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 PURCHASED A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO NOT
A 2004.
AUTO IS COMFORTABLE TO ENTER, HANDLES
WELL AND IS PEPPY.
Our quick trip from central California to eastern Arizona put the Montego on its first real test and it passed with flying colors. Cruising at 77 mph we were getting 29.8 mpg; the entire trip through deserts, mountains and cities (over 1600 miles) averaged 25.4. The comfort was more than expected. We have the AWD which proved great during a snow storm in Pinetop/Lakeside. We shopped around before making a decision and we believe so far this was the right decision. Anyone looking for a luxury (?) car without paying into the range of $40-55K should try the Montego. Try the AWD with the CVT transmission......highly recomended!!!!!
Car is fun to drive. I have owned a few vehicles in my day, but this vehicle is one of the best I have ever driven. It is responsive, visibility is great. Great, Great vehicle.
Montego is everthing as advertised; exact mileage, comfort and solid feel. Plus, you feel safe because of all the safety features. * Only would have like a GPS mapping system navigation on board !
We purchased the Montego for our second home in Florida. This is the first American car for us in many years - we expect better than average in every aspect. The comfort and versatility of this car are tough to match anywhere near the <$22k that we paid. It delivers loads of space, very comfortable leather seats, a factory incentive, and 24 mpg average in mixed driving. We are happy and impressed.
I knew this was the right car for me as soon as I sat down in the drivers seat. The comfort of the seat, the position of the wheel and pedals, the layout of the switches on the steering wheel, the large door mirrors, and the view of the road are all so superior to the competitions product. Ive received compliments on the rear seats, too. Even though I have the drivers seat moved back, adults have plenty of foot room. The engine has plenty of power for normal city and freeway driving, and the CVT transmission is so smooth! Handling and braking are exceptional - helped by the large wheels and tires.
Inside noise level is very low. The driver seat adjustment has enough travel room to satisfy most any driver. Traction control is great in keeping the car level in any kind of quick turns. This new Transmission does a great job with no feel that the engine, transmission ratio is changing. I think this is the best automobile that Ford has come up with by using some of Volvo proven designs.
I continue to be impressed with the car overall. The fuel mileage has steadly increased from 21.8 during winter driving around town to as high as 24. Highway mileage is 26 to 31+. This mileage is accurate as I compute the mileage every fillup. The awd is fantastic. I drove through snow that was coming over the hood and never lost traction. The low end torque makes it possible to start off without spinning the tires on ice and heavy wet snow. The defrosting is great even with the heavy snow in very poor visibility. The stability and control is better than all the 4 wheel drive vehicles I have had in over 50 years of driving.
This is really a nice car. Moved from a Linclon LS to this. The engine is a little underpowered but this is a very comfortable car to ride in and it has tons of room and lots of leg room. The interior is well appointed. I already have two door dings which may be caused by the increased height of the vehicle, but overall, it is well designed, very comfortable and attractive.
the montego has enough power for me. a bigger engine would be good for power buffs, but this vehicle will get up and scat pretty darn good. the only thing i wish it would have would be the power seat on the passenger side to adjust up and down. otherwise the seats are good. i love the height of the seats in the car, great visabilty. the car handles very ggod on wet pavement . on dry it has a tendency for a little understeer. my friend has the cvt with awd and it is fantastic. the volvo haldex system is probably the best on the market today and am glad that ford is using it on the 500 and the montego. to sum this up, a great car for the ride and price, roomy nad comfortable. User Reviews:
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