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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  My OK Car - 1998 Mercury Mystique
  By LBB - December 10 - 5:03 pm

  I bought my 4cycl car from a private owner 4 years ago with 98,000 miles on it and now I currently have 161,000 miles on it. It has been a good little car, but I have had to put some work into it. The little things seem to be going wrong with it. When I got it I found the thermostat control sensor was messed up and it actually reads hotter than the engine is actually running. This last fall I had to replace the fuel regulator and now the car just stops running for no reason. The mechanic cant even figure it out. But I will keep on driving it because it is a good little car. Its fun to drive and cheap. Once its dead I will probably go get another one.

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  Another better idea from Ford L/M - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By j.o. - December 7 - 4:23 am

  What a fantastic car!! It is so comfortable and fun to drive. We had the spoiler, clear bra, window tint, Eclipse navagation system and locking gas cap added aftermarket. It is very sporty and has all the features that more expensive cars have. The CVT transmission is very smooth. We could have bought a more expensive car, but this car has it all for a great price. It handles very well on corners and excellent braking. We were going to get a Lincoln Zephyr in 2006, but the Montego has more room and AWD with almost Lincoln luxury. Ford kicks GMs butt with this and many other fine cars and trucks. Chrysler 300 is no match for this car either. Compare any sedan to top notch Montego.

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  Bought mine in 2012 - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By bondianwolf - December 5 - 2:03 pm

  I bought my 1997 Mountaineer in 2012 with 155,000 miles. I am the third owner. Did some minor DIY fixes and the thing just keeps shining. It shifts a little hard. And I did some work on the cooling system after driving it across country in summertime heat. But overall very happy. I luv the strong motor. 2WD but performs well in snow and Ive even taken it off-roading and been impressed. Comfortable interior. Surprisingly durable. Easy to find parts at any junk yard. Ford got this one right. They are a leader in truck sales and I understand why now.

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  Disappointment - 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
  By John - December 5 - 6:10 am

  I have owned a 1995 Explorer and a 2000 Mountaineer. The 2006 is not an improvement but a huge disappointment. The ride is not good, very stiff! Even my 8 year old says his rear hurts after only 15 minutes. The transmission shifts hard and you feel it. There is very noticable jerky feel to the ride when at a steady mph. The 3rd row seats have a hole in them from the metal brackets when the seat is folded. Rear visiblity is very poor due to the headrest not going all the way down to the seat on the 2nd and 3rd row. I wish I kept my 2000 Mountaineer!

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  Mercuey Montego Engineering improvments - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By William Parris - December 4 - 1:23 pm

  One of the best handling automobiles I have ever driven. The way this transmission and revolutions of the engine work together is really great. This gives you the horse power you need and keeps the engine RPM turning where your most HP is generated. You never feel or hear any shifing inside the car.

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  Best van ever - 2000 Mercury Villager
  By Lisa - December 4 - 10:00 am

  My second villager but sadly my last. This van has been safe and reliable and has the pick up of my husbands Nissan sedan. I started out using it for transportation to preschool and am now using it for 800 mile trips to Ohio for college. Never a second thought about it breaking down. Just keep up with service and youre set.

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  98 Mercury Grand Marquis - 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By MercuryFan - December 2 - 9:13 pm

  I bought the car used in 2002 with 75,000 miles. I have since put on almost 100,000 miles with no problems. The engine/transmission on these cars is bulletproof. This is my third Grand Marquis. The two previous cars were an 85 and a 92. Both of them reached 200,000 miles with no engine or transmission problems. I would definitely buy another one.

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  Good Family Car - 2006 Mercury Montego
  By JP - November 30 - 7:50 am

  Just got my Montego a month ago. Nice family car, lots of room for the kids. While people have complained about the acceleration I think it is adequate however the CVT gives you the impression the car is not accelerating. Interior is very comfortable for a 6 driver. The perforated leather is a little cheesy. Drives and handles nicely and the Merlot color turns heads, nobody even knows what kind of car it is.

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  NICE RIDE - 2008 Mercury Milan
  By vince - November 29 - 8:26 pm

  I bought this car a few months ago, and the ride is awsome. Drives like a lincoln. I got the V4, and it gets great gas milage. It has a lot of power for a v-4. About 28 mpg hwy. The stereo has a great sound. Finger touch steering wheel for radio and cruise control. Leather seats are padded for a nice long ride. Its a classey type car for the money. A little hard to see out the back window when backing. I would recommend this car.

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  suspension - 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By big harry - November 28 - 10:00 am

  good vdhicle solid