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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  not bad at all - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By jason - March 6 - 9:13 am

  just purchased the mariner under the ford family plan. seemed like a good deal. we are pretty happy with the upscale look of this suv. handles well. roomy for a mini-suv. gas mileage is probably the only major weakness with this suv.

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  A true American muscle car... - 2003 Mercury Marauder
  By deerejoe - March 2 - 6:30 pm

  A whimsical purchase turned into a genuine love for driving and enjoying this great automobile. Ford Motor Company should have promoted the Marauder in a more vigorous manner to reach a greater consumer base. This is NOT your average Mercury Marquis. Engine and suspension features are uniquely Marauder as are the interior appointments and exterior design motifs. The vehicle stands alone in the luxury category for a large family sedan that can drive and run with the best on the road today. The Marauder has the style, the performance and the glitz to turn heads and generate real interest from all who see and wonder just what this car is all about. Real CLASS at a reasonable price.

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  Proud Owner Speaks - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By proud owner of mount - February 19 - 10:00 am

  A great family vehicle

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  great van - 2004 Mercury Monterey
  By wal - February 19 - 10:00 am

  Very fun to drive van. The standard features are great. I have owned 3 vans prior to this one and this is the best one of all. I would recomend this van to any body It drives like a dream.

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  To learn value of present vehicle - 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Mercury LS Limited - February 16 - 10:16 am

  Car owned by senior female, ( kept in garage) and in pristine condition. My concern is depreciation because of age, not condition of vehicle. Convenience of entering the vehicle, room, trunk space, comfort, ease of driving and service are the reasons I have chosen a Mercury LS for my last 3 cars. Safety, of course, is also a major issue. I like the rear-wheel drive feature.

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  2005 MERCURY MONTEGO - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By DIGGERJ - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I PURCHASED A 2005 MERCURY MONTEGO NOT A 2004. AUTO IS COMFORTABLE TO ENTER, HANDLES WELL AND IS PEPPY.

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  Youve got to drive this car!!!!! - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Tyrs - February 14 - 10:00 am

  I needed to replace my vehicle and stopped by my LM dealership. I own a Ford Escape and WOW does this put that vehicle to shame. The comfort, the ride, the handling. Awesome. I recommend everyone at least test drive this vehicle. I was torn between the Mariner and the Mountaineer and I know I made the right choice.

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  Our First Trip - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By Gene Roza - February 12 - 1:40 pm

  Our quick trip from central California to eastern Arizona put the Montego on its first real test and it passed with flying colors. Cruising at 77 mph we were getting 29.8 mpg; the entire trip through deserts, mountains and cities (over 1600 miles) averaged 25.4. The comfort was more than expected. We have the AWD which proved great during a snow storm in Pinetop/Lakeside. We shopped around before making a decision and we believe so far this was the right decision. Anyone looking for a luxury (?) car without paying into the range of $40-55K should try the Montego. Try the AWD with the CVT transmission......highly recomended!!!!!

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  The Grand - 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By mm - February 9 - 11:10 pm

  Bought this 06 LS to replace a V6 Chevy. The Merc has such comfy leather seats, big roomy interior and a huge trunk. This car is so quiet that when I test drove it I thought the engine wasnt even running when I stopped at a red light. On the highway mpg is about 25-28 which is remarkable for a big car. The design is old school but safety played another important role in buying this car as its RWD and full frame instead of unibody. Most people call these granny cars, but I like the style and comfort, plus it gets me where Im going safely and with my factory chrome-plated rims it shows a bit of flair too.

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  A nicely appointed package - 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Jeff - February 8 - 6:20 pm

  I traded in a 2001 Santa Fe for this and it is quite the upgrade. It is so well packed with features and the quality of the ride, quietness is great. It is smooth on the road with the 6 speed and it even has a gauge that tells you how effective your gas mileage is while your driving, so you can learn to get better. I love it.