier 03 Mercury Mountaineer Premier Without a doubt, the best performance & handling (not to mention space) Ive ever seen in a sedan. This one is for keeps folks! A real winner for the road ahead. 30 y/o male in Houston, TX
Auto is smooth riding, no wind noise, i like the cvt transmission you never feel when it shifts, cup holders are to close to each other that could be improved mileage is good for a car of this size
We have been totally satisfied with our Montego. Driving at 65 MPH on an interstate, we have gotten 31.5 MPG. At 70 MPH, it goes down to 27 MPG. City driving makes it go down to 25 MPG. The height of the seats make getting in and out of the car extremely easy. We are both tall, so the more than ample length seats are a plus. Like all Ford products, the car corners fantastically. The 5-star safety rating is yet another plus.
This is our stealth car. You really hardly notice it, not a flashy spot on it (except the headlights). But if you want Comfort, driving Ease, Plenty of Room, and a Quiet Ride, the Mercury Montego is Fantastic! Unbeatable! Quieter than our friends Jaguar - by far. And amazingly easy to park, although it is not necessarily a Long car, just Big. We added the heated seats and we love them. Standard sound system is OK, but most people will probably want the upgrade. Drive one. Check out the view. Ours is Satellite Silver, very nice.
Purchased the car mainly for the Mrs. where safety and comfort were a top priority. It has more than exceeded my expectations. I had a Milan as a loner car for about a week and when I picked up the Montego and drove it home the difference noted in just about every aspect of driving was amazingly better. A day/night difference and an eye opener to the quality built into the Montego. Took the Mrs. about a week to get used the CVT which she now raves about.
I finally got to take a 3000-mile drive through Wa, Idaho, Montana and Oregon with my 2005 Premier AWD. This is a great long-trip car in the Ford tradition. Comfort and 27-mpg over every type of rural and urban terrain with the CVT tranny. The Duratec V-6 performed more than adequately throughout the trip. Its a little slow at the get-go, but is fine at higher speeds, so dont be put off by hot rod auto magazine editors. A very civilized car with great content, quality and comfort for the money. Nothing so wrong with "modern maturity" as one reviewer wrote.
Looks great, many compliments on style and appearance. Drives and handles great, short turning radius, positive steering. Sit tall front seats with excellent visibility. Extra roomy back seat and trunk (two couples or family with luggage should be able to travel together. Neat hooks in trunk to hold grocery bags upright. Side doors close quietly. Audio seat belt reminder.
This is my 9th car and I can say that it it truly the best Ive ever owned. The amenities are great, it feels good and I look good in it. It is a joy to pull up in the gas station and someone asks about my car. All my cars have been Ford/Mercury, except for one drastic mistake I made when I was much younger. But since then been grown I stay in the Ford/Mercury line!
The rear-warnng beeper saved a childs life. I was parked, nothing apparently behind. Shifted into reverse and got warning signal. Parents had allowed small child to walk ahead, and behind my Montego. I stopped, shifted to neutral, got out of car, and saw 2 to 3 yr old behind car. After telling parents of their stupidity, I thanked God that I had purchased this car.
The 2005 Mercury Montego has it all; style (inside and out), roomy interior, comfort, economy, safety, enormous trunk, handles well on the road, a pleasure to drive with its quiet ride and ease of handling, has power when needed. It is an all around GREAT car. I am proud to be an owner. User Reviews:
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