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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  2002 - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By tmb0461 - January 9 - 2:00 am

  Play tons of hockey in the Northeast. Car has been 100% dependalble. One of first Premiers to be delivered. All black, looks great. V8 AWD is the way to go! Have had several snow storms, no problem. At $29,000 delivered many friends with BMW X5 and Mercedes ML320 wonder why they paid $20,000 more.

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  Leaking Fuel System - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By Steve - January 7 - 12:40 pm

  Ford Motor Co. doesnt tell you in the owners manual nor are dealerships aware that the "new" cap less fuel system that Ford has been installing on nearly all its vehicles for the past two years leaks when you top off the gas tank, as confirmed by my dealership in both 2009 and 2010 models. Ford will not make any repairs for this and tells the customer not to top off the gas tank.

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  I Like my Mystique - 1998 Mercury Mystique
  By Fred.P - January 3 - 2:00 am

  I got this car brand new. I have had no major problems with it. I think the 2.5 liter V6 is really peppy. The premium sound with single cd is great. I like the rear spoiler. The ride is a bit stiff but the handling is good. The paint is really holding up well with a zymol wax once a year.

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  Still too soon to know for sure - 2006 Mercury Montego
  By vinnie - December 31 - 2:56 pm

  I changed the tires immediately, they were a bad ride. The motor is a bit loud in 1st first gear. I said the car hesitates when going into 2nd gear, but the dealer shot me down. The rear brakes drag when left overnight, there is a TSB so the dealer put new rear brakes and turned the rear rotors. The car is good on longer trips.The exterior mirrors are good in day driving, but I seem to have my vision on the left blocked and a glare. My wife likes the high drive visibility. Needs some more power when leaving from a light. I had a Mercury before this one and it lasted me 18 years, why fool with success.

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  2007 Mercury Milan - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By ownerofone - December 29 - 10:03 am

  Car lacks good acceleration with any of the engines available. It is still a fun car to own and drive, however.

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  What did I do???? - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By Stacy - December 24 - 2:13 pm

  I bought this vehicle 3 weeks ago, and am thinking I may have made a big mistake. I traded in my 2004 Toyota corolla with 26,000 miles for this vehicle 2 years newer with 53,000 miles. Typical woman I was cuz I took one look at it and thought it was SO CUTE!!!! Plus, I always wanted a little SUV. A week and a half after I got it, I needed a new Alternator. Now, my husband thinks I have a small oil leak. I guess time will tell. I do know that someone must have gotten a great little toyota. Never had any problems with that car!! Oh well, ladies, dont be fooled by the cuteness!!

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  Sleeper and Price Performer - 2008 Mercury Milan
  By Ronin - December 12 - 5:53 am

  One of Fords less-known price performer. A V-6 with plenty of power and a surprising consistent 31 MPG at highway speeds. Comfortable and roomy with basic features that are usually sought after. Built sturdy and economical, this vehicle is a great choice competing with under powered 4 cylinders in its class.

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  A solid, traditional, reliable car - 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Paul - December 11 - 9:53 pm

  I find the official review from Edmunds a bit irresponsible! I fail to see the logic in urging folks not to want a so- called "throwback" of a car when the Grand Marquis is a solid, reliable US/Canadian vehicle that gets the job done in comfort and safety. Competitor cars have iffy build quality are costly to repair. Does Edmunds want us to pay more for something "new" just because newness is somehow better? I disagree! I have a 2008 BMW 5 series too and the iDrive is a mess, the dopey flipper shift knob gets in the way, parts break often and its back to the $$$hop; its constantly nagging at me too! A lousy personality I pay a fortune for. Ill take the familiar, old school Ford V8 anyday.

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  Still Works Great - 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Mobagman - December 11 - 2:00 am

  It has been a very reliable vehicle. I have changed tires, brakes, oil..thats it. Who ever buys it needs to change the sparkplugs. One of thoose cars that just wont let you down.

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  Reliable Vehicle - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By Pat Wallace - December 11 - 12:46 am

  I bought this car used 4 years ago and have never had any real problems with it. It now has 90,000 miles on it and I have not always taken the best care of it but it continues to run and is a very reliable vehicle.