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:

• 

  my milan - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By pete - May 22 - 10:43 pm

  my milan is fun and quick. i like to drive it everybody tells me how nice and sporty it is. i always liked the mercury grandmarquis but the price of gas turned me away and when mercury came out with the milan i had to have it and it was very affordable. i had the car about three month and i am very happy with it.

• 

  LOVE my Hybrid - 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Mary Wynn - May 22 - 4:36 pm

  This SUV drives as well as any car we have ever owned - from a lincoln to a rabbit. It handles so well, I feel very secure behind the wheel when I drive.

• 

  Best car Ive ever owned - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By awilkin2 - May 20 - 8:30 pm

  This is a fantastic car for the money! Rides great, very fun to drive, has lots of room and back and a very large trunk with no hinges intruding into the luggage compartment. Very well thought out design and well executed! Ive owned it for over 2 years, put over 35,000 miles on it and have not had to do anything but change the oil every 7500 miles.

• 

  04 MOUNTAINEER AWD - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By LIVE214 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  GREAT SUV FOR GREAT DEAL FROM KRONON L M IN CHICAGO. I SHOPED AT 6 DEALERS AND THEY GAVE ME THE BEST PRICE THOUSADS LESS THAN ELSWERE

• 

  enjoy this vehicle - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By enrico farro - May 20 - 10:00 am

  many people have stopped me and told me how nice this suv looked and thought it had a lot of class

• 

  Best Suv - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Maria3678 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I love this car...

• 

  GREAT IN EVERY WAY! - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Shorti8105 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car we have ever owned! We came all the way from Tampa to purchase this car and we wouldnt get rid of it for anything!

• 

  Not Bad - 2000 Mercury Mountaineer
  By skp369 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed driving this truck for almost three years. I was very suprised and impressed at its very good performance and handling on dry roads as well as deep snow. The V-8 is strong and steering is excellent. The 2000 Mountaineer has one problem area and that is its ride. The leaf spring rear suspension causes an uncomfortable ride on any but the smoothest roads. It has proven very reliable and adaptable to most uses.

• 

  Why would anyone buy Japanese - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Paul Willy - May 20 - 10:00 am

  Mercury has a HOME run with this car. If our experience is anything like our last Sable 140,000 with NOTHING but regular maint. This Sable has more features and cost less than the 97. Camry, Accord, what are you nuts.

• 

  Finally a winner - 2001 Mercury Mountaineer
  By KUHNSTER - May 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2001 Monterrey mountaineer 3- 4 years ago. Had 50,000 miles when bought as 2nd owner now has 83,000 and running strong. Love the pwr. sunroof, 5.0 v8 power, interior is great, looks good going by. Never had a problem,routine maintenance (oil,brakes,rotors) The AWD is great and handles Ohio snows without a problem. Had a 2000 GMC Jimmy-lets see. 2 computers, 4 alternators, 1 starter, electrical problems that would stall vehicle (once in Tennessee), transmission x2. Upgraded to this Mountaineer-no regrets at all.