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 ls - 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By budnbarb - October 21 - 10:00 am

  the ls is a wonderful car to travel in for driving vacations,im averaging over 25mpg on my trips overall with a normal dashboard computer readout od 27 mpg at 70 mph on the interstate highways.the ride comfort usually puts the passengers to sleep on all but the shortest trips and the interior room is greater than expected.

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  Its a Tank... - 2001 Mercury Cougar
  By 2carguy - October 19 - 11:23 am

  Just you all know this car was pass on to me after my mom passed on last year. So far the cougar has been great to me. Although its a gas guzzler and thats do to it being we 2 tons. To me its a girls car but it was my moms so i drive it and plus it only has 33,000 on it. Pretty good for a 2001. The cougar is my second ride and so far its been fun. I see so many cougar lately on the road but i never see the one like mine. My cougar has added features that was being put on the 2002.

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  2002 mountaineer - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Texasbanker - October 19 - 3:53 am

  Luv ride and secure fell of car but have had continual prob with rear A/C system. same part breaking 4 times in 6 years. Ford said nothing they could do. Trans acts strange at times but has not quit on me yet.

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  My Cougar - 2002 Mercury Cougar
  By Tiffer6139 - October 18 - 11:20 am

  I have had my 02 Cougar for a little over a year, I havent had any engine trouble no big problems. few problems with the rear visibility and huge blind spot also the arm rest isnt there and no mirror on the passenger Visor... other than that good mpg. all in all good Car

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  Glad I bought it - 2005 Mercury Monterey
  By Vacoast - October 18 - 8:23 am

  I didnt want a minivan, she did and got her way. However, Im glad we bought it. The front seats are both power, heated and cooled. The second row of captain chairs are also comfortable. The third row isnt as comfortable, but we normally keep it hidden in the floor. The power sliding doors are a real convenience when carrying grandbabies or groceries. Also like the in dash 6 CD changer. Wish it had a GPS navigation system. But thats all I would add. Love to drive it. It is very agile for a minivan and is actually pretty quick off the line.

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  Mountaingirl - 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
  By NANCY - October 18 - 7:16 am

  wish it had bubble mirrors on the side mirrors for blind spots, still learning sight distance for interstate travel, drives great, do not like the interior door handles, just okay

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  Bad or Great - 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
  By parker002 - October 18 - 2:00 am

  I loved this Ute. in the beginning, but one problem has lead to another. First there was electrical with the Radio. Then they replaced it and we lost all signal hhhmmmmmmmmmm. We put the old one back in, and now I have memorized the functions since I cant see them anymore. The turn signal is now broken, and I think there is a knock in the Transmision. We are currently trying to sell this PO_ and buy a car. We spent 19,000 on this car and a year later we will be lucky to get 14,000 even more pathetic.

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  SECOND ONE OWNED - 2002 Mercury Villager
  By SAM1 - October 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my second one; Ive had good luck with both. The gas mileage is good for a minivan. I dont have a problem with the cargo space. My 97 had some electrical problems. The middle seats are heavy to remove.

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  Ford/Mercury Out did themselves! Wow! - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By MM - October 17 - 8:40 pm

  I researched this vehicle for 6 over months. After so much anticipation would it live up? I took the keys in Aug 07 and have never been happier. It surpassed my dreams! It is fun to drive, but you do need to be watchful. I have scared folks, when running on the electric motor, all you can hear are the tires on the ground. Which can be eerie. The kids tease it is quieter than the Barbie Car! We have taken it on a major vacation 700 miles one way for 12 hours and it did great. 31 mpg. Saved us 1/3 cost in gas over our Windstar while not losing comfort. Handled the mountain curves. The navigation system was helpful but gave warnings in some areas. Ford has out done themselves with this one!

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  Sold on Sable - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By JRipper - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Just bought a 2003 GS Sedan with 18000 miles on it for the wife.Paid half the sticker price for a 4 door midsize sedan with all the B&W needed (She didnt want leather seats,too hot)So far so good.Glad we got a sable instead of paying up for a import.