The Grand Marquis is known as an old-school sedan
that combines V8 power with a large interior. The 2010 Mercury Grand
Marquis is a family sedan, with rear wheel drive and plenty of cabin space. But best of all, it comes with many features of the Lincoln Town Car, but at a
much lower price. The Grand Marquis is offered with a V8, giving it plenty
of power for its body-on-frame construction. The 2010 Grand Marquis competes
with other full-size sedans such as the Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300 and Buick
Lucerne. There are no significant changes for the 2010 as it is essentially a
carryover from 2010. The Grand Marquis is available in one well-equipped trim
level, the LS, as the other trim, the GS was dropped from the lineup last year.
It is powered by a 224-hp 4.6-liter V8 engine with flexible fuel capability,
mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Every Grand Marquis is outfitted with
17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a power
driver's seat, CD player and cruise control; popular options include chrome
wheels, heated front seats, a 6-disc CD changer and power adjustable pedals. The
Grand Marquis offers cavernous space for people and cargo, and proven
reliability. The 2010 Grand Marquis has a starting MSRP of $29,410, and gets an
EPA mileage of 16/24 City/Highway.
Grand Marquis Power
The Grand Marquis is powered by a lone
224-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 that makes 275. It is mated with four-speed
automatic transmission. Power rack-and-pinion steering includes speed-dependent
variable assistance.
2010 Mercury Design
Measuring 212 inches long overall, the Grand Marquis rides a 114.6-inch
wheelbase and stands 56.3 inches tall and 78.3 inches wide. It is the longest
and widest of its competitors, and is very similar in height. Hydroformed steel sections are used for the front rails of the
full-perimeter frame. The Grand Marquis comes with standard 17 inch wheels and a
full size spare.
Driving a Grand Marquis
While Mercury truthfully advertises the Grand
Marquis as the only vehicle in its class to offer a V8, the 224 horsepower
produced by the antediluvian 4.6 Liter unit has long been surpassed by other
companies' sixes. The Grand Marquis's automatic transmission, while smooth
shifting, is down a cog or two from most competitors' units, offering a spread
of only four gears to make the most of the engine's 275 lb.-feet of torque.
While performance is not the Grand Marquis's strong suit, numerous updates to
the chassis over the years have both sharpened the handling and softened the
ride. A Watt's linkage in lateral control of the live rear axle hastens ambient
responses, as does the Marquis's speed sensitive rack-and-pinion steering. 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.
Inside the 2010 Sedan
Perhaps the Grand Marquis's greatest asset is its
enormous interior, which offers class leading space and can accommodate up to
six passengers; the trunk measures a large 20.6 cubic feet, easily enough to
hold luggage. The Grand Marquis has a standard front bench seat and a rear bench
seat. Eight-way power-adjustable driver and front-passenger seats with
leather are standard. A steering-wheel with audio and climate controls is
optional. Keyless entry via a key fob or door keypad is standard. Optional are
heated seats. The Grand Marquis has a large cabin that is comfortable, but the
materials feel a little dated, and the seats are overly soft. Furthermore,
numerous hard-plastic surfaces give the cabin a budget-grade feel. The leather
upholstery doesn't do much to improve the overall ambiance.
Summary
While the Grand Marquis, now in its third
generation, lacks the sophistication of its newer rivals due to its ancient
Panther platform, it nonetheless offers a spacious interior, comfortable ride,
and decent performance at an affordable price. The biggest benefits of the 2010
Grand Marquis are its RWD winter traction, its good city mileage, its
maneuverability in tight spaces, its long lasting resale value, and its large
cabin. Safety features for 2010 include four-wheel antilock brakes with
electronic brake-force distribution, Traction control, Side-impact airbags,
four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, dual front airbags and a tire pressure
monitor. Mercury has stated the Grand Marquis will remain in production in its
current from until 2010. It is rumored that Ford may either develop a new
platform or utilize the current DC2 platform, which underpins the Ford Mustang,
for a new Grand Marquis. Mercury offers warranty coverage on all of its cars,
including a three-year/36,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty. Some have
always love the Grand Marquis, and probably always will. Still, some
consider the Grand Marquis outpaced by newer competitors in almost every way.