Overview

The Grand Marquis, Mercury's flagship model for nearly 30 years, will go out of production after this model year along with the entire Mercury lineup. The Grand Marquis shared a platform with the Ford Crown Victoria-indeed they were almost the same car-and is a close cousin to the Lincoln Town Car: a little plainer, and considerably less expensive. The Grand Marquis straddles the line between a prestige car and a large family hauler, combining practical and luxury features. Through its several generations, it has been known for its rather formal, old-fashioned exterior design. The 2011 model is virtually unchanged from the previous year.

The 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis comes in a single trim. Its bench seating front and rear will accommodate 6 occupants. Standard are 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery, automatic headlights, fog lights, rear air suspension, automatic climate control, cruise control, keyless entry, and a full menu of power accessories. Power-adjustable brakes are standard equipment, as is a leather-covered steering wheel and a basic sound system. Upgraded wheels, front seats, and sound system are optional.

The 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis features rear-wheel drive. Its standard power plant is a 224-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 engine that produces 275 lb.-ft. of torque and delivers 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. It teams with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Standard safety features on the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis include anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, adjustable front head restraints, and front side air bags. In government crash tests, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Grand Marquis 5 (out of 5) stars in frontal- and side-impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Grand Marquis a highest-possible "Good" rating in its frontal-offset test and "Marginal" for side protection.

Starting MSRP for the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis is $29,935.