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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  01 Sable Wagon - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Ira - January 14 - 10:00 am

  Traded in a 99 Taurus Wagon w/duatech v6 - never liked that car much - wallowed in corners, ride too soft. Sable flatens out corners, has respectible handling and extremely comfortable seats. Also has Duratech v6 - gas mileage about 4mpg overall better than Taurus. I think it is well worth the extra grand or so over the Taurus - much better vehicle.

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  Solid, dependable, versatile vehicle - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By 7 year owner - January 13 - 3:46 am

  Purchased this car used with 9k mi. Car has been relatively inexpensive to maintain, remains solid and has provided unfailing dependability. Currently has 130k mi. Not an exciting car, but is solid and safe feeling. Smooth highway ride. I call it my 4-wheeled sofa. Has the tried and true base 6-cylinder as I was a bit wary of the more powerful 24-valve 6 cyl. Factory brakes were poor, but once after market brakes put on, no problem. Adequate performance, very useful for family trips, 18-20mpg city, 24-25mpg highway on regular gas. Still running on stock transmission with no signs of problems. Dash, upholstery, and paint remain in excellent condition. Plan to keep for 2 more dependable years.

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  I love/Husband Hates - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By kac4 - January 11 - 3:23 am

  Does someone have an answer ? when my husband first bought this car for me this summer it had 112,000 on it. An let me just tell you I can usually get miles out of my cars. but so far I havent been able to, we thought that the headlights were the ownely thing wrong. But we were wrong there is a electrical problam, the wheel bearing, the radio buzzes, if I use my rear wiper then my front ones go off too!Then we went too go get a new excaust an come too find out the k-frame rotted out so bad that I could put my foot through one of the holes. Im lucky my family didnt get hurt. So anyways my car has 18 open recalls did it get fixed NO !! I say ford should do something about this.

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  97 Mountaineer Review - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By tryeasy - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I have put 60,000 miles on this vehicle over 4 years. I have owned 50 plus cars in my life. this has everything I need and like. Great reliability too. However, I did upgrade shocks, exhaust, and tires to improve performance. great seats and power options.

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  My 2000 Mercury Sable LS Premium - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By TbirdTony - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car 1 month shy of 3 years. It has 25,000 miles on it. I really like the car. The interior, paint, & 24 valve V6 are all great. Like others have stated on the 2000 Sable there have been too many recalls of which most were not necessary (in my opinion). My car also has a very slight oil leak and a rear window/trunk leak which 2 different dealers can not fix. They are annoying little problems that should have been fixed. Ford needs to get there designs tested before sending them out to the consumer. There "Quality is Job 1" is a joke. The little problems that I have had and the number of recalls should have been caught.

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  The Auto Press Has It Wrong - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By ejko - January 7 - 4:30 pm

  As a previous owner of vehicles by Mazda, Saab, Toyota, etc., I was pretty much conditioned to believe that American cars were inferior. My experience with my Montego FWD Premier has changed all of that. This is a very nice car!!! The exterior appearance speaks for itself; it exudes class. The interior is very elegant as well; I particularly like the two-tone leather and audiophile radio. The safety features (I have the safety package option)are world class. I traded in a Pontiac GTO (built by Holden in Australia) on this car. Coming off a 350 HP car and reading the stinging criticism of this car being underpowered, I havent found anything to be concerned about! Its a non-issue

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  Cargo area above the battery catches fire - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By tonyrita - December 22 - 5:01 pm

  Ive had my Mercury Mariner for 5 years and had no issues other than a new set of tires and brakes. Last week after making a local trip, I parked my Mariner in the garage and 2 hours later the car caught fire and burned most of my garage and my wifes car. Im warning current and future owners of this car so nobody else has to go through this pain.

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  2010 Milan Premier - 2010 Mercury Milan
  By thecbob - December 20 - 4:30 pm

  I traded down from an F150 SuperCrew Lariat to save money, which I did. Even with a 4-cylinder, it handles well and gets great gas mileage. The driver seat is extremely uncomfortable, causing muscle pain on my commute to work. (one hour each way)In less than two months after purchase, it squeaks and rattles like a 30 year old car instead of a new one. I may be saving money, but Im really starting to miss my truck.

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  under rated sports sedan - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By inetman1 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I have owned a Mustang GT and Camaro Z28, Grand AM GT. I like quick cars but family demands and shoe horning oneself into a car isnt much fun. I needed a sedan that was within my budget and had good handeling, accelerates and fun to drive. Two family menbers own V6 sedans one was a Toyota Camry, the other a Sable 24V. Seeing the Sable was American made, better seating, and less bland styling, I optd for the Sable. Performance, handling and ride between the two cars is similiar, the Camry is slightly quicker off the line, the Sable is slightly quicker on the upper end of the tach. Fit and finish are good, no rattles or squeks.

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  Great on gas but a MONEY PIT - 2001 Mercury Cougar
  By richie19r - December 15 - 5:20 am

  Bought it with 79k for my wife in 98. Has 112k now. Car looks great outside, inside is a little small. I dont know what everyone is talking about with the gas, i average 35 mpg going 60, and about 32 mpg going 70. so far, replaced both rear shocks, fuel pump, both timing chains, water pump, plugs, wires, all 4 brakes. Now I have about 3 different noises coming from the car, in which all i cant find. Im tired of dropping money into it. As soon as something is fixed, something else needs fixed. I dont recommend it to anyone that cant work on cars!!