2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Mercury's large rear-wheel-drive sedan sports a mild facelift for 2006. Grand Marquis is basically a retrimmed Ford Crown Victoria and among the last traditional body-on-frame cars. Models are GS, GS Convenience, LS Premium and top-line LS Ultimate. All come with a 224-hp 4.6-liter V8, 4-speed automatic transmission, and ABS. LS models offer an optional Handling Package with dual exhausts and 239 hp. Traction control is standard except on the base GS, where it's not available. Optional front side airbags are exclusive to LS models, but no curtain side airbags are offered. All versions include a front bench seat, and all but the base GS come with power-adjustable pedals. Styling changes involve a new grille, front fascia, and headlights, plus sundry trim revisions. Grand Marquis' performance and accommodations mirror those of similarly equipped Crown Victorias.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Large Cars comprise the biggest passenger sedans and wagons. Large, inside and out, they also include the only 6-passenger cars. Large Cars offer lots of metal for the money and are dominated by domestic brands.

Our Best Buys include Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and Toyota Avalon. At this time we have no Recommended picks.

News

Industry spies see few changes for Grand Marquis or Crown Victoria until the end of the decade, when the vintage-1979 underpinnings are likely to be retired at last for a clean-sheet design. Because Ford is strapped for cash, the replacements are expected to use either a reworked Mustang platform or a large-sedan architecture from Ford Australia.

2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Road Test

Pros	Cons

Passenger and cargo room	Fuel economy

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

LS Ultimate	Class Average
5	5.6

Generally smooth and strong around town--best with 239-hp option--but transmission's tardy downshifts make for lazy merging and passing response in a broad 40-60-mph range. Available traction control a must for snowy climates.

Fuel Economy

LS Ultimate	Class Average
4	4.5

Test car averaged 17 mpg. Mercury recommends regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

LS Ultimate	Class Average
7	6.7

Soft base suspension absorbent, fairly controlled, though undulations induce some float. Firmer Handling setup can be jittery over sharp, closely space bumps, but it quells some float and doesn't really detract from comfort.

Steering/Handling/Braking

LS Ultimate	Class Average
5	5.9

Steering accurate, slop-free, but a bit light and numb. Ride-biased base suspension suffers marked body lean, mediocre tire grip in fast cornering. Handling Package doesn't help much, but is recommended for its included load-leveling rear suspension. Exterior bulk a pain in tight parking spots.

Quietness

LS Ultimate	Class Average
7	6.8

Good isolation from road, mechanical noise. Wind rush well-muted too, though intermittent side-window whistle in one test car.

Controls

LS Ultimate	Class Average
4	6.5

Climate and audio systems a bit far from driver; upper-range models help with redundant steering-wheel controls. Numerous hard-plastic surfaces lend cabin a budget-grade air, even with leather upholstery.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

LS Ultimate	Class Average
7	7.8

Good-old big-car feel, with adult-size room and easy access, but middle ride must straddle bulky driveline hump. Bench seat's flat cushion means virtually no lateral support in turns.

Room/Comfort (rear)

LS Ultimate	Class Average
6	7.1

Spacious, but too soft for best long-distance comfort. Wide enough for three adults, but floor hump intrudes here too.

Cargo Room

LS Ultimate	Class Average
6	5.8

Roomy trunk concentrates space in a deep center well, so some bulky items are a tough fit. Available drop-in trunk organizer helps with smaller cargo like grocery bags. Spare tire mounts way up above rear axle, a potential backache-maker.

Value within Class

LS Ultimate	Class Average
5	7.1

Grand Marquis is a nice enough big sedan, but suffers from a Reagan-era basic design. We prefer the Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger, and Mercury's own Montego as more-modern, more-satisfying choices in this class.

Total Score

LS Ultimate	Class Average
56	63.8

Scores for all Large Cars

Low Score		56
Average Score		63
High Score		70

2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 06/13/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

GS 4-door sedan	$24,780	$23,367	$775

GS Convenience 4-door sedan	$25,930	$24,426	$775

LS Premium 4-door sedan	$30,065	$27,629	$775

LS Ultimate 4-door sedan	$31,135	$28,591	$775

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

4.6-liter V8 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, emergency inside trunklid release.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, front split bench seat, 8-way power driver seat w/power lumbar adjustment, cupholders, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, automatic parking brake release, automatic headlights, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, cornering lights, 225/60TR16 whitewall tires, wheel covers.

GS Convenience adds to GS:

Powertrain

Traction control.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Power-adjustable pedals, remote keyless entry, keypad entry.

LS Premium adds to GS Convenience:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-way power passenger seat, heated power mirrors, universal garage door opener, trip computer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Alloy wheels.

LS Ultimate adds to LS Premium:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel w/climate and radio controls, AM/FM/cassette/CD player.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Load-leveling suspension.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Limited Edition
LS Premium	$995	$866
Front side airbags, 2-tone leather upholstery, steering-wheel radio controls, unique interior and exterior trim, chrome alloy wheels.

Limited Edition w/2-tone paint
LS Premium	$1,290	$1,123


Handling Pkg.
LS Premium/Ultimate	$615	$535
4.6-liter 239-horsepower V8 engine, dual exhaust, handling suspension, load-leveling rear suspension, unique alloy wheels.

Safety
Front side airbags
LS Premium/Ultimate	$395	$344


Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery
GS Convenience, LS Premium/Ultimate	$995	$866


Heated front seats
LS Premium/Ultimate	$295	$257
Requires front side airbags, leather upholstery.

Power sunroof
LS Premium/Ultimate	$1,025	$892


AM/FM/cassette/CD player
GS Convenience, LS Premium	$185	$161


In-dash 6-disc CD changer
LS Premium/Ultimate	$695	$605


Heated power mirrors
GS, GS Convenience	$45	$39


Trunk organizer
GS Convenience, LS Premium, LS Ultimate	$200	$174
NA GS.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
Laminated side-window glass
LS Premium/Ultimate	$295	$257


Fog lights
GS, GS Convenience	$125	$109


Alarm
GS Convenience, LS Premium/Ultimate	$145	$126


2-tone paint
GS, GS Convenience, LS Premium, LS Ultimate	$295	$257


Chrome alloy wheels
LS Premium/Ultimate	$695	$605


Full-size spare tire
GS Convenience, LS Premium, LS Ultimate	$120	$105
NA GS.

2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Mercury Grand Marquis 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	114.6

Overall Length, in.	212.0

Overall Width, in.	78.3

Overall Height, in.	58.3

Curb Weight, lbs.	4135

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	20.6

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	19.0

Seating Capacity	6

Front Head Room, in.	39.5

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	41.6

Rear Head Room, in.	37.8

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	38.0

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	sohc V8	sohc V8

Size, liters/cu. in.	4.6 /281	4.6 /281

Horsepower @ rpm.	224 @ 4800	239 @ 4900

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	272 @ 4000	287 @ 4100

Availability	Standard	Optional

EPA City / highway mpg

4-speed automatic	17/25	17/25

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Mercury Grand Marquis 4-door sedan

Front Impact, Driver	5

Front Impact, Passenger	5

Rollover Resistance	5

Side Impact, Driver	4

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	8/100,000 on Mariner hybrid components.

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	3/36,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Canada

Drivewheels: rear-wheel drive

< 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Photos

Also in the 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Review:

Mercury Grand Marquis

Mercury Grand Marquis Road Test

Mercury Grand Marquis Prices & Equipment

Mercury Grand Marquis Specs & Safety

Mercury Grand Marquis Photos

Mercury Grand Marquis Full Review

All Mercury Grand Marquis

All Mercurys