Vehicle Description
Spacious interior with room for six, comfortable ride, standard V8,
good crash test scores, reasonable price.
Cons
For buyers who want a large, upscale sedan with a V8, the 2007
Mercury Grand Marquis is worth a look. Most people, however, will
prefer its more modern peers, which are better-equipped and
better-handling.
Vehicle overview
It's easy to dismiss the Grand Marquis as a dated car from an
earlier era, but it's actually the best-selling car in Mercury's
lineup. There's good reason for this: The Grand Marquis is still a
lot of car for the money. For about $30,000, you can get a large,
rear-wheel-drive, V8-powered sedan that's every bit as luxurious as
a Lincoln Town Car but costs thousands less.
A slightly more upscale twin of the Ford Crown Victoria, the
Mercury Grand Marquis has roots dating back to 1975. Updates over
the years have helped mask its age, most notably a refresh in 2003
that saw the car get a stiffer frame, a revised front suspension
and rack-and-pinion steering. Not only did the new frame improve
the big sedan's ride quality and handling capabilities, it improved
its crashworthiness - and indeed the Mercury's safety ratings are
impressive.
Drive the Grand Marquis back-to-back with modern cars like the
Chrysler 300C, Hyundai Azera and Toyota Avalon, though, and it
feels less agile and less refined. What's more, common features
like stability control, DVD-based navigation or a high-end audio
system are not available. If these items aren't on your list of
requirements, however, and you simply want a large V8 sedan with an
upscale ambiance that can comfortably accommodate four to five
adults and a week's worth of luggage, the 2007 Mercury Grand
Marquis is worth a look.
2007 Mercury Grand Marquis models
A full-size sedan, the Mercury Grand Marquis comes in two trim
levels - GS and LS. Base GS models come with 16-inch steel wheels
(with faux chrome wheel covers), air-conditioning, a CD player, a
front bench seat with power adjustments for the driver, cruise
control, full power accessories and keypad entry. The Grand Marquis
LS adds alloy wheels, foglights, automatic climate control, leather
upholstery, power seat adjustments for the front passenger, a
leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rear-seat fold-down armrest, an
auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated side mirrors and an overhead
console with a compass and Homelink.
On the options list for the LS, you'll find stand-alone items like
a moonroof, seat heaters and an upgraded audio system with a CD
changer. There's also the Handling package, which provides a bump
in power (thanks to a dual exhaust system), as well as an upgraded
suspension for better handling. Or you can go for the Palm Beach
Edition package, which includes chrome wheels, chrome-trimmed
mirrors, cashmere leather seats embroidered with "Palm Beach" logos
and satin-finish metallic interior trim.
2007 Highlights
Trim levels are simplified to GS and LS on the 2007 Mercury Grand
Marquis. LS buyers can opt for the Palm Beach Edition Package,
which bundles chrome wheels, cashmere leather seats, satin-finish
faux aluminum interior trim, side airbags and heated side mirrors.
Mercury has extended drivetrain warranty coverage to five
years/60,000 miles.
Performance & mpg
Only one engine and transmission are offered on the 2007 Mercury
Grand Marquis. Standard models use a 224-horsepower, 4.6-liter V8
and a four-speed automatic to put power to the rear wheels. Opt for
the Handling package on the LS, and the same engine is upgraded to
produce 239 hp, along with a boost in torque to 287 pound-feet
(from 272). Fuel economy is respectable for a large V8-powered
sedan - expect about 17 mpg in the city and up to 25 mpg on the
highway.
Safety
Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brakeforce
distribution are standard on every Grand Marquis, and traction
control is optional on the GS and standard on the LS.
Power-adjustable pedals and front seat-mounted side airbags are
optional on the LS, but side curtain airbags and stability control
are not available. Other options you may want to consider on the LS
include laminated security glass and a full-size spare tire. An
alarm system is optional on both trims.
The Grand Marquis has scored well in National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration crash tests. It rates a perfect five stars in
frontal-impact crash protection and, when equipped with side
airbags, rates five stars for front and rear side-impact safety as
well (Without the bags, it gets four stars for front side-impact
protection). The big sedan also earned the top rating of "Good" in
frontal-offset crash testing conducted by the IIHS.
Driving
Buyers seeking a traditional, rear-drive V8 American sedan with
plenty of chrome trim will find the Grand Marquis to be a less
expensive alternative to the pricey Town Car or the trendy 300C.
True, it's not as refined as the Chrysler, but the Mercury's
standard V8 provides plenty of acceleration in just about any
situation, and its forgiving ride spares occupants from harsh
impacts over bumps. The car's large size and aged chassis can make
it unwieldy around turns, but the car's relatively responsive
steering helps drivers keep it on track.
Interior
A roomy cabin is one of the biggest selling points for the 2007
Mercury Grand Marquis, and adults will find plentiful head-,
shoulder, hip- and legroom. Bench seating allows this big sedan to
accommodate up to six people. A cavernous trunk of 20.6 cubic feet
will swallow any luggage they might have with them. Controls and
instrumentation are simple in design, though not particularly
stylish, and some of the materials are low in quality.
Terms of Sale: All vehicles are sold AS-IS with no warranties of
any kind, and all sales are final. We strongly encourage you to
inspect, in person, any vehicle you are considering purchasing.
Third party inspections are also welcomed and encouraged. To place
a vehicle on hold for 7 days to allow for an inspection, a deposit
of $500 (via credit card) is required. This deposit will be applied
to the purchase price. This deposit is refundable should you
inspect the car and decide it's not the one for you, but once you
take delivery, it's yours. All sales are final. Acceptable forms of
final payment include cash, cashier's check (once cleared), or wire
transfer. A $100 dealership service fee is added to the final
purchase price. Wisconsin residents will pay sales tax and titling
fees. Out-of-state buyers will be responsible for any applicable
taxes and registration in their state/country of residence.
