2001MercuryGrand MarquisMercury Grand Marquis2001 Mercury Grand Marquis LSSedanSedanRWDSt. Thomas, Ontario, CanadaPower from the V8 engine is improved. The interior gets minor improvements and an optional adjustable pedal assembly. Safety has been improved via a crash severity sensor, safety belt pretensioners, dual-stage airbags and seat position sensors.Plenty of interior room, upgraded horsepower for 2001, comfortable ride, excellent crash-test ratings.Large size makes it difficult to park and maneuver, not much rear interior storage space, lack of refinement, squishy ride unless the optional handling package is ordered.If you've been pinching your pennies to buy a new full-size, rear-drive American sedan, we hereby offer the Mercury Grand Marquis. It's mechanically identical to the Ford Crown Victoria; Ford and Mercury are the only brands building such cars these days. Decades-old technology allows Mercury to keep the prices low, and the car is a favorite among people who need space and don't want a minivan or sport-ute. Think about this: the Grand Marquis costs less than $30 grand fully loaded with electric everything and a leather interior. In contrast, a similarly equipped Toyota Avalon runs several thousand dollars more. The five- or six-passenger Grand Marquis is available in either GS or LS trim. Both have similar levels of equipment, though optional features like automatic climate control, a power passenger seat and a leather interior are only available on the LS model. Both versions get mild interior updates for 2001. Storage pouches have been added to the front seat cushion, and there are new traction control, headlight and fuel-door release controls. The best addition is the optional adjustable gas and brake pedal assembly. These pedals can be moved up to 3 inches towards the driver to improve comfort and to keep shorter drivers from sitting too close to the steering wheel-mounted airbag. The Grand Marquis was never a slouch in terms of acceleration, and this year Mercury has bumped the output of the 4.6-liter V8 engine to 220 horsepower and 265 foot-pounds of torque. The only transmission offered is a four-speed automatic. For even more horsepower, wait until later in 2001 when the special-edition, supercharged Grand Marquis Marauder becomes available as a 2002 model. In stock trim, this Merc drives and handles like you would expect a big American sedan to. It's comfortable, but it's all too happy to float around over bumps. The handling and performance package adds 20 horsepower and improves the car's stability in the twisties; we recommend it to anyone who enjoys backcountry highways more than mind-numbing interstates for their family vacations. And if you do plan to haul around a family, you can sleep better at night knowing that the Grand Marquis scores well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. Last year's models did very well, so the 2001 safety improvements (a crash severity sensor, safety belt pretensioners, dual-stage airbags and seat position sensors) should make the Mercury even better. If you're one of the few people unwilling to pay for a sport utility's high insurance premiums and abysmal gas mileage and if you just can't stand the idea of a minivan, we hope that you like the Grand Marquis. It's your only choice for a premium brand, full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan. Buick LeSabreChrysler ConcordeDodge IntrepidToyota Avalon336,000336,000336,0005UnlimitedNANANA84.6 litersV8220 hp @ 4750 rpm265 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm211.9 in.78.2 in.56.8 in.3973 lbs.114.7 in.39.4 in.38.1 in.60.1 in.60.3 in.58 in.58.7 in.42.5 in.38.4 in.20.6 cu.ft.OptionalStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableOptionalNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedGoodGoodNot TestedNot Tested19 gal.18 mpg / 25 mpg342 mi. / 475 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$23,435$24,8057.35%$680N/A3% of the Total MSRPGS (4A): 4.6L V8 SOHC SMPI 16-valve engine; 4-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up converter; battery with rundown protection; 130-amp alternator; rear-wheel drive, 2.73 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; front independent suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, gas-pressurized front shocks, rigid rear axle multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs, gas-pressurized rear shocks; recirculating-ball power steering with vehicle-speed-sensing assist; 4-wheel disc brakes; 19 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers with chrome bumper insert; body-colored bodyside molding with chrome bodyside insert; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen fully automatic headlamps with delay-off feature; additional exterior lights include cornering lights; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored folding outside mirrors; 16" x 7" steel wheels, P225/60SR16 BSW A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; airconditioning, rear heat ducts; AM/FM stereo w/clock, seek-scan feature, cassette player, 4 speakers, window grid antenna; cruise control with steering wheel controls; power door locks, child-safety rear door locks, power remote trunk release, remote fuel door release; 1 power accessory outlet, front lighter element, driver's foot rest, smokers' package; instrumentation display includes oil pressure gauge, water temperature gauge, volt gauge, in-dash clock, trip odometer; warning indicators include battery, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel; driver's and front passenger's airbags; ignition disable; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 6, 50/50 split-bench front seat with adjustable headrests, driver's and front passenger's armrests, driver's seat includes 8-way power adjustment and power lumbar support, passenger's front seatincludes 4-way adjustment; rear bench seat with center armrest; height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners; premium cloth seats, vinyl door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full color-keyed carpet floor covering, deluxe sound insulation, simulated wood dashboard insert, simulated wood door panel insert, chrome interior accents; interior lights include dome light with fade, illuminated entry; steering wheel with tilt adjustment; passenger's side vanity mirror; day/night rearview mirror; locking glove box with light, front cupholder, 2 seatback storage pockets, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; chrome grille, chrome side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and chrome door handles.
LS (4A) (in addition to or instead of GS (4A) equipment): Bodyside accent stripe; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry, panic alarm; driver's seat includes 2-way power lumbar support; premium cloth seats; interior lights include front and rear reading lights, dual illuminated vanity mirrors.