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 all round automobile that I have owned in a long time. It is fun to drive and very confortable. I love the trunk. I have been pleased with the fuel economy for such a large car. I think that Mercury has a real winner with this one.
Very solid, i also have a 04 town car, this has less wind noise. holds the road well,power ok, i would be happy with a few more horses. interior space is great. we wanted cloth seats, they are comfortable, but the leather version seems a bit wider, rear seat belts are hard to insert. headlights very bright, but have a short distance. local gas mileage good, should be better at highway speeds.
About a week ago i purchased a 07 Montego and its awesome. it has great features like HID Headlights and LED Tailights and a Navigation System and Sirius Satellite Radio and dual power heated Command Seating and a powerful DOHC 24V V6 Engine. And the interior has room galore and so does the trunk and the 18" Rims and Tires look awesome and the dark blue paint looks great along with the all black leather interior. oh and i almost forgot the rear seat DVD system is awesome if you go on trips or if you have kids and along with the smooth quiet ride you have got a great luxury sedan that is sure to win your heart and soul and sure to impress your family and friends GREAT job Mercury !!!!
Very good quality auto, ride is very smooth, power is ok. plenty of torque for hill driving. great auto and fun to drive. gas milage very good for auto of this size. 25 mpg should get better when broken in
I bought this automobile to get a car with space. My wife and I travel alot and the roominess is a strong plus. The large trunk gives us space for golf clubs and 2 large bags and four medium size bags. six speed trans mission, 18 inch wheels are a real plus. We get 29 miles/gal on the highway. 6disc changer, moon roof leaves plenty of head room in this car. So far, 65000 miles and only general maintenance has been done.
Main reason to switch from the Aviator was to get a high performance car that would get me more miles per gallon. Montego does just that from 10 mph to 21 mph city and 27 mph. Just the way one drives gets that. I did not want to give up many extras but are satisified with what the features have. The seating is quite comofortable and like the way the recliner is at best. Even my gas station asks me where Ive been so this definitely was a solid decision I made when selecting the car, also a Ford man. The smoothness with which the car performs is impressive to me. Firm and glides beautifully on the roads. Like the structure and more important the safety devices attached to the car.
This is a fantastic vehicle. Combination of AWD and CVT is a great package. Acceleration is smooth, strong, and swift. I have a 60 mile daily expressway commute - Montego is a great highway cruiser as well as an excellent stop-and-go city vehicle. Very comfortable. HUGE trunk. Extremely roomy interior with very classy styling. 18" spoked wheels, HID headlamps, LED tail lights, waterfall grille, and nicely placed chrome are all very attractive features that add luxurious and stylish touches to the car. The "Command Seating" is a GREAT design - the higher seating position gives a great view of the road. Smooth and enjoyable driving experience. Give this one a test drive. Enjoy!
On 1-17-05 traded a 03 TC for a new Montego. On 1-18 left on a 3 wk. roundabout trip to AZ. Returned with 6,500 miles on the clock. Cold, hot, desert, mountains, snow,and ice. Driving was a pleasure, AWD was great. My wife is 5 tall and she could see fine. Had no problems whatever with the vehicle. Ford has finally got it about right. The engine is strong but it does work getting up to speed. but with the CVT it is an adequate performer. Averaged 26.2 MPG on a new vehicle and we both have heavy feet. CVT is same unit as Audi uses, AWD is Volvo. More comfortable and enjoyable to drive than the TC. Handling is more positive and it dosent have the TC seat from hell.
I switched from GM products to Ford products way back in the 80s when I had to work on different cars. I had a 2001 Sable and wanted a car with warranty for my wife. This car blows me away. The AC controls that allow balance side to side or front to rear, the auto seat setting that sets per which remote control is used, the backup sensors, the big mirrors make backing up a pleasure, the radio that adjust sound level to speed, the fold down back and front passenger seat that allows long packages, the message center that tells all about the car, the steering wheel controls for cruise and radio, plus the 5 star safety rating...plus buying it used, what a deal and I got 100K of warranty!
As a Professional Engineer with many years of automotive experience I find my 2005 Mercury Montego,Premier FWD, to be of excellent balance between fuel economy and performance. After 7600 miles of driving I averaged 28.5 mpg HWY and 20.2 mpg city. The inside space and trunk size is best in class, overall quality is excellent,as is the driving and handling performance. For those who complain about engine size and power, I suggest get yourself a sports car and disqualify yourself commenting on an excellent family car,which is very appropriate considering current gas prices ! User Reviews:
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