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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  My three years with the Mariner Hybrid - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By satisfied7 - July 28 - 10:33 am

  I put a lot of miles on my car with my sales job. When I first drove one, the seats fit me comfortably and it sat nicely. up high and with good back support. After three years, I couldnt be happier. I average 30.5 miles per gallon on my half highway, half city driving and its peppy enough for me at the age of 56. I love my Sirius radio along with my navigation system. It wont have the pickup of cars Ive owned in the past but how often do you really need it. When Ive needed it, it responded adequately. Ive put 105,000 miles on it in just over three years and all Ive done is get the oil changed and kept up with the required maintenance at my dealer. I love it.

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  SLOW SERVICE FROM DEALER - 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By BERNIE - July 20 - 10:00 am

  I TRADED IN A 2001 GRAND MARQUIS ON A 2003. THE FIRST DAY I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SURGED IN REVERSE. THE DEALER REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION TWICE & IT WAS STILL BAD. FINALLY THEY PUT IN A NEW FACTORY TRANSMISSION & IT WAS OK. THIS TOOK 37 DAYS SO THE LEMON LAW KICKED IN. NOW I AM WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT CAR. I LOVE THE CAR BUT THE SERVICE WAS BAD.

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  300 miles and new transmission! - 2010 Mercury Milan
  By Joe - July 15 - 2:50 pm

  I am giving this car low scores only because after one week the transmission would not shift correctly. i took it back to the dealer and they gave me excuses about why they could not download a program from Ford to test the transmission. After two days they finally decided that the car needed a new transmission. I purchased this car and drove it only 5 days. Now it has been in the shop for 7 days. I do like this car but I feel like its the same old bad Ford service. Before the trouble I would agree with the other positive reviews.

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  Fun To Drive! - 2000 Mercury Mystique
  By pmangiafico2 - July 6 - 10:00 am

  This is a very underrated car - with a 5-speed manual, the V6 engine really rips, and the handling is in the BMW/Audi league. If you dont need the status and gadgets that go with a BMW 3-series, this car brings you the performance and handling for half the cost. And it even came standard with leather, power drivers seat, etc., which are *options* in the low-end BMW. Nearly everyone who has ridden in it has asked me "what kind of car is this?". I guess nobody seems to expect a boring Mercury sedan to blast off and zip around corners better than the more expensive, yet smaller, new Jetta, and in the same league as cars more than twice its twice. Rock on!

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  02 cougar V6 - 2002 Mercury Cougar
  By rjohnson319 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for a little over six months now and havent had any problems. I feel that it is pretty sporty, and its a lot of fun to drive. Its light weight combined with the V6, really gives it some oomph!

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  Good American Sedan - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By BamaBoy - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Have been pleased to date. Good power, decent gas mileage in town/great on highway. Roomy for 4 individuals. GOOD FAMILY SEDAN at GREAT PRICE if buying used.

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  Mercury Mariner - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By Debbie A. - July 2 - 11:40 am

  Nice exterior - I have the red with the beige interior (would have been much better if gray interior was offered), handles well,

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  A good reason to buy a Honda. - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By B Leslie - July 1 - 11:40 pm

  We finally bought this after searching for a new car for 5 years.We bought this used and got a good deal, but could have gotten a better deal new (always check 1st).Anyway, after having the SUV for 2 years a few things have shown their ugly faces.1)the transmission is a lemon. Ford has recalled this transmission, but not on a mountaneer. 2)the fake metal trim is just cheap paint on tan plastic. 3)the 4L V6 needs to be trashed (just spent $500 to fix a CEL and do regualar maintance).4)dont buy for fuel economy.5)The interior parts are garbage. It will hold its own on the road, its fun to drive for an SUV, and you cannot lose it in a parkinglot.

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  This SUV has treated me right - 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
  By TH - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Overall Ive had a great experience with this vehicle. Love the versatility - have hauled all sorts of things home with it - furniture, bags and bags of mulch, mountains of groceries - you name it. The front seats are very comfortable, the leather has worn well, dont know about the back seats since Ive never sat in them but havent had any complaints. Had a few minor problems covered under warranty - I have a great dealer so they are always taken care of quickly, plus a couple of recall items - the windshield wiper problem and the radio.

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  This SUV has treated me right - 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
  By th - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Overall Ive had a great experience with this vehicle. Love the versatility - have hauled all sorts of things home with it - furniture, bags and bags of mulch, mountains of groceries - you name it. The front seats are very comfortable, the leather has worn well, dont know about the back seats since Ive never sat in them but havent had any complaints. Had a few minor problems covered under warranty - I have a great dealer so they are always taken care of quickly, plus a couple of recall items - the windshield wiper problem and the radio.