Friday, April 29, 2011

2011 Mercury Grand Marquis Review


Mercury brand vehicles concluding late 2010, the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis will experience a shortened model year. With 224 horsepower managed through a 4-speed automatic gearbox, the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis fuel economy is rated at 16 miles per gallon city or 24 miles per gallon highway. Anti-lock braking system and traction control is standard safety equipment but electronic stability control is not available on the 2011 Grand Marquis. Standard convenience equipment on all 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis sedans includes an AM/FM stereo with CD player, leather upholstery, cruise control, power windows and remote keyless entry.

The Mercury Grand Marquis is unchanged for 2011, this car's final year of production.
Sadly, they don't make 'em like the Grand Marquis for a variety of other, more important reasons. The car's handling is ponderous and the steering is slow, so you don't have much confidence in the car's ability to stay under control. As it goes to the big garage in the sky with the rest of its Mercury family, the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis leaves behind a wealth of impressive, thoroughly modern big sedans that provide the comfort, space, performance and fuel economy today's buyers should expect, along with a few modern conveniences the Grand Marquis never got around to offering. The Grand Marquis is survived by its cousin, the Lincoln Town Car.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is a full-size sedan that seats six people. Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, rear air suspension, automatic headlights, foglamps, keyless entry, automatic climate control, a 50/50 split front bench with six-way driver and passenger power adjustability, power-adjustable pedals, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a tilting leather-wrapped steering wheel and a CD player stereo. Options include heated seats, a leather-wood steering wheel and a cassette player.

The rear-wheel-drive 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 good for only 224 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic is standard. Fuel economy is 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 combined. That's a big improvement over 1978, but pretty disappointing today given this car's meager power.

Safety
Standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, traction control and front-seat side airbags. Neither stability control nor side curtain airbags is offered. Nonetheless, the Grand Marquis has fared well in crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, scoring a perfect five stars for both frontal and side impacts. The Grand Marquis' general interior design hasn't really been changed since...goodness, we can't even remember. We have a sneaking suspicion, though, that most Grand Marquis buyers won't care.

The vehicle comes with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. This warranty continues even after the basic warranty has expired. The basic warranty covers everything except normal wear and tear on the car. The Grand Marquis receives 12 mpg city and 17 mpg highway miles, making it a leading choice in gas mileage amongst its competition. Front head restraints are both adjustable for a more pleasurable ride, and the Grand Marquis offers 39.5 in. front headroom, 37.8 in. rear headroom, 57.4 in. front hip room, 56.1 in. rear hip room, 41.6 in. front leg room, 38.0 in. rear leg room, 60.6 in. front shoulder room, 60.0 in. rear shoulder room and 107.5 cu ft. interior volume. Riding in the Grand Marquis offers a comfortable ride every time.