Mercury Montego

Mercury Montego
Mercury
Successor	Mercury Sable
Production	2005-2007
Class	Executive Luxury Sedan
Body Style	4-door Sedan
Length	200.7 in.
Width	74.5 in.
Height	60.1 in.
Wheelbase	112.9 in.
Weight	3670 (FWD) 3820 (AWD)
Transmission	6-speed Automatic Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
Engine	3.0L Duratec DOHC V6
Power	203 hp @ 5750 RPM 207 lb-ft @ 4500 RPM
Similar	Buick Lucerne Hyundai Azera Volvo S80
Designer

The 2005-2007 Mercury Montego resurrects a classic nameplate from the Mercury division. The current sedan replaces the aging Mercury Sable sedan and wagon, and shares its basic body structure and powertrain with the Ford Five Hundred and previous generation Volvo S80. Available is a Haldex all-wheel-drive (AWD) system adapted from the Volvo XC90 SUV. Ford designed the Montego and Five Hundred with ex-SUV owners in mind, creating chair-height seating to give the impression of a higher driving position, a feature many customers noted as a reason for purchasing an SUV. The Montego is assembled along with the Five Hundred in Ford's Chicago Illinois plant.

2007 will be the last year for the Mercury Montego due to declining sales and unknown nameplate, Its replacement will be the 2008 Mercury Sable.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Mercury Montego Review.

Recent Changes

For 2007, the Montego adds traction control and side curtain airbags to its standard features.

Styles and Major Options

The Montego is available in three trim levels, Base, Premiere and Premiere AWD. The noteable standard features of each model are listed below.

Base Standard Features

• Split folding rear seat and folding front passenger seat
• AM/FM Single CD Stereo
• 6-way Power Driver's Seat
• Power Mirrors
• 17" Painted Aluminum Wheels
• Four-Wheel ABS
• Traction Control
• Heated Power Mirrors with Security Lighting
• Side Impact Airbags
• 1st and 2nd Row Canopy Airbags
• Anti-Theft Perimeter Alarm
• HID Headlamps
• LED Taillamps

Premier Standard Features
In addition to or in place of Base Standard Features

• Leather Upholstery
• Heated Front Seats
• AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD Changer with MP3 Capability
• Power Adjustable Pedals with Memory
• Rear Center Armrest with Cupholders
• 8-way Power Driver's Seat
• 4-way Power Passenger's Seat with Manual Lumbar
• Cargo Net
• Universal Garage Door Opener
• 18" Machined Aluminum Wheels

Premier AWD Standard Features are identical to Premiere FWD Standard Features.

Major Optional Features

• Navigation System (Not available in Alaska)
• Power Moonroof
• Reverse Sensing System
• 18" Chrome Clad Aluminum Wheels

Pricing

Today's actual prices for the Mercury Montego can be found at CarsDirect.

Montego Trims
Base	Premier	Premier AWD
MSRP
$23,835	$27,385	$29,235
Invoice
$22,041	$25,237	$26,901

Gas Mileage

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Drivetrain
FWD	AWD
MPG
21/29	19/25

Reliability

• The 2007 Mercury Montego came in 3RD Place in J.D. Power Initial Quality For the Large Car Segment.

Safety

Standard Safety Features

• Driver and Front Passenger Airbags
• Driver and Front Passenger Side Airbags
• 1st and 2nd Row Curtain Airbags
• 4-wheel Disc Brakes with ABS and EBD
• Traction Control

The NHTSA has conducted crash tests of the 2007 Montego. Its full scores are available at safercar.gov.

Rating (Stars)
Front		Side		Rollover
Driver	Passenger	Front Seat	Rear Seat	2WD	4WD
5	5	5	5	4	-

Although the test car lacked the now standard side airbags, the Montego earned 5 stars in both side impact categories. Rollover data for the AWD Montego is unavailable from the NHTSA. However, the mechanically identical Ford Five Hundred AWD earned 4 Stars on the rollover test.

