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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  Does everything well - 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Steelerfan - July 8 - 8:23 am

  Im really in my element driving a big, comfortable American-made sedan. I traded a 1995 Buick Roadmaster with more than 200,000 miles on a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis LS and after 10,000 miles, I find that my LS does everything well. Its big, comfortable, reliable, well-built and a pleasure to drive.

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  Too much money for Too little power! - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By Michael Schenker - July 8 - 3:20 am

  This is a nice car but IT IS PAINFULLY underpowered. Its one thing if the Premier AWD model is under $25,000. Its another when its close to or over $30,000 fully loaded. For that amount of coin, I should be getting a V-8 with close to 300 hp. Or at least a much more powerful V-6....maybe supercharged. Dont pay $28-30,000 for Premier AWD model. Realistically, its worth the $24-26,000 range and supply will catchup with demand and resale value WILL plummet. The price wont go down on these but you will be able to get them cheaper with rebates in a few years.

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  Extra Special - 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Liljim - July 6 - 10:00 am

  Have had a Grand Marquis for 3 yrs. Find it completely reliable, easy to maintain and very smooth riding. Lots of car for the money!!!

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  Would not suggest this car to anyone - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By cat - July 4 - 9:46 pm

  alternator has gone 4 times in the year and a half...need a new high pressure power steering hose at 6ok miles new rack n pinion new tie end rods ect.

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  good car, good price - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By bobby064 - July 4 - 10:00 am

  good all around family car. reliable, safe, good equipment.comfortable.

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  My 2001 Grand Marquis - 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Barry Twilley - July 4 - 10:00 am

  This is the largest, most comfortable, most powerful car I have ever owned. Its great in comfort on long trips. I like the outside and inside styling. I bought the leather interior with the handling package.

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  Bad transmission(s) - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By 09mariner - July 2 - 11:00 pm

  Overall, the worst car weve ever owned. With 26,000 miles, its already on the second transmission, and this one is not right. Its been in the shop more than 60 days so far this year. My wife is scared to drive it, as its sometimes in the wrong gear at the worst possible time (other transmission issues too). There are others online (and in person) with transmission issues also. As nice as the other features are, none of them make up for this aweful experience. My suggestion is to wait a year for Ford to figure out the transmission before taking the plunge on this car.

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  Problems and More Problems - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Justcathy - July 2 - 4:23 pm

  After two years I am really ready to get rid of this car. The transmission went out at only 57,000 miles last year - now I am told I need a valve job! I am lucky to get 17 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Doesnt handle on highway well and has passes very poorly. It is bulky and sluggish. Have owned four Taurus and loved them all - but this beast is possessed! Never, ever again. We are trading for a Toyota!

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  Excellent Vehicle - Very Happy! - 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
  By 1st SUV - July 1 - 9:13 pm

  I purchased this 2006 vehicle about 1 month ago from a private party, with about 28k miles. After reading all the reviews about poor transmissions, and all the problems people were having, I almost turned away a great SUV! I have had NO problems whatsoever (knock on wood) so far. Transmission is very smooth & very fun to drive. Interior design is very nice and unique, but the exterior presents nothing truly exciting. I have been getting about 385 miles per tank, roughly 20 gallons to fill up, at about $60 bucks a pop...but its well worth it, and its an SUV so that was expected!

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  2nd Village a disappointment - 1999 Mercury Villager
  By Phydo - June 29 - 9:16 pm

  After a phenomenally dependable and satisfying 97 Villager, my 99 Estate model has been a real lemon. In one year, $600 in suspension parts, $800 to replace throttle body, $1100 to repair A/C, and there are several switches not working. No sticky accelerator though. I am dumping it after 1 year for a Honda or Mazda.