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:

• 

  Transmission and drive train problems - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Dane LaGrow - June 22 - 4:56 pm

  Ford used many poor quality parts on my vehical. Replaced fuel pump.Replaced both rear springs(broke in man spots).Rear wheel bearings. Transmission had to be rebuilt twice. Transmission was rebuilt at Schmit Bros.Ford in Saukville wi. at 83000 miles. The transmission failed again at 112000 miles. They refused to stand behind there work.The owner said they installed Ford parts and it was Fords fault the transmission failed.I contacted Ford and they refused to stand behind Schmit Bros work. We have not had the tranmission repaired yet. This is the last Ford I will ever Buy.

• 

  If I could only give it back - 2009 Mercury Milan
  By Michael Duvall - June 16 - 7:43 pm

  Like a total idiot, I traded in my totally loaded 04 Oldsmobile Aurora to get this car which was loaded; after getting home I begin realizing how there were hardly if any options assumed. I cant stand this car, the way it shifts, the way it drives, Ive already put about 13K in mileage on this car as I commute a ton. Seats are extremely uncomfortable, interior design is horrible, turning radius is terrible, when you pop the trunk it doesnt self open. No A/C or heating vents in the rear seats; I can go on and on. LOOK HARD BEFORE YOU BUY THIS CAR; I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED. I tried to give it back within the 3-day period of time; but the dealer wouldnt return my calls on how to.

• 

  lemon law should apply - 2001 Mercury Cougar
  By Cougarowner - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Overall I am displeased with this model. The mercury gods could have put a little more than 170hp under the hood, but what this car lacks in power, It sure makes up for in handling!! Semi- smooth ride, Has its Corvette like qualities, Corners on rails! I once made a 80 deg. turn at 65 mph in a 4 wheel drift, She went right where I wanted her to just by hitting or letting off the gas. However, Things are not all well in the Cougar stable. The 99 Cougar allong with select 2001s are having PCM programing problems. Causing hesitation in 1st and 2nd gears. Replacement of the PCM chip will determine which gear this problem will show up in.

• 

  Milan - Urban Nightmare! - 2006 Mercury Milan
  By Steve - May 16 - 4:36 pm

  Bought the Milan which supposedly replaces the Sable, three of which I drove for 10 years. Absolutely no comparison. The Milan ride, while smooth on highways, is awful on city streets. You feel every bump and the car shakes on potholes, as if there are no shock absorbers. Urban gas mileage is about 13 mpg, much lower than the Sable. During summer which a/c on and idling, mpg was 10. Then theres the wide wheel base which means wide turning circle, a detriment for parking in tight spots or making U turns on city streets. Youre paying more for less quality which seems minimally cheap compared to the Sable LS.

• 

  Terrible SUV - 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
  By michelle - May 14 - 2:50 pm

  I bought an 06 Premier V8 new. What a waste of 30K. It is beautiful but has been nothing but trouble. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS and has had to be serviced once a quarter since I bought it. Ford has tried several different "computer calibrations" to fix it to no avail. Also motor on 3rd row seat went out even though we leave it down 99% of the time. Also, only gets 14 mpg, 17 HWY AT BEST. Seats are uncomfortable over 100 mile trips. Door handles are ridiculous & doors must be slammed to shut. I cant believe I traded in my Lexus on this clunker. Do yourself a favor and do not buy this car.

• 

  Look elsewhere - 2000 Mercury Villager
  By Pillager - May 12 - 2:00 am

  I know minivans are by their nature boring vehicles. The Villager is especially so. I have also had a nagging squeak from the steering column that the dealer was never able to completely fix.

• 

  A Real Let-Down - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By mfultz - March 17 - 2:10 pm

  I bought this 2002 Mountaineer in 2004 with about 37,000 miles. Initially, I was impressed with the car, especially the 3-row seat. About a year later on a trip from LA to San Francisco, I noticed an "clunking" in the transmission. We really do not drive the car except on long family outings because we have two other smaller, more economical cars. Now at 89,000 both the transmission and the rear axle have gone out. Trans cost $2600; rear end $600. Now I see people indicating there are suspension problems. I am terrified. This is not American! Ford has numerous complaints about trans. Problems. The American thing to do, Ford, would be to back your product! Shame, shame, shame!

• 

  Regrets the Cougar! - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By Big Big Mistake - February 26 - 9:56 am

  The car looked great. I was just about to turn 40 and was tired of being practical. I wish I stayed practical. The alternator has been replaced 4 times. The cup holder tips. The tires wear out easily. The engine light is constantly on for a number of reasons. Ford should pay for these recalls. The stereo buzzes and short circuits, but does come back on if you hit a bump in the road just right. The car is very uncomfortable and the ride is awful. I only have less that 200 words to describe this car, so I will use one word... awful.

• 

  False Promises - 2004 Mercury Monterey
  By II - December 30 - 5:36 pm

  Build quality is dismal. In 28K miles, I have new tires, new rear brakes, new traction control chip, new windshield wiper cowl and the power doors have been adjusted 3 times already. Gas mileage is poor. 14 city & 17 hwy. Dealer promised 18/23 which never, ever happened. Interior materials are poor quality and cheap. Only reason I bought it (left over model with huge discount of $15K off list). Thats where the bargain ended.

• 

  Wrong Chassis for an SUV - 2001 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Jerry - December 9 - 7:53 am

  Dependable, very powerful engine, but do not get that secure,always in control feel, one gets with a newer and different chassis Suv. Wrong purchase for me!