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:

• 

  a rare find, very cool - 2004 Mercury Marauder
  By buckyboy - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This car is not for everyone. It is only for the ones who know about this car, and wanted it from day one. I am glad i bought this car. There are some things one might complain about, although minor, YOU WONT HEAR IT FROM ME. One thing you cant deny about this car is the cool factor. Although every car could have more horses, this car is overflowing with testosterone. I like the fact that it is rare, but wish people would stop saying it looks like a cop car. I didnt buy it for that reason. Mine is black with blacked out windows, it looks downrite mean! It truely is a great combination of luxury, performance, and style.

• 

  Great Van - 2006 Mercury Monterey
  By Shawn - September 23 - 8:16 pm

  The Mercury Monterrey is hands down better than the Town and Country that I traded in on it. The mileage is slightly better than the Town and Country and the van is of much better quality. I liked the T&C but I love the Monterrey. It has much more style, and is more appealing (interior and exterior.

• 

  Missed opportunity - 2006 Mercury Montego
  By richman6 - September 21 - 4:02 am

  When I first purchased this car I was initially impressed. It was very comfortable to drive with the seating and easy to get in and out of the car with lots of trunk space. Unfortunately, then the problems started to surface. The paint began to peel off the leading edge of my aluminum hood, the drivers side window goes down when you press the up button, the rear drums are rusting prematurely, and the module that controls my AWD shorted out my control panel! The dealer quoted me $1900 to replace the module and keep my AWD! My first and probably last experience with the Ford brand. BTW, my car has not even reached 100,000 miles.

• 

  A true luxury minivan - 2004 Mercury Monterey
  By minivan lover - September 20 - 10:00 am

  I upgraded to the Monterey from a Windstar LX which I owned for 6 years. Love most everything about this vehicle but I miss the more comfortable captain chairs of the Windstar LX, the rear storage compartment, the coin holder and sunglass holder in the overhead console.

• 

  The suprise of 2005 - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Mariner driver - September 20 - 10:00 am

  I qas looking for a small SUV to have for work and while shopping around I cam across the Mariner and fell in love with the interior (black leather with beige inserts) and just had to take it for a test drive and lets just say it was real nice. Some driving line and not jarring at all. So I bought it that day and I am happy so far and I am looking foward to many years ahead.

• 

  99 Grand Marquis - 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By JIMMYO - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Have driven my 1999 for 5 years and 88,950 miles with no problem. No maintainence asside fron changing oil & filter at 6,000 miles. New break pades and tires at 65,700 miles. Ave. 27 MPG on trips @ 65-75 MPH. My experience has been terific, best car Ive owned since 1953.

• 

  The Best Roadtrip Vehicle - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Tre Five - September 19 - 10:03 pm

  I have had very few issues with my mountaineer. It now has over 212k miles and the thing runs great. Great performance as you can fly up steep mountain grades and it never gets stuck, even when driving alongside kentucky country roads in thick mud just because you thought it would be fun. It is very comfortable and aside from little problems here and there it is very reliable. 5.0 awd is the only way to go. IT AINT BAD FOR A FORD! However it is still a ford.

• 

  So Far So Good - Part IV - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By 04SableDriver - September 19 - 2:00 pm

  Just a bit more than 20K and rolling along! Im well past the "new car" euphoria, and have settled in for what I plan to be a "long haul" relationship with my car. They stopped building Sables after the 05 model year, so not sure who this updates meant for, but what the hell... As stated before, I still enjoy the basics of my Sable; smooth and well muted ride, plenty of interior space, lotsa bang-for-the-buck (power amenities, trip comp, solid safety credentials, etc.)... Complaints are few, but focus on what could be described as "classic automotive Americana;" cheapo interior materials, the ominous threat of shakey long-term reliability (though, like the title says, so far so good!

• 

  Very Nice Small SUV - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By Donna - September 19 - 10:36 am

  Our first SUV. Drove Toyota Camry XLEs for past 10 years. The Mariner is missing some of those amenities, but overall, very nice. Very happy with Mariners interior cargo room and front seat area design and features such as dual heat and air controls and seat warmers. Not so thrilled with gas mileage so far. Have 3500 miles and only averaging 19 in traffic and 22 on highway. Hoping for better as mileage increases. Exterior look is great...many compliments on that.

• 

  Greatest Van Out There - 2007 Mercury Monterey
  By Mark - September 19 - 9:36 am

  Ever since i purchased my 07 Monterey the more i drive it the more i love it because it handles extremely well and the ride is very quiet and smooth and the 4.2L V6 Engine is very powerful and can get up to 70 in just a few seconds and the interior is extremly roomy and comfortable and has tons of cargo room when the rear seats are folded down and everything is all power the rear doors are power the liftgate and the seats are dual power and the Montereys design inside and out is extremly classy and the quality of the materials are top of the line and the wood trim in the dash and chrome door handles and locks really set off the interior well as the wood in the steering wheel i love this van..