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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  Excellent value - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By giuseppe - March 15 - 2:00 am

  This car is well-equipped (ABS, side airbags, traction control, monroof, leather, CD). Because it was the end of the model year, I paid $18K for it. The 24V Duratec engine has excellent power. This is a great value for the money.

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  Pure Sweetness - 2002 Mercury Cougar
  By Hazza - March 13 - 10:00 am

  I have a 1999 cougar. I love it. Three reasons why. Its duribility is great. I have had no problems with it at all. Two, style is manditory! This ride takes the Mustang, Integra, and Civic, and tosses it to the curb. A car can not look any better (stock) then this. Number three, Affordibility. Im a seventeen year- old and I dont exactly make millions. This car fits perfectly in the wallat of anyone.

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  good looks, good drive - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Scuba Steve - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I got my Cougar a little over a year ago, and have had 0 problems to date. Its by far the most fun car I have ever driven, with a gutsy enough little 4 cylinder and the easiest shifting manual transmission that I have ever seen. The car handles like a dream around corners. The 1999 Cougar had problems, with few to none of them transferring over to the 2000 model year. If you would like a car that runs good and looks great, grab one of these.

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  My Mercury Monterey - 2006 Mercury Monterey
  By Ryan - March 12 - 5:46 am

  My Mercury Monterey is absolutely fantastic. i love it it is the best minivan out there. there are so many features that i cant even mention them all. the van has everything you need. it has a smooth quiet ride. it has the features of a $50,000 dollar luxury car would have. i love the wood in the steering wheel and in the doors and in the dash and around the radio and the leather seats are just as comfortable as can be and it has plenty of cargo room and alot of cargo room when the rear seats are folded down and anyone who says Mercury is for older people you are sadly mistaken but 10 years ago i would have agreed but now Mercury is for the young and middle aged and i think there great vehicles .

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  Milan Hybrid - 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
  By Tony - March 9 - 11:43 pm

  Looks like I will be getting 600 miles on my first tank of gas. I am averaging around 32 mpg with around 41 mpg on short trips. I love the car so far. The technology in this car is amazing. I can go electric mode (EV) at 47 mph for about a mile. The change from EV to gas hardly noticed. I have plenty of power on the highways and it is a joy not using any gas or putting carbon in the air while under 47 mph or at stop lights. You can run the air while in EV mode also. So I do not feel guilty waiting on someone to come to the car while I sit with the air running! The car is very quiet and comfortable to ride in.

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  one of the best cars I have ever owned - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By clifford morse - March 8 - 8:40 am

  The 2005 Mercury Montego has it all; style (inside and out), roomy interior, comfort, economy, safety, enormous trunk, handles well on the road, a pleasure to drive with its quiet ride and ease of handling, has power when needed. It is an all around GREAT car. I am proud to be an owner.

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  A little of everyting - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By perezgoasm - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has a little of everyting...3rd row seat sold my family...love the way it drives...salesperson was the icing on the cake!

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  Great vehicle ! - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By edile - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Bought vehicle in January 04. Looked at the Explorer also. Mercury has the interior nailed down. Got the V8, has lots of power. Much better than the Lexus 330 we test drove. The 330 is way over rated.

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  Excellent so far! - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By mom plus five - March 8 - 2:00 am

  So far, it has been great, runs well, looks awesome and a little heavy on the gas usage.I enjoy driving it and everyone comments on the good looks of the vehicle.

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  marauder 03 - 2004 Mercury Marauder
  By gharb62 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I traded a 2000 Lincoln continental for a 2003 Marauder and have not been sorry. I have been followed into parking lots by people asking me what kind of car it is. I am over 60 and have corvettes and jaguars and this is the best. I took it the track and went against the kids in their rods and did the quarter in 14 and 95mph and Inot an expert, and had my wife in the car!