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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  Not Your Granpas Car -but Close - 2003 Mercury Marauder
  By Jack C. - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I just amazed that American car companies continue this charade. Looks very municipal.Better,sexier cars available for the same$ or less. For $34k, get a G35.

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  The Lone Star in my Texas Garage - 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
  By pregomio - August 12 - 6:06 am

  Got the car fully loaded except for DVD player who needs it, had remote start added by Mercury dealer who did not install the antenna so drove it a years till I had it serviced at a Ford Dealer nearer my home who fixed problem beware WestPoint Lincoln/Mercury dealership in Houston, TX, the car is great the dealership needs to be looked at by Ford or HPD bunko squad. I will not go near the place again for anything!

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  A Mercury? for all ages? - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By stevec81 - August 12 - 12:08 am

  I bought this as an used car while looking for a variety of mid-size sedans. While not initially on up for consideration, I was sold on it after driving it. While Mercury is generally associated as a car for "old people", I was pleasantly surprised by this. Although the Montego is also a full-size car with large trunk, the similarities with the Grand Marquis end right about there. Although not sporty or fast, the Montego drives light on its feet and feels well-connected to the road. While understated, it still looks like something special.

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  A pretty AMAZING car! - 2001 Mercury Cougar
  By cwe005 - August 10 - 2:16 pm

  Its a 2001 Mercury Cougar ZN. Its got close to 150,000 mi, and its a precision build machine! Like everyone says, it doesnt have a whole lot of power but the fact that it weighs close to 3500 lbs doesnt help either. Its amazing to drive. Corners like a beast, brakes like a beast, looks like a beast. Its a ZN, and its had routine things go wrong with it (water pump, burnt out blinker bulbs, CD got stuck, transmission rebuilt) Its still amazing to drive though, on smooth pavement it rides like its on a cloud. 17" rims mean tires are CRAZY expensive, but they make the car look amazing though! This is the sportiest daily driver you can have. But never get over 3K rpm, because I get 15 MPG

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  Bad Transmission - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By speedlump2 - August 9 - 5:09 pm

  I bought a brand new 2008 Mercury Mariner from Malloy Auto Mall in Woodbridge, VA. In 2009 the transmission starting skipping gears. Took it to the shop, it was fixed under warranty. 2010 took it back to the shop for the transmission again. Not covered by warranty. Cost over $800 to fix. Jump forward to 2011, took it back to the shop, for what you ask? The transmission again. This $2235 to fix it. Ford refuses to do anything about it. DO NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE. I wish I would have read other reviews before I purchased. I will never buy another for vehicle. Dont take my word. Read other reviews and see the same problem I have.

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  Deteriorating Quality - 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Rob in NY - August 6 - 6:33 pm

  This is my third Grand Marquis LS and most disapointing from purchase to quality. Love the big cars but this model has taken a step back. The materials used on the interior are cheapened plastics with sharp edges of the molding process left untrimed. Cup holder is sub standard, rubber shift arm cover prematurely wearing. Poor gas mileage, round town and hwy, avg 17.3mpg. Engine noise horrible, like a desiel, Mercury says its the fuel injectors and normal. Normal or not, its not quality. Exterior paint was not complete in hard to reach areas like inside door edge. After 5000 miles developed intense, intermitant, front end squeek of indetermined cause.

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  Worst car ever - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Mihai B - August 5 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car brand new and since that day, im spending most of my time at the dealer for all kinds of problems. Im trying to get rid of it, but it lost so much value over the last 2 years that im losing to much money. I do not recommend to anyone!

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  A Rental Car that I would buy - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By kkozicz - August 5 - 2:00 am

  I am using this SUV for 6 months as a long term rental. It has been great. it is very good in the snow, easy to put 4 sets of skis and poles and transport 4 adults the slopes in comfort. It needs a bigger gas tank.

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  Clearcoat problems - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By debrad - August 4 - 1:10 am

  This is my third Sable so I must say that I do like them. But the clearcoat on my 2000 sable (black) is beginning to show signs of cracking. The other problem that I have had is the leather on the rear door panels keep falling off. I have had them glued back on four times. I was told that the leather was cut too short. Other than these problems it has been a solid low maintenance vehicle.

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  mercury mystique - 1998 Mercury Mystique
  By lorraine yeager - July 31 - 10:00 am

  does a good job on the expressways. It also performs well under other driving conditions. Makes you feel in control.