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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  2000 grand marquis gs review - 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Sam - June 27 - 3:36 pm

  Overall great car, had it two years did your typical maintanence. Spark plugs,coils,tie rods, sway bar links, shocks all around, and all new fluids do that you have an awesome car. I always know i can get in it turn the key and trust it to take me anywhere!. I drive alot too 35,000 miles in two years not once left me stranded

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  Great SUV - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Ann - June 27 - 12:40 am

  Have had this SUV for a year now. Bought it for our expanding family. Its great. Rides smooth and much quieter than my previous Ford Ranger FX4. Lots of room for a stroller and groceries and lots of leg room in the back for the times I needed to be back there with the baby. Smooth handling and steering though a little soft in the rain. The seats are very comfortable but do not like the headrests. They do not tilt and cannot be removed so I have to sit with my head tilted forward, uncomfortable. Since they are for safety in a collision I am willing to live with it. Do not like the faux marble center console. Would have preferred solid black plastic or vinyl even. Would definitely by again.

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  Sophisticated Explorer - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Ed - June 22 - 8:36 am

  No problems, easy handling, and fun to drive. Its streamlined styling is an excellent alternative to typical gaudy stylings of other SUVs.

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  Under rated 7-passenger SUV - 2005 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Jerome Rich - June 18 - 10:43 pm

  A trouble-free SUV that does everything well. My only complaint are the cheap leather seats.

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  GrrrrrrWOWllll!!!! - 2002 Mercury Cougar
  By JeffsfirstCougar - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I had been drooling over a Prelude SH until I drove one and kept asking myself if I wanted to spend all that money on something so plain and basic as the SH is.... Once I spotted a Cougar, I researched it and fell head over heels for it. The third day we owned it, a teenage girl ran a stop sign and had this car not been able to react during a swerve and skid she would have totaled this car... I never felt like the car was out of control... Wonderful car!!! C2 models a definite plus...

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  Montego....Great! - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By Jim - June 17 - 6:56 am

  This is a fantastic vehicle. Combination of AWD and CVT is a great package. Acceleration is smooth, strong, and swift. I have a 60 mile daily expressway commute - Montego is a great highway cruiser as well as an excellent stop-and-go city vehicle. Very comfortable. HUGE trunk. Extremely roomy interior with very classy styling. 18" spoked wheels, HID headlamps, LED tail lights, waterfall grille, and nicely placed chrome are all very attractive features that add luxurious and stylish touches to the car. The "Command Seating" is a GREAT design - the higher seating position gives a great view of the road. Smooth and enjoyable driving experience. Give this one a test drive. Enjoy!

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  Need more cars like this! - 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
  By gr1nst3r - June 11 - 2:03 pm

  I bought this car because a) I wanted a 30+ MPG hybrid with leather seats & moonroof b) in bad economic times, I wanted to buy american c) I wanted to tell these american car makers what they are doing right (MHO). If this is you, this car is it! This is not a sports car but rather a smooth cuiser. It has plenty of power for me when I want it. I happen to like the Mercury stying. This car is loaded with terrific technology. Unless I gun it, I have to check the dash to see if the engine is running - its seamless. Im getting 38MPG combined, 48-50 on my 15 mi trip to work if I take the back roads. Ill get 600 mi/tank. This while sacrificing nothing.

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  still happy - 1999 Mercury Villager
  By hinder customer - June 11 - 10:00 am

  we purchased the van used. we have had only one problem with the headlight wiring harness. the headlights would individually go out when driving over bumps. the problem was corrected by the dealer replacing the plugs at the end of the wiring harness. Over all, it rides/drives like a very controlable/predictable sport sedan. great for long trips. would buy another:)

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  Gulf Coast Edition - 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By stgcret - June 10 - 7:26 am

  Historically, I have been a Lincoln TC man, but this Grand Marquis was so nice...! It looked like any car only a year or two new. 99% of the buttons in the interior looked as though they had never been pushed. Yes a 78 year old lady had owned it since new and had always garaged it and never smoked in. I bought it for my wife and she loves it (its red, LOL). Had to restuff the driver seat cushion & put shocks around. In another 1500 mi,Castrol Syntec Oil will get put in. Great for 11 years old. No odd noises, doesnt smoke or rattle & everything works. Have all books and records also,and something you never seem to get...2 keys and 2 remotes. Might install a oem cd player. Nice

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  Awesome Car! - 2008 Mercury Milan
  By Adam - June 6 - 3:16 pm

  Unbeatable interior and exterior styling, mechanical quality and great gas mileage! The creature comforts are endless. SYNC is awesome, and the leather interior is very comfortable. The rims and grille provide fantastic exterior style. The sound system is unparalled. All this, with great gas mileage, 24 in the city, 32 on the freeway no problem. Forget about the Camry, Maxima and cCvic, the Mercury Milan is where it is at. Do yourself a favor and purchase this car!