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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  Best Vehicle Ive Ever Owned!!! - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Linda in NC - August 16 - 10:03 pm

  I purchased my 97 Mercury Mountaineer in September 96. It has approximately 235,000 miles and is still as reliable as the day I bought it. I have only had to replace the brakes, the tires (of course) and just a few miscellaneous "pieces and parts". It has by far been the best vehicle Ive ever owned and if I ever do decide to trade it in, Ill get another Mountaineer. Why mess with a good thing??

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  2002 Cougar V6 35th Anniversary Edition - 2002 Mercury Cougar
  By Qwerty - August 15 - 8:03 pm

  One of the best cars Ive owned, easy fun to drive, got some power to it, would be nice if they could get a more powerful v6 in it

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  very nice Suv - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By sugar2 - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Our experience with this suv has been enjoyable so far it has many many neat features of luxury and comfort for the driver. Not to big but big enough to be usable. we like it so far.

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  Mercury Mountainer review - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By PJJMC - August 14 - 10:00 am

  The Mercury Mountainer is a beautiful SUV in design, comfort and performance.

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  ignore the negative consumer reports - 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Haystack - August 14 - 4:16 am

  these consumer report guys are cracked! I get an average of 23mpg just driving it to and from work. They say thats the max. on the highway I have recorded a max average for that tank of gas 28.3 mpg (maintaining a steady 65mph for extended period of time with minamal non-freeway driving) This particular trip, I filled up in Beloit,WI and didnt fill up again until Rolla,MO; mapquest it to see how many miles!

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  Great car - 2007 Mercury Milan
  By rav4man - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Look at the prices at the Merc/Ford dealers as these come off leases, fantastic deals. I have the leather light tan and black combo. Front seats are a little uncomfortable, seats do need to be higher. Did new rotors and ceramic brakes at 53,000 miles, now rides perfect. Climate controls excellent. Road noise very low. Excellent ride on the highway.MPG is 28 highway 23 city. Transmission 6 speed automatic nicest tranny I ever felt. Shifts silky smooth. Get the 6 cyl, 4 is underpowered. Do check out the Lincoln mkz which is the same car also, interior is ultra excellent on that ride

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  My New Car - 2005 Mercury Montego
  By Darlene Sutherlin - August 9 - 2:46 pm

  My first new car in awhile and I love it. To look at and to admire it (get a lot of compliments from friends and neighbors). Driving it is so much fun with excellent vision from the elevated seats, snappy performance and good gas mileage, feeling safe with good brakes and all the safety features Drove it all winter with AWD and regular tires, appreciated the auto climate control (especially since the car warmed up quickly) For a full size sedan, it handles more like a smaller car with a very roomy interior. Hopefully, my family and I will have many years to drive and to ride in it

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  07/2004 - 2000 Mercury Villager
  By Ismeta Vresk - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This car is an excellent van,and not to fast for a family car.It has excellent turning ability,and is very stable in all kinds of weather.Most of all the Mercury Villager is very safe ,especially for a family car.

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  HOT ROD MERC - 2004 Mercury Marauder
  By M GOLDEN - August 8 - 2:00 am

  GREAT PERFORMANCE AND RIDE.ITS COMFORTABLE FOR THE LONG HAUL AND JUST PLAIN FUN TO DRIVE. IT EVEN GOT A THUMBS UP FROM A CAR FULL OF TEENS.

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  I love this car!! - 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis
  By Twylla - August 7 - 4:33 pm

  Everyone complements the ride and drive after they have had a chance to get inside. It has such a smooth and comfortable ride much different from the smaller cars but I dont sacrifice mileage for it.