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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  Most comfortable and efficient Van - 2002 Mercury Villager
  By Kim - January 8 - 5:36 am

  This is the first minivan I have owned and am very pleased with the comfort and the fuel economy. I have gotten 23- 25 mpg highway miles. Also, the leather seats are very comfortable with a lumbar support for the driver. I have to travel long distances to work and the comfort is great since I have a bad back. The sound quality is great especially with the video system. The only compliant are the tires; Michelin Symmerty tires are already worn badly at 60,000 miles and are very rough. Overall this is the best car I have ever owned. Unfortunately they (Nissan) dont make this van anymore. It is basically a Nissan Quest.

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  value for the money - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By due - December 26 - 10:00 am

  For a family car dont pass this one up!

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  ImpMauler - 2004 Mercury Marauder
  By FinishLine - December 26 - 10:00 am

  First thing first. This car can stamp out any Impala on the road. However, the Imp was built almost ten years ago and still is a worthy adversary. To me that doesnt make sense. This car should have been 360 horsepower more low end torque and equipped with a five speed automatic/auto stick. Then I would be able to understand Fords ingenious advertising scheme for this car (not!)Which we all know was no advertisement at all. Because you wouldnt have to advertise a car like that. But that didnt happen did it? And that is why this is the last year the beloved Marauder will be built. What a shame!!

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  Floats my boat! - 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By rubleman420 - December 22 - 1:26 am

  Good solid comfortable car for the whole family. Im only 25 years old and people say that I drive an old man car but so what. With a V-8 that gets 25 mpg and all the power in the world, I cant complain at all. Smooth, smooth, smooth!

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  I love my new 2010 Mercury Milan - 2010 Mercury Milan
  By mj816 - December 20 - 1:53 am

  Overall, this is a great family car. I traded in my SUV for better MPG. It has a sleek interior (I have the two tone leather) and it is very luxurious. I have the sync system and Sirius XM radio. My car comes with ambient lighting which I think my kids enjoy more than I do. This car is the entire package and Im sad that 2011 is the last year for Mercury.

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  LoveD this car - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By seltz9 - December 18 - 2:42 am

  My parents bought this car brand new and gave it to me. They had no problems every, except that back hatch crack that is common, i get it and everything is wrong at 76,000. rain out of gas on I-80 recently because all of a sudden my gas gage doesnt work. my ABS light is always on and my cruise never works. my ac and heat do not work. back riper flew off, tranny is apparently going out, loud metal clinking, stereo bass and treble dont work, speaker goes in and out, leather had been cracked since day 1. i love this car cause i know what it was like brand new and have kept us safe but i offically hate it too

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  Best SUV deal out there - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Texas Steve - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Bought it used at a dealership with 64K miles for relatively very little $$$. Now at 78K, other than gas mileage, cant find fault with this car/truck/SUV-thing. All wheel drive, ABS, leather, power everything, a V8 with guts, CD changer, on-and-on-and- on. Like it so much, am giving it to my parents to drive. And I love my parents.

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  A Car You Cant Live Without - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By politicsguy - December 12 - 2:00 am

  I travel 45k miles per year, and trade every 18 months or so. I bought the Sable because the price was better than the Focus wagon I wanted...then discovered tons of comfort, awesome ride, amazing Mach audio system, space galore, a strong feeling of safety, and good looks. Im looking forward to trading this for the 03 model!

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  Large Merc. - 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Coolbreeze - December 12 - 2:00 am

  The engine is very smooth, starts easily and runs well. Fuel economy is surprising to me (24 highway). Trans shifs smoothly, but not always very timely. Ride is stable and quiet.

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  great car - 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Bob C - December 12 - 2:00 am

  Very nice car with plenty of room and great ride. Engine slightly noise but with plenty of power, but price to pay with less than desirable mileage.