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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  Nice Car - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By REK - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I use my car for field service work, so I am in it all day. It is comfortable, gets as good mileage as my old Contour 4 cyl, and feels solid and is squeek free at 20k miles. I have had no problems with mine at all. A friend who has a 2000 Sable had the vibration problem some have mentioned, but he said the problem disappeared when he got new tires.

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  Good Vehicle - 2001 Mercury Villager
  By A Curry - June 2 - 8:33 pm

  We purchased this van since it was being discontinued, because it is very easy to get in and out of, unlike most vans. I am a short person, with a disability from polio and this van is perfect for me to enter and exit from. I wish they had continued to make this van as it is a very good vehicle.

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  Montego vs Ford 500 - 2006 Mercury Montego
  By cincinnati - June 2 - 1:26 pm

  we found the interior more attractive and of better quality than the Ford 500, Somewhat sporty drive with "firm" suspension. Mercury Salesmen are better informed about the car & had better choices. In the past, we have found the Mercury service departments to be very good. Price was comparable to "500" and good in this period of "employee type" discounts. better trunk space & controls than our "Avalon"

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  Company car - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By mickydees - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Car drives well on the road but there seems to be a lot of wind noise around the windshield. And of course, there is a recall notice on this vehicle, Ford leads the world in recall notices.

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  Nice car at lower mileage - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By proud2be - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Car was great when we first bought it, but then little things started going wrong. Wacky things. Replaced transmission mount twice, replaced numerous sensors. Anti-theft light continually blinks, now even when driving. I really like that one key opens everything. Has never left us stranded, but little things keep going bad. I just dont feel that its dependable anymore. Priced too high for what you get and doesnt hold value.

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  almost purrrrfect - 2001 Mercury Cougar
  By nmgprincess - May 21 - 9:20 pm

  love to drive. could do without bucking when sensors need replaced, which seems to often. would like to have better gas mileage.

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  my review - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Alex - May 16 - 1:16 am

  i like it. it runs good and had plenty of room. folding 3rd row seat is great. fuel mileage isnt the best in town.

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  Not perfect, but not bad - 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By epstein-nc - May 14 - 5:03 pm

  Its a Ford Escape with a Mercury label. Ive done lots of city, highway and offroad driving with no major complaints. Its the size an SUV should be. Its interior styling is no-frills-American, even the luxury model is basically the entry level model with leather, seat heaters and a fancy radio. Im not saying I dont like the vehicle, it is very practical and comfortable.

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  Good vehicle - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Rick Ridder - May 10 - 6:56 pm

  We have had no problems with it. Drove from Denver to Oregon and back. Averaged 33 mpg. My only complaint is that going up steep hills at above 6000 ft., it tends to be under-powered a bit. Still, it performs better than my Suburu, and has better overall comfort than any of the other vehicles I tested in the same class. Definitely a good vehicle. Very pleased owner.

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  runs long, dies HARD - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By drivenitall80 - May 2 - 5:14 am

  It was a pretty good truck. bought it for my girl when her taurus died, had around 80,000 when we got it, we drove it hard, off roading, 90 down the highway, it lived through everything, we got an 08 explorer xlt to replace it cause it had 254000 and was falling apart BIG TIME. i dont know what was worse, the engine ticking, whining aslound as it could, leaking different fliuds, stalling, not starting. it totally startedto fall apart, wegave it to my daughter when she got her license, she drove it for about 2 weeks and the engine took a s****.