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:

• 

  2004 Mercury Monterey - 2004 Mercury Monterey
  By kevinfriend - March 4 - 12:30 am

  I am an owner of the 2004 Mercury Monterey, I have never wrote a review on a car in my life, but thought this important to do on this one. I bought the van with 38,000 miles, today it has 53,000. I have never been so disappointed in a vehicle in my life. This week the air conditioner is out. Its something at least once a month. I am easy on my cars, service is very important to me. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. I am a 20 year Police Officer and really considering selling all of my Ford products because of this vehicle, terribly dissapointed in Ford Lincoln Mercury for allowing this type of vehicle on the road.

• 

  Nissan Quests body not soul - 1995 Mercury Villager
  By pgmap - December 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle because it is the sibling of Nissan Quest which I know is the best choice of year 1995. One of my friend bought a Quest but I wanted to save some bucks. Got more trouble comparing with my friends Japanese one. Have sent back to dealer five times for variety reasons. Electrical problem is very bothering. Still love the car very much.

• 

  Looks can be deceiving! - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By jayd96 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I had nothing but problems from the start. The passenger rear door would not open from the inside, it takes me several times to start the car in cold weather, the back glass leaks when it rains, and the window rattles. I had this car for two years, and it has been in the shop for over three consecutive months for transmission problems, they say it is fixed however, Im still having problems. I will never purchase another domestic vehilce if I can help it.

• 

  Dont waste your money - 2001 Mercury Villager
  By WASTE OF MONEY - September 16 - 7:23 pm

  We were initially intrigued with the Villager because it is basically a cheaper version of the Nissan Quest, but it has been the worst investment of our lives. We have had nothing but repairs season after season, year after year. We thought we got if for a bargain, but the cost of the repairs makes this vehicle worthless. I hate this van and would not recommend it to anyone. It is noisy, has brake issues, ac issues and has slow acceleration. It eats gas as if it were an truck. Very very disappointing buy. I am looking for a replacement now. I would never recommend this van to anyone. It may be cheap in price only because it is cheap in quality.

• 

  Axles are soft, fuel pump is weak, lighting faulty - 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By SJ - August 31 - 9:40 am

  Pass on it. Ford put soft axles in them, faulty lighting control modules and other sub par parts (fuel pumps, coils, etc)

• 

  Model A Ford - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By Georgr - August 19 - 10:26 am

  The model A ford was a more comfortable riding car than my Mercury Marinar. Its rough riding and and very noisy. The seat are like setting on lava rock. poor gas mileage 10 to 17 miles per gal.It is a very difacult car for Disabled people to get in and out off. Now power going up a Steap hill. I would trade it in a minute if i could afford to. The model A had the Mercury Mariner bet by 100 to 1

• 

  Replacement? - 2010 Mercury Milan
  By flyer - August 16 - 10:56 am

  Traded from 2000 Sable after a great 160,000+ miles. Dealer said this was the replacement for the Sable. Needed car with dual power seats due to wifes back condition. Had to get SYNC to get power seats. Car appears to be designed around "entertainment system." There are 3 different ways to adjust the volume of the system but it is impossible to operate any of the dash controls with winter gloves on. And forget completely about the steering wheel controls, they are way to small to use. However they are really easy to press accidentally while turning the wheel. The seats are narrow and the headrests protrude such that I will have to cut them off and move them back with spacers. Not worth $28K

• 

  Not Your Granpas Car -but Close - 2003 Mercury Marauder
  By Jack C. - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I just amazed that American car companies continue this charade. Looks very municipal.Better,sexier cars available for the same$ or less. For $34k, get a G35.

• 

  Deteriorating Quality - 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Rob in NY - August 6 - 6:33 pm

  This is my third Grand Marquis LS and most disapointing from purchase to quality. Love the big cars but this model has taken a step back. The materials used on the interior are cheapened plastics with sharp edges of the molding process left untrimed. Cup holder is sub standard, rubber shift arm cover prematurely wearing. Poor gas mileage, round town and hwy, avg 17.3mpg. Engine noise horrible, like a desiel, Mercury says its the fuel injectors and normal. Normal or not, its not quality. Exterior paint was not complete in hard to reach areas like inside door edge. After 5000 miles developed intense, intermitant, front end squeek of indetermined cause.

• 

  Worst car ever - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Mihai B - August 5 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car brand new and since that day, im spending most of my time at the dealer for all kinds of problems. Im trying to get rid of it, but it lost so much value over the last 2 years that im losing to much money. I do not recommend to anyone!