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 have had my montego for 5 years and have 145,000 miles on it. I have had no trouble with this car. I hoping to keep it this car for 4 more years and give it to my daughter.
The Montego is well thought out, excellant vision all around, forward, backing, lots of storage compartments, ease of entry/exit, leg room for rear seating is supurb, better than Town Car, trunk space plus fold down seats provides great carrying capacity, pick- up is more than adequate, CVT is great in conjunction with traction control, AWD. Air intake below windshield is designed so that leaves and debris are not sucked in. Braking feels effortless and comfortable. Trunk hinges are designed so they dont intrude into trunk space. Near chair height seats are comfortable and provide good forward view. The designers of the vehicle were careful in covering most all details.
Bought car gently used, was like new. No surprise the 6 cyl. isnt great around town, but not real bad. The great surprise is I have gotten up to almost 33 mpg on expressway trips, and believe avg might be better with longer trips! So give it a try! See if the gas needle stays put, on a fast half hour ride!
Now at 105,000 miles with very little problems. The car still looks and runs like new. The Montego is a full size car in a mid-size body. Only complaint is noise. There is a lot of engine and road noise.
After my children grew up and after driving several vans for 22 years, I finally have a car that I can call my own. I enjoy the features, the controls on the steering wheel, automatic/dual heating/cooling system, the 6 CD changer, etc. So far the mileage in town has been 23+, much better than my vans. The ride and handling is comfortable and smooth. I especially picked this car because of its volvo design and engineering, especially the safety features and elevated seating. I just wish it had side curtain/side impact airbags as a standard feature. I think american automakers are missing the boat, not including these features.
This is by the nicest car for the price, and I am including small BMW. It is very solid and rides like a car double the price.
This car has great handling and great ride quality. The build quality is also better than that of Japanese competitors. It just needs a better engine.
I just returned from a 500 mile trip to North Carolina, driving my new AWD Merc Montego. It is a joy to drive on the road and through the mountains. Very comfortable both in the front and back seat area. With 4 adults in the car, we felt uncrowded. The trunk is enormous and held all of our luggage with ease. All in all, it is a great car for travel.
Handles nice. Roomy interior with very comfortable seating. Very roomy in front & back seat. Large trunk at a nice height for putting in ad removing items. Car seems to have the best features of a car that sits tall like a van.
The Montego rides comfortably and quiet with a well designed interior and large trunk capacity. Much quieter ride than my previous Lincoln LS. Good visibility with its higher seat confiduration with ample room in the back. Very pleased with the vehicle. User Reviews:
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