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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  A Great Car - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By sable2001 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This has been a great car to own so far. Absolutely no problems whatsoever. Comfortable, quiet, and good acceleration.

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  If shes happy, I am REALLY happy! - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By RWB - January 27 - 10:00 am

  My wife is a glass half full kind of person. Dont get me wrong, I love her to pieces but, trying to please her can be a challenge. In 10 years of marriage I can count the things that she is completely satisfied with on one hand. Her new Mountaineer is one of them. She is a deposition court reporter, and drives to different destinations every day. She now feels safe and comfortable and is very, very happy. Needless to say, I am estatic!

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  LS Wagon - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By scotty5484 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Everyone laughed at me when I traded my 5 litre mustang on this wagon, but everyone now wants to borrow it. It has become the neighborhood mule.

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  Never wanted an SUV - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By judy - January 26 - 1:00 pm

  My husband kept insisting I needed a 4WD vehicle. I buy a vehicle because of the way it looks, no other reason. The salesman showed me 5 vehicles the day I bought the Mountaineer. Each one had to be cleaned of 6 inches of snow! When I saw the Mountaineer, I said "ok I like how this looks. I drove it, and bought it that day. Its been 1 1/2 years and I love it.

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  Great First Car - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By rr16 - January 24 - 12:06 am

  I just turned 16 and i wanted to buy a car that i would love but a car that wouldnt completely drain my savings. The 99 cougar was perfect. It rides nice for a small car, it is fast and it gives you a feeling of security when your in it. All of the controls are easy to access while driving, and the heating and air conditioning work in seconds. If your looking for a car that makes peoples heads turn, you need this car. The great thing about it is you cant tell its 11 years old.

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  What A Pile - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By The Expert - January 23 - 9:03 am

  First I cannot admit that I could bring myself to purchase this car because it is not my car but my parents. I have used it over the years as a loaner when needed. I have driven many American cars and currently own a 2004 Honda Accord and a 2010 Toyota Camry. This car is such a pile that it is hard to be intellectual about it. I wont go into the endless maintenance problems and monies spent but just say that it is so joyless and clunky to drive. It is a V6 yet drives as though it would rather be sitting in a pasture rusting. It lumbers along and the shifting is clunky. The best shape this car could be in is a cube at the junkyard.

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  Why quit building a winner? - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By A Ford Man Always - January 21 - 11:20 am

  Ive owned it 3 years with 60K on it and without question, the very best car Ive ever owned. Only problem to occur was seat heater broke and was fixed under warranty. Im 72 years old and have owned many cars and have driven 2-3 million miles and this car is the MOST COMFORTABLE car Ive ever sat it. The higher seats make it so easy to get in and out. Ive just wwore out the OEM Pirelli tires and have replaced them with new Hankook Optimos which are like floating on air. Why would Ford stop making such a grand car? My opinion seems to be shared with 96% of those here responding. What gives? Of course the new Taurus is indeed a pretty good alternative.

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  Dont like it much, but its dependable - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By THE LEWIS - January 21 - 10:00 am

  We purchased the car because we had to get something larger with a second child on the way. With 2 kids now and 2 car seats, not enough room. Now, that were trying to trade it in Im finding we overpaid by way to much. The cars okay but not for the price. I wish I would have bought an SUV in the first place or a Honda, at least the payments Ive made would amount to something!!!!

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  SkimpyRider - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Works4me - January 18 - 8:16 pm

  Pros: Excellent vehicle with surprisingly good stability-very close to Hondas roadability. Tight turning radius a big plus. Lots of fun to drive. Cons: Center led display of time, temperatures etc. cannot be see in bright sunlight. GPS/radio screen could be brighter and crisper (higher resolution).

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  Sleeper - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By ya kiddd - January 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is a sleeper, with 200 hp and dual exhaust, its pretty fun to drive and also suprised me when i stepped on the gas. It has great acceleration with lots of toys & options : outside temp, sunroof, auto climate, spacious interiorm and a great sound system. I had my Sable for about 4 years with no major mechanical problems....until it got totaled