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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  Excellent Vehicle - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By Keri - February 7 - 11:23 pm

  I traded in a 2005 Pontiac G6 for my Milan. Within a week I knew that I had bought the right car. I had test drove a Ford Fusion, Chrylser 300, Dodge Avenger, Dodage Charger, Hyundai Sonota and a Chrysler Sebring and nothing could compare to my Mercury Milan. The audiophile sound system is great. I love the jack for my MP3. Leather seats are so comfortable and I like the power driver seat. It has a a rich looking interior. Gas mileage is fabulous. I would purchase again!

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  Sable, 2004 - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By jerry6014 - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Well made car, fun to drive.

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  Mercury builds a winner! - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Variseal - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Bought an LS premium with the Duratec 24V V6. The engine makes a nice subdued growl at full throttle and pulls strongly at all speeds, right up to a governed 110 MPH. Handling is above average for a large sedan but the ride is much more forgiving than the Regal/Grand Prix/Impala from GM. Interior is functional, user-friendly and comfortable, if not the most attractive Ive seen. The adjustable pedals are great for my 5 2" wife and I can easily find a good position for my 6 2" frame with plenty of head room. The Mach audio system has good sound and the 6-disc changer in the console is a nice touch. Heater/AC works great.

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  I love my sable - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By MR SABLE! - February 4 - 7:53 pm

  good car, my tranny went after 122,000 miles, got it replaced and she runs fine. its also pretty fast

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  One great SUV - 2007 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Harry Marks - February 3 - 6:30 pm

  I purchased my 2007 Mountaineer last March. For me this has been one fantastic vehicle. My average gas mileage was around 18.5mpg in combined driving and 25 on the open highway with three adults. The optional steering wheel controls for the radio, fan, and cruise were fantastic. I never needed to take my eyes off the road to make adjustments. The optional 3rd row seating came in handy on more than one occasion and were easy to operate. The only thing I did not like were the gaps in the cargo area when the 3rd row seats were stowed. I frequently haul a set of timpani (kettle drums) and the wheels wanted to fall in the cracks. Other than that, I love the vehicle.

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  Fun SUV - 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Bill C - February 3 - 5:36 am

  I really like my mariner so far. Its got good power and is smooth. Especially at freeway speeds it is fun to get the rpms up a little bit. I like the audio system in it. It sounds pretty good depending on the quality of your cds and mp3s. I am not sure if if is a option or not but it would be nice to have an outside temp gauge. Best of all it gets 30 MPG and Ive got a bit of a lead foot.

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  Excellent Van - 2004 Mercury Monterey
  By LA - February 1 - 10:26 am

  I absolutely love everything about this van. We purchased it new and fully loaded. I love the way the third seat folds down for extra space if needed. I love the controls for the audio and cruise on the steering wheel at my fingertips. I love the fold down mirror to be able to see my passengers in the rear seats. It is the best van for the money. I get compliments on its looks all the time. The only problem was the self-sealing tires staying aligned. But, having said that they really do work. I got a nail in my tire on the interstate at 70mph. The tire held up until I got to my destination then went flat. The van did not jerk or anything, messgage center let me know to check the tire

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  Super Car - 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Mikester - January 31 - 10:00 am

  I love this Car! I installed a K&N Performance air filter, adds dramatic low end acceleration and helps gas mileage. Very well built car Made in America!

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  Great Reliable Car! - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By sprotn_candice - January 31 - 2:29 am

  I have a 99 Mercury Cougar V6 Automatic. My parents bought it for me back in 03 with about 32k miles on it. 10 years later, with 155k miles and it is still a great car. All cars break, that is inevitable, but it never left me stranded and always got me home or to the mechanic. Very reliable, sturdy and well built. My interior still looks close to new. Regular oil changes, tires, and brakes. All the norm. This is the perfect first car for a new driver. People are always surprised when I tell them how old my car is. They cant believe it. Im sad to be trading it in for something newer in the next month.

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  Extremely Pleased So Far! - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By Joe - January 30 - 10:36 am

  First SUV and thought I would give Ford/Mercury a shot. Extremely pleased after 6 weeks with this vehicle. Not sure of the reliability, so I bought the extended warranty. Hopefully its what it appears to be and Ill have made a good choice.