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Mercury Grand Marquis - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis ranks 9 out of 9 Affordable Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 15 published reviews and test drives of the Mercury Grand Marquis, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

Based on a The Grand Marquis is an old-school sedan that combines V8 power with a large interior.  Still, some reviewers say that old-school ethos is showing its age in the face of newer sedans that offer the same comfort, but also have more modern amenities and better handling. 

The Grand Marquis offers cavernous space for people and cargo, and proven reliability, with a drivetrain taxi services and government agencies have relied upon for heavy-mileage cars for decades.  But reviewers tend to call the Grand Marquis out of date, and rarely find it a good fit for consumers' needs.

Edmunds calls the Grand Marquis "outpaced by newer competitors in almost every way," adding, " we urge you to not still want such a throwback rear-drive large sedan."

As of the 2008 model year, the Ford Crown Victoria, the platform-mate to the Grand Marquis, is only sold to fleets. This leaves the 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis as the only consumer option if you want a new car that scares everyone else on the road into thinking you're a police officer.

For 2009, the GS trim has been dropped, leaving only the LS trim. A 4.6-liter V8 engine is standard. If you're in the market for a large car, you should also consider the Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300, and Hyundai Azera.

• "Grand Marquis is a nice enough big sedan, but it suffers from a basic design that dates back to the 1980s. We prefer the Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger, and Mercury's own Sable as more-modern, more-satisfying choices in this class." -- Consumer Guide
• "If you've been drooling over the Lincoln Town Car, but it's just too expensive, try taking a spin in a Grand Marquis," says Kelley Blue Book.
• "Appeals to those who have fond memories of old Detroit and its big, powerful, and affordable vehicles -- an audience that started driving well before the Grand Marquis's 1975 introduction." Automobile Magazine

Grand-Marquis Performance - 6.7 (Mediocre)

The Grand Marquis suffers from a floaty ride and a size that hampers maneuverability.  Its V8 engine provides enough power for most situations, but is less refined than similar powerplants found in most competitors -- even Mercury builds a full-size sedan with more passing power, the Sable. 

 

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Grand-Marquis Exterior - 5.9 (Mediocre)

Little changed over the past decade, exterior styling is "a familiar profile to anyone who has traveled by taxi (or, uh, police car) in recent years," says Automobile Magazine. Others in the class offer more updated styling.

 

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Grand-Marquis Interior - 7.1 (Good)

The Grand Marquis has a large cabin that is comfortable, but reviewers say the design and materials are a little dated, and some report the seats are overly soft. Consumer Guide complains, "Numerous hard-plastic surfaces give the cabin a budget-grade feel. The leather upholstery doesn't do much to improve the overall ambiance."  continue

Grand-Marquis Safety - 8.2 (Very Good)

The 2009 Grand Marquis received a rating of 5 stars out of 5 in government crash tests for front-impact crash protection and when equipped with air bags, earns five stars for front and rear side-impact safety.  continue

Grand-Marquis Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Mercury offers warranty coverage on all of its cars, including a three-year/36,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty. continue