Mercury Mariner Hybrid

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid, launched in 2006, is really a Ford Escape Hybrid in a different skin. This vehicle is the second variation of a Hybrid trio, between it, the Escape Hybrid and the Mazda Tribute Hybrid, which will be sold by Mazda starting in 2006.

The Mariner Hybrid's powertrain is among the most advanced available. It is a "full" hybrid electric system — meaning the system can switch automatically between pure electric power, pure gasoline engine power, or a combination of electric battery and gasoline engine operating together, for maximum performance and efficiency at all speeds and loads. When braking or decelerating, the Escape's hybrid system uses regenerative braking — where the electric drive motor becomes a generator, converting the vehicle's momentum back to electricity for storage in the batteries. The Hybrid powertrain gives 155 total horsepower has nearly the same acceleration performance as the conventional 200 hp V6 Escape, thanks to the abundance of torque.

Ford Motor Company plans to produce 4,000 Mariner Hybrids in 2006. A number of Mazda Tribute Hybrids will also be produced.

See WikiCars' comprehensive Mercury Mariner Review Page

Recent Changes

New paint colors are available for the 2007 model year.

Styles and Major Options

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid has one four-door body style and all-wheel drive.

Standard Equipment

• 6-way power adjustable driver's seat
• Air Conditioning
• AM/FM/CD player with 6-disc in-dash changer
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• Rearview mirror with automatic dimming
• Keyless entry keypad on driver's door
• 16" 5 spoke aluminum wheels

Premium Package - $3,795

• Heated leather seating surfaces with perforated leather inserts
• reverse-sensing system
• upgraded audio system
• Navigation system with Hybrid energy flow display, 7-speakers & MP3 capability (Premium Package)
• Safety Canopy™ System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor
• Front-seat side-impact airbags
• Reverse sensing system

Safety Package - $595

• Safety Canopy™ System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor
• Front-seat side-impact airbags

Optional Equipment

• Power Moonroof (requires Premium Package) - $585
• Audiophile 6-disc in-dash CD changer with 7-speakers & MP3 capability - $595
• Navigation system with Hybrid energy flow display, 7-speakers & MP3 capability - $1,995

Pricing

Trim
Base	Premium Package
Price
MSRP
$29,840	$33,635
Invoice
$27,190	$N/A

Gas Mileage

Trim

4-cylinder CVT

Engine

2.3 SOHC I-4

MPG (City/Highway)

33/29

Reliability

Ford Motor Company set durability and reliability objectives for the Mariner Hybrid. Field tests continued until the objectives were acheived. The Mariner Hybrid's power system is the product of 170 prototype test mule vehicles, tested in five climate extremes on three continents

Safety

• Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
• Dual front air-bags (SRS)(Dual-stage driver and single-stage front passenger)
• Front and rear crumple zones
• Front passenger occupancy sensor
• Front 3-Point safety belts with automatic tensioning system
• SecuriLock® passive anti-theft system w/ ignition immobilizer
• Remote keyless-entry system with illuminating feature
• Optional side-impact airbags (Premium Package)
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• 3-point safety belts for all seat positions
• Lower Anchors, tether anchors for children (LATCH) on rear outboard seat
• Optional overhead side-curtain airbags (Ford's Safety Canopy™ System)
• 4 Star front/5 Star side National Highway Traffic Safety Agency NHTSA crash test rating

Photos

Colors

Exterior

• Vivid Red Clearcoat Metallic
• Satellite Silver Clearcoat Metallic
• Charcoal Beige Clearcoat Metallic
• Black Clearcoat
• Silver Metallic Clearcoat Metallic

Interior

• Light Parchment

Unique Attributes

The Mariner Hybrid, along with it's sister model Ford Escape Hybrid and cousin Mazda Tribute Hybrid, are known as full hybrids. They can run purely on electric power in many urban driving conditions. This is reflected in their higher city MPG rating (compared to highway).

Criticisms

The woodgrain trim, while restrained in its use, is still cheesy looking.

Current Generation: (2006–present)

The Mariner Hybrid platform is shared directly with the Ford Escape Hybrid. Ford's version has been on sale since 2004.

Design quirks and oddities

Visually, there are small Hybrid badges just behind the front wheels and also on the rear hatch. The hybrid has a vent built into its left rear quarter-panel glass which helps to cool the battery pack located under the luggage bay. The biggest difference can be noted on the tachometer. The Mariner Hybrid, has it's tachometer needle equipped with a sub-zero setting. This setting is used to indicate that the vehicle is running only on electric power, such as while sitting at a stop or even while traveling on the road in certain conditions.

The Mariner Hybrid's gasoline engine is a 2.3-liter, inline four-cylinder that operates under the Atkinson cycle, which is a technology designed to reduce the level of fuel combustion. The Atkinson cycle makes somewhat less horsepower, but keeps intake valves open longer and operates under a higher compression ratio.

Awards

Mercury Mariner Hybrid has been named "Green Car of the Year*" by Green Car Journal.