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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  Good Car To Own - 1995 Mercury Villager
  By Paul - January 26 - 10:00 am

  I have put over 70000 miles driving this van. It handles nicely on the road. Average mileage in town 17.4, highway 21.2. Maintenance has not been a problem. Great family car and large cargo area.

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  Overall Good Car - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By JHB - January 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive put 10000 miles on my car in 5 mos. Im in the military so I drive a long distance from home and base. I have experienced no engine problems, besides the fact the check engine light is almost always on.The electrical part is another story. The driver side window goes down but not up, and the doors lock automatically sometimes. Otherwise it drives great, runs excellent, and looks really nice. This car in my overall opinion is its a good car with typical car repairs. The car runs very well over long distances. I did buy it with a warranty so its all covered anyways.

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  My New Sable, errr, Milan - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By meinschaft - January 25 - 8:40 pm

  I was deciding between a new Civic Si and either a Fusion or Milan. After driving the Civic Si, I decided it is too small (I commute 140 miles/day). Leased a Milan Premier with all options except traction control (I wanted it but the dealer could not get me a car with it). I was prepared to be satisfied but instead have found myself impressed. The price was the same as the Civic Si, and while Iknow its comparing apples and oranges, the Milan is really a lot more car for the money. What really helped make my decisoin was the treatment I received at the Honda dealer - they are old- fashioned leissure-suited liars and thieves. The Milan is exceptionally quiet and smooth.

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  Fun SUV - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Mark Saber - January 23 - 10:00 am

  I have had a full year with this suv and have enjoyed it completely. This April my family and I drove to Walt Disney World which is over 1300 mile each way and I thought it would cost alot for gas but it was very good on gas much more than i would of guessed. i am very pleased with my suv and would tell my friends to buy one.

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  owner - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By trailer - January 23 - 10:00 am

  would like more miles per gal. especially with high gas prices.........the performance in snow/rain is great! comfort wonderful love driving it very much-- feels so safe very good looking got lots of complments wish gas milege was better

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  Happy owner - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By 30 somthing - January 23 - 10:00 am

  This car is truly a bargin! I have had over 27 cars and for the price it is the most comfortable and refined car Ive had. The 24 valve v6 is great 200hp and I get 22mpg around town and have hit 31mpg on long highway trips. Th leather seats are a must, you just melt right in to them and not hard like a BMW and more comfortable than my mothers E320 Mercedes with leather seating. If your not chasing after the Jonses, the the LS sable is a bargine

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  1997 Sable LS 3.0 DOHC - 1997 Mercury Sable
  By Privet Sale - January 21 - 8:56 pm

  I love the look, ride and feel of this car. The 200HP DOHC engine makes the car. The gas mileage is OK for a 6cyl. It handles a lot better than I would have thought. The streering has a great feel to it and the brakes stop it on a dime. The only complaint I have is the radio/heater control pod. It doesnt easily allow you to put a better stereo in it without buying an expensive dash plate.

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  Lots of problems - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Miche - January 21 - 2:06 pm

  Axle gasket has been replaced twice and is going in for a 3rd time to get fixed due to leaking again! Car stalls while it is in motion when air conditioner is on. It also stalls while idling. I will be driving and the car just shuts down on its own. Mercury dealership says there is nothing wrong with it. I bet they change their minds when I go off the road due to no power of any kind when it stalls. Seat warmer has a burning smell when it is on for more that 5 minutes. Not happy!

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  Great, Quiet Ride & European Style - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By Lewis - January 21 - 1:10 pm

  I bought a low-end model for less than $24K; priced about the same as a Sable wagon, but much nicer. Even the popular priced model has many luxury appointments, a quiet, controlled ride and smooth transmission. Im 64" tall and need lots of headroom and legroom. This car has it in abundance, plus a huge trunk. It wont seat six passengers like the Grand Marquis, but its design, styling, interior appointments and ride are much more up- to-date. If this new model proves to be reliable, then Mercury has a real winner.

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  My 2nd Mountaineer - 2005 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Russ - January 20 - 4:56 am

  This Mountaineer is a small step down from the Luxury version that was my 2002 Mountaineer. I have been very pleased with my last one and this one has some trade off I can live with. I went to the Dealer looking to get a Mountaineer or an Explorer. Why would ANYONE buy an Explorer in which Leather seats and the 3rd row seat is an up charge??? Comparable Explorer with Leather and NO 3rd row seat is the same price. Better ride and styling that Explorer. I put 109,000 + on my 2002 with NO mechanical problems. Been through 2 accidents and still going strong at trade in. I look to continue the same with 2005.