Photos

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  2007 Montego Premier AWD

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  2007 Montego Premier AWD

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  2007 Montego Premier Interior

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  2005 Montego

• 

  2005 Montego

• 

  Mercury Montego's 17 Inch Painted Rim

• 

  Mercury Montego's 18 Inch Alloy Rim

• 

  Mercury Montego's 18 Inch Chrome Clad Rim

• 

  2007 Mercury Montego Interior

• 

  2006 Mercury Montego

• 

  The standard folding front and rear seats give the cabin great versatility.

• 

  The control layout is clean and trim panels are high quality.

• 

  Chrome ringed gauges are upscale.

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  2007 Mercury Montego Premier

• 

  2007 Mercury Montego Premier

• 

  2007 Mercury Montego Premier

Colors

Exterior Colors

Dark Blue Pearl

Light Tundra

Alloy

Silver Birch

Dune Pearl

Merlot

Satellite Silver

Oxford White

Black

Interior Colors

Cloth

Leather

Pebble Two-Tone

Shale Two-Tone

Dark Charcoal

Warranty

Bumper to Bumper: 36 months/36,000 miles

Major Components: 60 months/60,000 miles

Rust Through: 60 months/unlimited miles

Roadside Assistance: 60 months/60,000 miles

Main Competitors

• Buick LaCrosse
• Toyota Avalon
• Chrysler 300

Hybrid Models

• At this time there is no Hybrid model in the works.

Unique Attributes

• Satin Waterfall Grille.

Resale Values

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/UsedCars/Mercury_Montego_Sedan.aspx

Criticisms

• Some say the Mercury Montego looks to much like the Ford Five Hundred.
• Some say the Mercury Montego styling is too bland.

First and Final Generation 2005-2007

Mercury Montego Premier

Available powertrains consist of a 3.0L Duratec 30 V6 engine, and the choice of a continuously variable transmission or six-speed automatic transmission, and either front-wheel drive or the same Haldex all-wheel drive system used in the Volvo XC90. A 3.5L V6 was to be added for 2008 but Mercury will cease production of the Monteo this summer.

Based on the Ford D3 platform which also supports the Volvo S60 and Volvo S80, the XC70 and XC90 SUVs. The Montego's counterpart is the Ford Five Hundred and is also the basis for the Ford Freestyle crossover SUV.

The Montego was designed to provide large car interior volume with manageable outside dimensions, while delivering good fuel economy. Its design is also notably tall for a sedan, giving drivers an SUV or minivan-like command of the road. Its trunk, one of the largest on the market, can hold 8 full-sized loaded golf bags. The Montego was first introduced at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show.

Befitting its Volvo roots, the Montego has garnered class leading results in crash tests conducted by the IIHS as well as NHTSA.

The Montego began production on July 12, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois and became available to the public in September 2004. Although criticized by the automotive press for its bland styling in comparison to that of its competitor the Buick Lucerne, the Montego has not been a great success for Mercury just selling over 2,000 units on a good month. The Mercury Montego is due to be replaced with the 2008 Mercury Sable.

Origins

The Montego replaced the intermediate Mercury Comet in 1968 and was replaced by an upsized Mercury Cougar for the 1977 model year. It was essentially a twin of the Ford Torino. The Cyclone was a high performance variant of the Montego through 1971.

Worldwide

• The Mercury Montego is only sold to the USA Market.

Awards

• Mercury Montego won Auto Pacific's 2006 Ideal Vehicle Award.
• The 2007 Mercury Montego came in 3RD Place in J.D. Power Initial Quality For the Large Car Segment

Design quirks and oddities

• Like all Mercury's the Montego uses a Satin Finish Front Grille.
• Mercury Montego uses Grey Wood Interior Trim.

Sale Numbers

• In May 2007 Montego Sold 1,206 Units DOWN 38.4% From May 2006.

Production

Since Montego went on sale in the fall of 2004 it has sold exactly 61,532 as of May 2007.

Slow Sells and Discontinuation

Mercury Montego

• Fords CEO Alan Mulally said that he has decided to scrap the Mercury Montego and Ford Five Hundred namplates. Due to declining sales and he also thought that their names where to forgettable with their core audience the Montego will be replaced with the 2008 Mercury Sable and the Five Hundred will be replaced with the 2008 Ford Taurus. But the Mercury Montego's Spirit will live on in the 2008 Mercury Sable.