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:

• 

  great truck - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By aficionado - July 4 - 2:00 am

  great design, functional interior, nice options, great power, good stereo, nice 17s and great grip from the tires, feels well built, overall would recomend this over explorer and any other suv in the price range

• 

  Premium Car, for real! - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By CTSteve - July 2 - 10:00 am

  I was somewhat worried when going to test drive this car, mostly about how it would accelerate. Turns out, its completely fine, I put it to the test on the highway and was perfectly satisfied. Great Interior design, Exterior design is where these cars shine, they look great from all angles. Handling is much better then I thought, feels smaller than it is.

• 

  Fun to Drive - 2007 Mercury Mariner
  By Tom Walsh - July 1 - 6:46 pm

  I love the truly keyless entry where you cannot lock yourself out of the car. It has great pickup when entering traffic. I also like sitting higher than my previous SW.

• 

  Grand Marquis Still A Good Car - 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Marquis Owner - July 1 - 3:33 am

  I have owned a Grand Marquis for 23 years and just purchased my 7th one, a 2009. The care still rides and handles very well and looks good. I was disappointed to find they have removed the compass, the automatic parking brake release and the Home Link.

• 

  96 XR-7 Cougar - 1996 Mercury Cougar
  By Jason Barksdale - June 29 - 2:00 am

  We bought our cougar when it was a year old it had 20000 miles on it and now it has 92000 miles ive never had any trouble out of it and I love the car in every way,it has the same 4.6 motor as in the GT Mustangs so that means any proformanes parts for a mustang 4.6 will work on it, i had a hard time trying to find somone that would put true duel exhuast on it but i got it done, its very hard to find 18x9 chrome cobra R wheels for it but i did, it rides better that any mustang ive ever rode in, over all i say A+

• 

  Best Used SUV Value. - 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
  By T-Bare - June 29 - 2:00 am

  The 99 Mountaineer is a great all around SUV. It is great for the Michigan winters and very comfortable to drive. I average 15-17 mpg in the city. I realized an impressive 24 mpg on a 19 hour straight thru trip to Tampa, Fla. I bought the vehicle 3 years old with 35,000 miles on it and truly believe it will outlast my 5 year financing.

• 

  Dont buy one that shakes - 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By William Dennison - June 28 - 7:40 am

  This car has vibrated and shook since purchased. The dealer says there is no Ford service bulletin, so there can be no problem. In fact, there is a service bulletin that the dealer apparently does not know about. I gave the dealer a copy of the bulletin and the car is still not fixed. This is the worst car I have ever owned. This car really lives up to what many people think the letters in Ford really represent.

• 

  Great big road car! - 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By junglej - June 26 - 10:13 pm

  I bought my LS used 2 yrs ago at 70k and now have 130k with no repairs whatsoever. I love the gas mileage - Im getting 24.6 summer and 22.6 winter with about 60%hwy and 40%city driving. Even at our mile-high, theres plenty of power in the small V8 to accelerate up hills. I easily and inexpensively bought a Ford OEM radio/CD player to replace the std cassette player. I found the drivers seat didnt fit me well until after I took out the lumbar support and put more foam in the upper back and seat bottom. I also found that I have to brake with my left foot or the awkward right leg position causes pain. Im 62" and 270lbs.

• 

  Mileage/Sync - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By Michael - June 25 - 8:36 am

  I have driven this vehicle for 2 months and I am very happy with the MPG. I am getting 25 mpg in the city and got 29.5 on my one highway trip. These figures exceed the numbers on the window sticker. Those who worry about performance, you need not. For a four cylinder it is snappy. I think the 6 speed transmission helps .

• 

  Marked improvement - 2009 Mercury Sable
  By TFR - June 25 - 6:20 am

  Had a 2005 Montego, almost every change I would have made plus was done with 2009 Sable: bigger engine, better sound system, better trans, antenna off the body, Huge tech advances, rides better, so far two minor complaints gas mileage s/b still be better for a six cylinder and the wiper control a little awkward on the left side of the column, (will get used to it) otherwise great car. If Ford came out with this car two years ago it would have helped their current sad situation.