The Mercury Montego has a storied past that involves two brief production runs. The first run began in 1968 and lasted for eight years before it was discontinued in 1976. The second production was a revival that took place in 2005 and ran for a short period of two years, dissolving the Montego yet again in 2007. Sold as a four-door sedan, this full-size family car was well-equipped and carried four passengers comfortably on their journey.
Since both generations were so far apart, they varied in horsepower. The earliest model had an optional 7.5 liter V8 engine, but the newest model was equipped with a 3.0 liter Duratec V6 that produced 203 horsepower. Assembly was done in Chicago, Illinois, which is the exact location where the Ford Five Hundred was assembled. The 2005 model sold... View more the most during its reintroduction, selling more than 27,000 units. This still was not enough to save its fate of being discontinued two years later.
The Montego was introduced in 1968; the first generation produced at the time. For eight years, the car was available in four body styles: two-door convertible, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door sedan and four-door station wagon. Along with its many styles were five different engine options and two transmissions. When the Montego was revived in 2005, it sold only as a four-door sedan with one engine and one transmission. The body style was sleek compared to the 1970s model, but it lacked the power of its earlier generation.
At its base level, the new Montego features a 3.0 liter engine with side/curtain airbags, stability control and traction control. It provides up to 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway. Optional features include navigation system, satellite radio and DVD player. Edmund.com reports that the newest model has excellent crash test scores" and "secure handling". Because of its large size, it is family-friendly and a less-expensive alternative to an SUV.
In 2005, the Montego received praise from Consumer Guide who said "it is on par with rivals for acceleration". That same year, Motor Trend named it a contender for the Car of the Year Award. Consumer Guide named the Mercury Montego a 2006 Best Buy, while Automobile Magazine placed it on their 50 Great New Cars List. AutoPacific also named the 2006 Montego the winner of the Ideal Vehicle Award, and AutoWeek commented that the Montego had a distinctive look. View less
