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:

• 

  TLC and my cougar went a long way - 1996 Mercury Cougar
  By Brittaney8807 - June 21 - 7:23 pm

  I bought my car my senior year of high school because I needed a car that I could drive and I could fit in, and it was the only one on the lot in my price range (two grand). I brought it home, and never had any problems with it until it hit the 170000 mile mark, than it completely fell apart on me, so I had the engine rebuilt because I loved the car, its durable, and not overbearingly powerful, and a nice car to take to college with. Since than I have never had a problem with it, just keeping up maintenance and driving on.

• 

  VERY COOL SUV - 2001 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Livia - June 21 - 10:00 am

  My Mountaineer is a 2002....I Love my Mountaineer! It is a pleasure to drive and I feel very safe and secure in it with my two kids.. I really love to drive this SUV its much nicer than my 2000 Mountaineer, and I would highly reccommend it!! The third row seat is great too!!

• 

  I love it and it is fun to drive - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By B H - June 21 - 10:00 am

  I have had no warranty problems, the gas ecomony has exceeded the manufacuters recommendations. I love the way it hugs the road and goes around the curves.

• 

  Terrible Ride - 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By carb711 - June 20 - 8:13 pm

  I bought this car new, after having test driven one and renting one for a week. They were fine. Mechanically this car is great. However, the ride quality has been slowly deteriorating ever since day one. The amount of wind noise makes normal conversation difficult. Rear passengers almost need a kidney belt due to the stiff ride. The dealership says both problems are normal. How do they justify that it keeps getting worse then. I had beaters in college that rode better. Ive owned one in the past and also own a Mercury Cougar. Neither had these problems. Going out shopping this week for a Toyota and Im sure Ill get poor trade in value.

• 

  Montego Test Drive - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By R J Harris - June 19 - 7:36 am

  I was looking for an AWD sedan, and drove the CVT Montego. The car is big, but I found the drivers seating position to be cramped. Power was adequate, but the engine was rough and noisy. The CVT was weird, but seemed to work OK. I could get used to it. The car is nothing special to look at and a bit unrefined. The price is right, however, and if it had been more comfortable, I might consider it. There are too many other choices out there.

• 

  Better Gas Milage Please - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By John Holkmes - June 18 - 11:53 am

  I actually love the Mercury Mariner except when I was driving back from my brothers house last weekend the check engine light came on and the system monitor stated that there was an emission system problem and to push the start button to clear it so that is what I did and ever since I have been getting terrible fuel economy between 16 and 17 mpg when I should be getting 22 to 24 mpg I am not happy with the fuel economy.

• 

  Impressed - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By hollowman186 - June 18 - 10:00 am

  I recenty upgraded from the 2003 to the 2004. Although the differences are subtle, they are quite enjoyable. The feel of the 04 is great, handles like a champ. I am used to driving Ford F- 150 and 250, and evertime I get in this thing it floors me with its size/performance. Holds a turn, pushes you into the seat, and keeps you beggig for more. I love it, and I am sure I will continue to.

• 

  2000 Mercury Cougar - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Mindy Dill - June 18 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a piece of junk!

• 

  Old Folks Car - 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Merleal2 - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Great for trips, poor man luxery car.

• 

  Happy owner - 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Willard - June 13 - 2:23 am

  Have experienced almost eight years of trouble free operation. Vehicle now has 75000 miles. Fuel mileage for our routine shopping is 20+.