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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  2005 Mercury Montego premier 2 whl drive - 2006 Mercury Montego
  By Les Cringan - December 13 - 8:23 pm

  Most problem is the reading the speedometer in the daylight, I believe they should have reversed the contrasts. Night is ok. The steering adjustment is awkward compared to the Lincon Town Car I had. It was a pleasure to drive.. The Montedgo rides fairly well and is comfortable. The side mirrors are difficult for my to see out of as they are very large and she is smaller than I even with the seat adjust, it does not help her. If they would correct the intrument lighting in day time I would be satisfied

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  Great Car - 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
  By Art - December 13 - 3:13 am

  We have had it three weeks and went to the highest peak on the east coast with out a problem. Good pick-up, excellant features and we are averaging 4o miles to the gallon. It is nice to see such a solid, well built, American car. Memory for the drivers seat would have been nice but it is what it is,,,,,still impressed.

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  chaddomans 98 is a definite winner - 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By chaddoman - December 9 - 1:13 am

  Bought 3 yrs. ago from a good neighbor. New Michelins (white-walled) improved handling significantly from average/lacking to very good. Gas mileage exactly 27 mpg at 75 mph (pleasantly surprising). (I use Mobil- 1 synthetic oil.)Ranges 13 to 16 in town - a little disappointing. Replaced (slight-leaking) right rear axle seal at 48,000 miles during brake change. Otherwise extremely reliable. Very quiet at highway speeds. Very good braking. Well be buying a new/newer one soon. Also own much less- reliable and highly-expensive (operational and repair), dealer- gouging Infinity Q45. Sure, its more exciting to drive, BUT, BUT, BUT..! (Well soon be selling the Q to buy another Marquis-LS.)

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  Best front wheel drive - 2006 Mercury Montego
  By Gus - December 8 - 11:23 pm

  The montego is the best front wheel drive I have ever driven. It also has one of the best road visbilities, you have a very good front view of the road.The montego is just fun to drive.

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  Excellent alternative to Japanese models - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By Oshkosh49 - December 5 - 5:50 pm

  This car is just a fantastic choice. I love this car. Ive had nothing but a very excellent experience owning this car since March. Absolutely zero quality issues. It rides like silk. It handles and looks like a more expensive European sports sedan. The combonation of the 6-speed automatic and the 3.0 liter 221HP V6 provides excellent acceleration. Especially anything over 35 MPH. The interior with the comfortable two-tone leather seating and the wood-grained dash gives it a look of a higher end European model. And for a similarly equipped Camry, Altima, or Accord, youll pay more, lots more in some cases. There is no better midsize car for the money than the V6 Mercury Milan Premier.

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  Despite problems, I love this car - 2001 Mercury Cougar
  By mu4120 - December 4 - 1:56 pm

  I rolled this car off the lot with 22 miles on it and nearly 7 years and 139,000 miles later I am still driving it. The transmission did go out around 64,00 and the fuel pump was replaced (both under warranty). Other than normal wear and tear, this car is great. People still compliment me on it, and I love to drive it. However I hate how small the backseat is. I now have two kids and its way too small, but we deal with it. I wish it took off faster and the mileage isnt real great - in my opinion. However it does the job and looks great and gets me from point A to point B. I hate buying tires because they are expensive with the 17 inch rims. But I still love the car, regardless.

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  A great car! - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By FREDDY COUGAR - December 2 - 5:00 am

  After reading some of the troubles other people had with their Cougar, I must have got all the good parts. My 2000 Cougar SE had only 25 miles on it and came with the five speed. For the next 6 years and 120,000 miles not a thing went wrong aside from the tires and brakes being replaced 3x. Then the alternator went and a few months later the original battery died. I consider that normal wear. For 2008 Ive done a the front brakes and my 4th set of tires and have 145,000 miles on it. I give the car a good detailing every spring inside and out and she still looks new. Ill keep her as long as nothing major goes wrong with the engine or the tranmission. Good luck to the other owners.

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  Mountaineer -Great Ride - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By ceil Rydzewski - December 1 - 8:43 pm

  The SUV has given me no problems.I tow a 2-horse trailer and it pulls great. Why have a truck when the comfort and tow is all in this car. I am about to buy a new one

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  "GRANDE" Marquis - 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Jack McGowan - November 26 - 9:06 pm

  I owned a 93,96,97,03 and now a 2007.Would I rebuy these beauties if the werent an excellent car? gave the 93 to grandson,traded the 96 for the 07,sold the 97 to my son and sold the 03 when wife died.They were all superior performing cars and all got between 22 and 25 mpg.You can do no better at the price.

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  Couldnt beat the price - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By MerleB - November 26 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car with only 10,000 miles for $11,775. Lots of car for the money, couldnt have touched anything remotely comparable for the price. Remainder of factory warranty. Certainly not my dream car (BMW 740)but it is a great value.