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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  I cant complain - 1996 Mercury Cougar
  By dmastri682 - February 18 - 2:36 pm

  I bought my cougar a year and a half ago for $4,500. Honestly, I dont think I could have gotten a better car. It had about 80,000 miles on it when I bought it. Ive put about 35,000 miles on this car in less than 2 years and ive only had to get new tires, brakes, and a major tune up. It drives great, and I am so grateful for its reliability and integrity. Recently, I considered purchasing a newer "flashy" car. I ultimately decided against it because getting rid of the cougar would just be plain dumb. If I sold it, I dont think I could live with myself for getting rid of such a great car simply because Im an impulse buyer. I would recommend this car to absolutely anyone.

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  Mercury doing a good job - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By keithm - February 18 - 12:10 pm

  Just traded an 06 Milan premier for an 08 Sable Premier AWD. Color is "Light Sage" (more resembles a pearlescent silver)Car has everything except Reat Seat Entertainment/Rear Window Shade. My partner, who thought I was nuts for trading so soon loves the Sirius Sat.radio/Nav.system. Overall car is more luxurious & more powerful than Milan. If 09 Milan gets 3.5 V6 things will change. Tested Lincoln MKZ with 3.5. Smaller car means faster car. Wanted more room (Milan is still pretty roomy) Overall an outstanding car.

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  Great road car - 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Opajim - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Had a bit more trouble with this one than the 89. Idle air control and intake manifold were problems I would not expect to have. Other than that only normal items such as alternator.

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  Kind of vanilla... - 1998 Mercury Mystique
  By King George III - January 31 - 5:53 am

  This is a nice car, but not exciting. My particular Mystique has a 4 cyl. engine, and I wish it had a six. It has been very dependable, still runs quiet. Fit and finish has held up very well. All in all, a nice family car for small kids, but not exciting.

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  Great car if youve got $$ to burn. - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By she can read - January 27 - 10:00 am

  The 1999 Cougar is my first car. Ive had it for about 2 years now, and am looking for a new car. I recently entered college and switched to commuter status... bad idea with an unreliable Cougar. I love the look of it, and when theres nothing wrong with it, its an absolutely awesome car to drive. However, its been in the shop countless times within these 2 years for stupid problems such as an airbag light coming on (theres nothing wrong with the airbags), same with the engine light... and it costs $75 a pop to turn these lights off! Its become a nuisance and in short, Im looking for a sturdier car with better gas mileage (I only get about 17-18 MPG, 19 or 20 on the highway).

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  Quality - 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Mike - January 23 - 6:50 pm

  For road, long distance driving this cannot be beat. Comfortable, low noise, 22-24 mpg road. Good trunk space

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  Great Value Decent Performance - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Joe - January 21 - 3:30 am

  Ok - so we needed an SUV at our vacation home - Ford came out with the employee pricing and we took a Luxury FWD with a roof rack off the lot - yes, Out the Door" for $19,500 - including tax, license, dealer junk fees, prep, salesman commissions etc etc. The standard V6 auto luxury pkg., no options except the roof rack. Adequate performance [I own a Porsche and the wife a Saab], great vision out the front, decent seats, CD player, buy one now with ee pricing & $2000 rebate.

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  2000 Monterey Wedgewood Blue & Gold - 2000 Mercury Mountaineer
  By DRJ - January 16 - 10:30 am

  Purchased used 8 years ago w/49,000 miles on it. Now have 118,000 miles and only significant problems have been the transmission (torque converter) rebuild at 87,000, and as with many others, radio display went out - had repaired and then all button functions stopped working (original radio a real piece of junk!). Replaced radio with newer OEM Ford radio w/6 cd changer from OEM Car Audio (on Ebay). Other than new tires , battery, brakes, shocks,serpentine belt, plugs and 13.7 avg mpg (mostly city), a pleasure to own and drive. Also a couple of minor factory recalls, big deal. At 118K miles, Ive got a lot more to go! Body in excellent shape even after subjected to Minnesota winters & salt.

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  Nice car, but not a Subaru - 2010 Mercury Milan
  By Sara - January 16 - 12:36 am

  So far, at 6 months and 12,000 miles, this car is smooth, very comfortable, and has done well in ice and snow (I added X-Ice snows). It doesnt have the crisp responsive handling of my Subaru, but its so comfortable you can forgive it for a lot. What I dont like: after 6 months, I still have to look for climate controls. There are a lot of them, they all feel the same, I have to stretch to reach them. Getting the free trial to Sirius radio reupped was a rude surprise. The radio in the car will only accept Sirius most expensive plans. You get a deal, but I would still pay for all the junk I dont want in order to hear the few stations I like. Its a nice car, but next one is a Subaru.

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  Tried and True... Still The Best! - 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Joel Nazaretian - January 15 - 5:00 am

  I am only 35 years old, and grew up in a household that always had a Lincoln. My father was a Master Mechanic who always stated Fords were build the best, so I may be a bit biased. However, I buy a vehicle based on styling and ride quality. Years of reading all the reports that state front wheel drive and imports are best, I still prefer a domestic, body on frame, rear wheel drive configuration over anything. The ride is SUPERIOR, and CANNOT be duplicated in a unitized body, front wheel drive car, PERIOD! So everyone can laugh all they want at my Grandpa Car, or Police Car, including the yuppies passing me in their Bimmers who think they drive a far superior and advanced car.