Overview & Reviews

Mercury was a division of Ford Motor Company marketed as being somewhat more upscale than Ford. Throughout the latter part of its 71-year history, Mercury's vehicles were essentially Fords with unique styling details and special features meant to enhance their desirability relative to similar Ford products.

It all started in the 1930s, when Edsel Ford, Henry Ford's son, saw an opportunity to create an additional brand within the Ford hierarchy, one that would exist between the everyman Ford Deluxes and premium Lincoln Zephyrs. To achieve this, Edsel felt the vehicles of this new brand should offer distinctive styling along with innovative features and better capabilities. He named the new division "Mercury," after the Roman mythological god. The 1939 Mercury Eight was the division's first car. It distinguished itself from similar Ford products via a 95-horsepower engine that offered 10 more horses than the Ford V8.

The Eight proved to be a hit, with more than 155,000 sold by the early 1940s. Production stopped during World War II; after the war, the brand was realigned more closely with Lincoln. The company grew from strength to strength in the '50s, establishing itself as a maker of vehicles offering style, performance and cutting-edge technology. A dash of glamour was added to the automaker's image when James Dean appeared onscreen in a Mercury in the film Rebel Without a Cause.

The 1960s saw the introduction of Mercury's Comet and Meteor vehicles. The Comet featured diminutive dimensions and luxury accoutrements, while the Meteor was a midsize family car that followed the trend toward more reasonably sized cars. Racetrack wins boosted awareness of the Comet and helped the model make a big splash in terms of sales. By the end of the decade, the iconic Mercury Cougar, a variation of the Mustang, had been rolled out, its Eliminator version taking its place in the pantheon of legendary early muscle cars.

Hit hard by that decade's oil crisis, consumers during the 1970s were hungry for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Mercury responded with a new, smaller Comet and the Bobcat, the former a fancier version of the Ford Maverick, the latter a fancier version of the Ford Pinto. The brand's sales grew during a decade that was filled with turbulence and uncertainty for many competing marques. Mercury further expanded its lineup in the '80s, this time including the small, Ford Escort-based Lynx. Mercury enjoyed success with the 1986 launch of the Sable, a fraternal twin to the Ford Taurus whose sleek, aerodynamic lines and futuristic "light bar" front end styling set it apart from the Ford.

Mercury's sales hit an all-time high during the 1990s that would never again be matched. Minivans and SUVs were a big reason for that as Mercury introduced its Villager minivan and Mountaineer SUV. Late that decade it introduced a new Cougar, which differed from its predecessors by being a front-drive sport compact that also holds the distinction of being the last Mercury that wasn't a rebadged Ford.

The years following the new millennium were challenging for the brand, as changing consumer tastes and a lack of differentiation between Mercury and Ford vehicles hurt sales. Pundits often proclaimed the end of Mercury was near, but Ford kept stating it would keep Mercury around despite offering no hope for any unique future vehicles from the brand. Finally in 2010, Ford pulled the plug on Mercury, putting an end to more than 70 years of car-making heritage.

User Reviews:

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  2007 Mecury Mariner Hybrid - 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Jim - October 19 - 2:13 pm

  We love our car, comfort, turning radius, excellent visibility. Fuel mileage runs 26 in town and 33 mpg on the highway. The front wheel drive is great and when it is needed 4x4 is seamless. We needed a car that will climb an 8% grade coming from our driveway. This has served us way better than all wheel drive. The body is nice and tight the doors close with no effort. Our car is front wheel drive with auto 4X4 when needed not AWD.

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  My 2nd Baby - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By Cougar1999 - October 18 - 1:06 pm

  I just got the car and so far have only two complaints about it. 1... The sagging doors. Pins cannot be replaced I have to actually buy complete hinges for it. 2... The sun/moonroof clips broke and its impossible to find parts for this car. My Cougar currently has 200,650 miles on it with a five-speed V6 and runs strong. The computer claims 27.3mpg so Im going to actually perform my own calculations to see if its correct or not. Car is a good car and I intend on putting many many more miles on it. Maybe Ill make 300k who knows!!

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  Nice looking car, Major Problems - 1997 Mercury Sable
  By bobsfl - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Hey, The car is a nice looking car and very comfortable, but I think I must have purchased a lemon. Starting at 20K miles the A/C went, then at 30K the A/C went again, then at 60K the Transmission went, Then at 75K the A/C went again, 80K the alternator went, 100K the engine went....and the list continues. I wrote ford and they were like tough luck. I have never missed an oil change and have always kept up on the so called preventative maintenance. That didnt seem to prevent anything... Anyways be careful with this car.

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  Best, safest, ride ever! - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By TCS7777 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  The coupling of a V-8 with a great shifting automatic, equates to sheer power! Besides the Performance, there is safety, that goes way beyond dual air bags. With Side curtin protection and great view of the road, I feel safer in this vehicle than any I have ever owned! I would put this Mountaineer against any vehicle on the road today!

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  Like the vehicle - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Richard Keller - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Takes the bumps a little hard. I compare the ride to a Donali which I have driven but do not own. I guess price does make a difference.

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  My 3 Mountaineers - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By MaryJ - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd Mountaineer, i started leasing them in 96 when the 97 first was available, i will be leasing my 4th very soon, this is the best sport utility, with class, comfort, sporty, luxury and very safe and dependable. I am very pleased with this SUV and the dealership i lease from. If you want comfort, reliability, and style this is the sport utility for you, I cant wait to be in my 4th one, they just keep getting better!

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  Surprised, really won me - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By axeman - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Very simply, when my wife said she had been car shopping and selected the Mountaineer, I thought she was joking. She wasnt and this vehicle has performed wonderfully. We like the style design and comfort. Of the many different brands test driven, this has the best and most quiet ride of those in its class.

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  Love my Hybrid - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By rollin_steel - October 16 - 8:23 am

  When stuck in traffic I know Im not pumping carbon into the air in this already polluted city! $3,000 tax credit this year this model!! Drives like a small SUV but really seems roomy inside. Easy to park. Lots of storage, Comfortable interior designed with tall people in mind! very quiet ride! I only have 1200 miles on it so not totally broken in and Im getting about 29-30 mph in the city on average. Im still learning not to hop off the line (jack rabbit starts) smoother means better mph!

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  2008 Mewrcury Milan V-6 - 2008 Mercury Milan
  By Allen Joyner - October 15 - 3:13 pm

  Great car. We like it better than my wifes 2007 Toyota Camry. Handles well, spirited acceleration yet decent gas mileage considering. The new 6 speed automatic transmission a real plus.

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  Youve got to be kidding! - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Disappointed - October 15 - 6:30 am

  I recently acquired a 2008 Mariner with 25K miles. I could not imagine a more uncomfortable and noisy vehicle. The vehicle is extremely loud as the variable drive whines and the engine roars when engaged. The car in general is just loud. This car is loaded with leather, NAV, etc and it is extremely uncomfortable. I have a 25 mile one-way commute and I can not get to my destination fast enough. The only good comment I can provide is that the gas mileage is great as I am averaging 29+ consistently. Test drive and compare to other vehicles in this category thoroughly before you decide (btw, this is the brother to the Ford Escape and I would expect a similar experience)