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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  Bargain, good all around car - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By TroyT - December 31 - 10:00 am

  First brake job @ 68K, oil changes every 4K, high mileage user, car keeps running like a charm. This is Sable #3 for me. This is the first to have problems, although under extended warranty. 2nd Transmission for some reason, never had problems with the others. Good gas mileage on the long trips, many times hauling a LARGE trunk full of "stuff" and 5 people of normal size. Great family car thats still fun to drive with 24V engine!

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  Nice comfortable boat - 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By BIGTOMHEN - December 28 - 10:00 am

  I have put about 15000 miles on it and have enjoyed driving it. It is roomy and comfortable, I am a big guy (62" and 240lbs)and it fits me!! It handles great with the good old fashioned feel of the big rear wheel drive V8. I had forgotten the nice low rumble of the V8.

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  Great SUV - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By fjrogers - December 28 - 1:23 am

  This is my second Mountaineer. I have been very happy with both. The 2004 is a V-8 AWD and it is great for towing and gets decent mileage for the comfort and power. It is a fun SUV to drive and great on long trips I get 15 mpg in town and 20 mpg on the highway. Towing my boat or motorcycle trailer I get 14 mpg. I highly recommend this SUV.

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  LUV IT! - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By Peggy - December 27 - 5:30 am

  Its about what you need. This meets all my needs with its style, p/up, leather, sunroof, back window defrost and wiper. I am a small person so it is plenty big enough for me interior wise. It has almost zero blind spot. I luv it!

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  Loyal Marquis fan - 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By William Balla - December 27 - 2:03 am

  This is my third Grand Marquis and I have never been disappointed in any of them. Others cant come close to the comfort and smooth ride that this car gives. A very dependable auto.

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  LSE more fun! - 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Chris Raaths - December 24 - 1:30 pm

  This is my 4th Crown Vic/Marquis. Engine had more power than before. This one has the LSE package, similar to HPP package, but buckets and a floor shifter, like the Crown Vic Sport. Handles much better than previous models. Fuel economy about the same, with more power. Seats are comfortable. Sound system is good. Fuel economy is do-do around town (as these cars have always been so-so) about 18 mpg. On the highway, 26 mpg. Better choice comfort and MPG wise than my old Tahoe.

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  Save your money - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By deathpig - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Dont even waste your money on this LEMON. I have had the car for 5 months now and i have had nothing but problems. The car has been in the shop 6 times already. Everything from the hood and trunk release, sun roof, engine, emission sensors, and the list could go on. I will never buy another Mecury, not to mention that the dealership has been a real pain in the kneck.

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  Premier V8 Review - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By JD1245134 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this suv 3 months ago and have been very pleased with my purchase.

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  Still a big car-Heavy Duty-Safe - 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Ethel Alma Dickerson - December 24 - 2:00 am

  We have driven Grand Marquis for over 25-years. We have never had any problems out of the cars. We usually put 150-200,000-miles on them with out any problem. .We also had a bad wreck in the 95 and we were not hurt We got hit by a 1998 Honda Civic. We love the cars and they are safe and the best driving cars on the road under $30,000.

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  American car revival - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By Mark - December 23 - 4:50 am

  I am leasing this car over a Saab 9-3 or Camry/Accord or other mid size sedan. Test drove the Saab, like the ride and road noise better in the Milan. Surprisingly fit and finish is better in the Milan. Final judgement, pound for pound the best mid size car 24,000 can buy. (Most bang for the buck).