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Mercury Mariner Hybrid Review
The Mercury Mariner debuted in late 2004 as a 2005 compact SUV, essentially a re-skinned Ford Escape with minor enhancements. The Ford Escape was jointly developed with Mazda, in which Ford owns a controlling interest, and was released a few months after the nearly-identical Mazda Tribute. The Escape is sold in Europe as the Ford Maverick while the Mariner is not.
It is built on the Ford CD2 platform, which is in turn based on the Mazda GF platform, which was used by the Mazda 626.
2007
The 3.0L V6 has been modified to reduce fuel consumption by over 10%. The Mariner offers a 3.0L V-6 engine, all wheel drive system, four wheel disc brakes with ABS and color keyed exterior styling. No low range gearing is offered. A back-up obstacle detection system is available for Premier and Hybrid variants. Mercury Mariner Hybrid models have an optional navigation system with screen displays for power flow and fuel economy. The Ford Escape is built on the Ford CD2 platform, which is in turn based on the Mazda GF platform, which was used by the Mazda 626. It was introduced for the 2001 model year. The Escape is one of the leading vehicles in the compact SUV segment. It has been continuously updated throughout its model run to keep it atop the pile of competition. The Escape is feeled with content that makes it easy to like. The 3.0-liter V6 engine gives strong acceleration performance. Buyers will not be looking for more power in a V6 Escape. The four-speed automatic transmission works well with this engine. Shifts are smooth, both on upshift and down. The transmission always seems to know the best ratio for the given driving conditions. The V6 engined Escapes never seem to struggle. Reviewers don't believe this engine to be the smoothest on the market, but they certainly don't call it the roughest. It remains more satisfying than the four-cylinder engines found in most compact sport-utilities. Noise, vibration and harshness go up a level on the 4 cylinder equipped Escapes. Noise and vibration reduction measures were taken in fitting the engine with a balance shaft, but further efforts should be made in future to further reduce interior noise. This 2.3-liter Duratec 4-cylinder engine becomes available on XLT models for 2006 model year. Snow doesn't seem to be a problem for the Escape. Automatic 4WD system eqipped Escapes provide excellent traction in slippery conditions, not to mention stability.
The Escape treats occupants to a comfortable ride over a variety of road surfaces, although off the road the Escape seems to be lacking. The four-wheel drive system is based on a front wheel drive platform. Any serious gradients will leave this sport utility spinning its wheels. The suspension does not have the articulation needed for real off road conditions. For everyday road travel, however, the Ford Escape is an excellent choice.
High Points
- V6 gives satisfying power and never seems to be lacking
- Clean styling
- Rides better, out handles most of its competition
Low Points
- I4 has anemic performance on highway
- Jeep Liberty is more capable off road.
- Fuel consumption (V6 4WD)
Performance and Handling
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) operate smoothly. Pedal response has been praised. Drum brakes are used on the rear except on V6 4WD models and Escape Hybrid, which have with four-wheel disc brakes. Brake Assist helps handling, allowing full braking power when it senses the driver has mistakenly relaxed pressure on the brake pedal in an emergency stopping situation. In addition, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) provides more effective, more stable braking.
Gas Mileage
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Trim |
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FWD 2.3L manual |
FWD 2.3L automatic |
FWD 3.0L |
4WD 2.3L manual |
4WD 2.3L automatic |
4WD 3.0L |
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Engine |
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2.3L I-4 |
2.3L I-4 |
3.0L V6 |
2.3L I-4 |
2.3L I-4 |
3.0L V6 |
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MPG (City/Highway) |
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24/29 |
22/26 |
20/24 |
22/26 |
21/24 |
19/23 |
Reliability and Maintenance
Interior and Comforts
To a large extent, what holds for the Mercury Mariner's exterior holds for its interior. If you like the Mountaineer's appointments and look, you'll like the Mariner's, as the designers have hewn closely to theme the larger Mountaineer established.
Seemingly central to the Mariner's essence is satin-finish aluminum, which abounds inside as well as out. From the instrument bezels to the center stack's vertical braces to the shift lever cap to the center console to the logo in the steering wheel hub to the flat surfaces on the door armrests, satin-finish trims and highlights. About the only interior metal surfaces that aren't satin-finish are the chrome inside door handles and accent ringing the shift lever in the center console. This isn't to complain, as the overall look is one of polish and refinement, which is helped by some wood-grain trim on the center stack and console.
Front bucket seats are nicely contoured and bolstered, and Mercury says advanced pressure-mapping techniques were employed to tune the seat foam. That may be, but the techniques used hadn't mapped our neighborhood, as we found ourselves squirming around in search of a more comfortable zone after only a short stay.
The rear seat, even though a split-to-fold 60/40 unit, is essentially a two-piece bench, as in, not the most accommodating for long drives. On the plus side, all five seating positions have three-point belts and adjustable head restraints.
That rear seat does fold almost flat, however, making for a commodious cargo space. Tie-down hooks are provided to secure odd-shaped or especially mobile objects. The rear quarter panel has open storage bins for smaller items. Front seatbacks host map pockets, as do both front doors. The overhead console (which the moonroof displaces) has two swing-down bins. The center console has two cupholders and a shallow bin forward of the shift lever.
Cruise control buttons are smoothly integrated into the sides of the steering wheel hub. Power window buttons, however, are of the old-school type, i.e., non-child/curious pet-proof. The stereo, too, shouts standard Ford gear; as functional and easy-to-use as its controls are, they don't quite make premium grade.
Exterior
The Mercury Mariner is a compact four-door, five-passenger, sport utility vehicle. If you've seen the Mercury Mountaineer, you've seen the Mariner, albeit an unSanforized one after a trip or two through a hot-water car wash. Granted, the Mariner's headlights are more rectangular, and the fog lamp nacelles are more parallelogram than up-tipped eyebrow, but otherwise, and other than size, there's little visually to distinguish between the larger and smaller Mercury SUVs.
The trademark satin-finish aluminum vertical-bar grille sits on a matching bumper inset, turn indicator lights are housed where the headlamp lenses wrap around the fenders and the central recess in the hood imbues the front fenders with a subtle shoulder look.
Borrowing from European custom, small turn-indicator repeater lights are positioned in the front quarter panels just aft of and slight above the front wheel wells. Understated cladding preserves and protects the lower door panels and tie together the minimalist front and rear fender flares, nicely finishing the mid-door, horizontal character line optically connecting the front and rear bumpers. The tall glasshouse is properly proportioned to balance the body side panels. The angled C-pillar behind the rear side door accentuates the people-orientation of the Mariner while acknowledging it can haul cargo, too.
From the rear, the Mariner is, well, a sport utility vehicle. There's not much that can be done to stylize a liftgate, taillamps and bumper, other than with trim bits and pieces, and the Mariner's designers did their best with what they had. Tasteful, satin-finish, grille-like accents brace the taillamps. The side character line continues across the liftgate, swelling in the center to form a surround for the license plate recess. Yet another satin-finish inset separates the step-top of the rear bumper and the body-color lower fascia. Bright chrome exhaust tips finish the package
Styles and Options
The Escape is available in one 4-door body style. Four wheel drive is standard.
Main Competitors
Hybrid
In 2004, the Ford Escape Hybrid was released. This hybrid electric vehicle is 75% more fuel-efficient than the regular Escape according to Environmental Protection Agency tests and was the first SUV available to the public with hybrid technology.
