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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  Left Volvo v70XC, AWD for this Mariner - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By EMMA - October 27 - 7:40 am

  So far, so good. Hopefully the gas mileage of all cars will improve in the next 39 months. Went for the basic model this time. Not bad at all. Like the height and handling and new safety features. 360 visability is awesome. Great tailgate options of opening the window or the whole back...rear wiper too! Quiet, smooth ride. Love the Moon and Tune package, sunroof and Sirius radio. Senior parents found it a bit tough to get into, but they made it. Center console is well designed and there are plenty of cupholders. Great in the rain, lets see about the snow.

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  2008 Sable is Excellent Value - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Jeff - October 24 - 5:50 pm

  With the $2,000 Lincoln Mercury Factory Rebate to 6/30/08, the new 2008 Sable has become an exceptional value. It has better sound insulation and upgrades than Taurus. This car has more interior room for 6 3" driver and 4 other large adults than any Japanese, German or American car in its price range. Slightly lower MPG is acceptable trade-off for passenger capacity. 6 Speed Trans and 3.5L V6 are excellent, as is overall fit and finish. I am very satisfied with this car and I highly recommend the new Sable over its competitors. Ford is making a remarkable turnaround!

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  Great Alternative to a Pickup for Family Men - 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Al Anderson - October 23 - 4:12 pm

  I really, really, wanted a pickup truck but was convinced by a mentor to buy a good SUV and a trailer given the other things I needed to do with my vehicle. I found my mountaineer for a steal of a price and havent regretted it one iota. Its been a champ through and through. The gas mileage is what one would expect, but it more than makes up for it in the lack of repairs. The one thing I was warned is that it will chew up tires, but I bought a good quality set some years ago and have them rotated with each oil change. Theyve lasted just fine. The interior is roomy and altogether very manipulable- seats fold up for hauling kiddos and fold down very well for hauling cargo or sleeping in the back on a long road trip. It tows my small to medium loads very well and offroads without hesitation. The tech is outdated but reliable and user friendly. Aside from the usual routine maintenance have not had one breakdown yet in 10 years. I think my favorite is its incredibly tight turn radius. I can maneuver this thing as tightly as any car Ive driven, perhaps moreso. It puts our minivan to shame on this front. All around a great vehicle.

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  Going Hybrid is Easy! - 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Y. Mangum - October 22 - 9:06 am

  I just bought a Mercury Mariner last week and I love it so far. I had been looking for a Prius, and when I finally found one on a dealer lot, they were so rude and wouldnt even let me test drive it. I left their lot and found a BETTER hybrid the very same day -- my Mercury Mariner. Its beautiful compared to a Prius. Now, I dont even know why I even considered the Prius! The Mariner has SO much more room and is much more stylish. Ive never owned a Mercury before, but Ive owned the Ford brand and have been happy with those vehicles. Im looking forward to being in my new Hybrid vehicle for a long time to come!

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  Mercury Mountaineer Owner - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By charbrosgirl - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car 8 months ago and I am very pleased with it. I had previously owned a Grand Voyager so I have been accustomed to more space. However, I have easily adjusted to the versatility of my SUV. The third row seat offers me more flexibility in how I utilize my space. There are many things that I really like about my SUV. I love my automatic headlights and how my dashboard looks when it lights up at night. I also like the fact that I can get into the back without having to lift the whole door open. I basically get about 18mpg around town and 22mpg when I travel on the highway. Overall, I am very satisfied with my purchase.

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  2004 Black Sable Platinum Edition - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By Joseph Belluomini - October 19 - 10:00 am

  This is alot of bang for the buck. I chose the Sable LS with the Platinum Edition package. The car is loaded and you would never be able to get this in a honda or toyota for the price I paid. The car is roomier and overall a excellent choice. The best part is there are less Sables on the road than ther others. The car has the classic ride that Ford products are known for. It makes me wonder why people feel they need to spend over 25-30,000 for a car like this that everybody else is driving. My best advise is be different and test drive a Sable. You may just surprise yourself and your wallet!

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  Great SUV - 2005 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Deeanna - October 18 - 11:50 pm

  This SUV is wonderful on trips. Took a trip south and averaged 23.5 MPG highway. In town driving I get 18-19 MPG I have owned several SUVs, 1 Chevrolet Blazer and 2 Ford Explorers...this Mountaineer will dance circles around anyone of them. I am very satisfied with the performace and comfort of this SUV.

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  Outstanding - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By James - October 18 - 11:50 am

  I bought my Mariner with 5mi on the odometer. Drove it off the lot and was very impressed with the power that the I4 motor has. I used to drive a 4cyl Honda CR-V and it didnt have the power my Mariner has. For the price I paid, the amenities you get (i.e. leather steering wheel, 6-disc changer, etc...) are well worth the purchase.

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  Couldnt live without it now - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By 1st SUV - October 18 - 6:46 am

  I bought my Mountaineer when I became disabled: easier to get up than sit down. It has everything I could ever want in an SUV, except for better gas mileage. My kids love the moonroof, the heater for the backseat and the ability to haul. I recently moved and used my Mountaineer and a friends Durango and had it done in a day and a half!

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  Second Best New Car Ive Bought - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Jayf - October 15 - 8:43 am

  The car rides great, is quiet as anything and the comfort is wonderful. There is plenty of room for relatives, who my wife and I drive around fairly often. While the fuel economy may not be great to some, it is much better than my previous two vehicles, an Explorer and a Grand Voyager, and a great deal better than the most comfortable new car I ever bought, a 1972 Buick Electra 225.