2005 Mercury Mariner Review

Ideal for Our High-Fuel Cost Times

Every now and then I see a TV ad or a placement in a magazine for Ford Motors Mercury division, and I find myself interested in
a brand that was not long ago, hardly on my radar screen at all. Its not like I never liked Mercurys though. I actually owned a black on red leather 64 Montcalm (Meteor) coupe. It was massive, powerful and gorgeous, slung low to the ground, true to the brands hotrod mystique.

Todays Mercurys dont promote the same level of youthful lust as those from the 50s and 60s, but that doesnt mean theyre not intriguing. While I cant attest to being a fervent Grand Marquis fan, I really like the chiseled waterfall grille design of the Ford Explorer-based Mountaineer and more distinctively attractive than Freestyle Monterey minivan.

I think, however, that the vehicle that best separates Mercury from its blue-oval sibling is its newest Mariner, a compact sport utility based off of the Escape. Its exterior styling is truly unique, boasting flush fascias front and rear, upscale brushed aluminum trim and a gorgeous waterfall grille that visually extends downward to a racy air inlet that spans most of the lower front fascia. Each end meets up with large, rectangular fog lamps, giving the car a mini-Lincoln Navigator appearance.

It has that same upscale ambience when getting inside. No, power running boards arent part of the package, of course, but a unique interior treatment is. My test model featured a dark gray and light gray two-tone interior that was unlike anything Ive seen anywhere else, while its materials quality seem upgraded slightly over the Escape. The dash layout, while not completely unique, is at least modified to the point where most new car buyers wouldnt immediately notice any similarities to Fords smallest SUV.

I found the seats were more comfortable too. When inquiring as to why, I was told Mercury sourced their frames from the Mazda Tribute. Ah, now that makes sense, as Mazda put a great deal of effort into differentiating its sport utility from the Escape as well. Furthermore, I learned the gear selector treatment and the sporty four-spoke steering wheel innards (Mercury gave it a unique leather-wrapped appearance) also came from the Japanese automaker, the latter a particularly smart move on Mercurys side as it feels meaty in the hands, unlike most domestic wheels.

But then again, Ford and its Mercury offspring has done a good job leaving its domestic roots behind, so much that some critics are even saying the automaker is making its cars feel too European. While I find such claims ridiculous, critics are critics and theyve got to complain about something in order to obtain some sort of significance. For me, the European influence is a good thing, and the Mariner has this in spades.

The first thing I noticed at takeoff was its energetic acceleration. The Mariner takes advantage of the same 3.0-liter V6 that powers the Escape and Tribute, a feisty little engine that pushes and pulls the 3,328 pound sport ute to highway speeds in no time at all. The engine makes 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque at 4,850 rpm, once again ample for what its called to do. But the V6 is optional. Base Mariners come equipped with Fords 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder. The vehicle loses some weight due to the engine swap, at 3,285 pounds, but not enough to make up for the difference in power. Still, those who enjoy taking in a little more scenery along the way will find the 153 horsepower four adequate for their needs. While I didnt have the opportunity to test this engine in the Mariner per say, Ive spent time with it in the 2005 Tribute and Escape, where it makes identical power and pulls only 106 pounds less curb weight. The I-4 makes a total of 152 lb-ft of torque, which is more than some of its Japanese competitors by the way, so power initiates smoother and feels more robust throughout the rev range. Like most, Id opt for the V6, although at todays fuel costs the more economical four, which achieves an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway, is tempting. The V6 is pretty reasonably itself, though, at 18 and 23 respectively.

The Mariner is available with front or four-wheel drive, both mated to electronic 4-speed automatic transmissions. I found the gearbox adequate to the needs of the lightweight Mercury, especially in 6-cylinder guise as the engines torque more than made up for the lack of an extra cog. Still, a 5- or 6-speed automatic would be nice, as quicker, smoother acceleration would be possible. No manual shift mode is offered either, a feature that would suit the sporty Mariner more than its conventional PRD32 selector.

Sporty? You bet! Ive always been a fan of the Escape and Tribute when driving dynamics entered the picture. Their fun, “tossable” little SUVs, as is the Mariner. It comes with responsive rack and pinion steering and a four-wheel independent suspension, set up optimized for pavement rather than rough trails, although Ive overcome some pretty treacherous boulder strewn hill climbs in a similarly equipped Tribute that left me astounded at its agility off the beaten track. Getting back down without the security of a bull-low gear ratio is a bit intimidating, however, never knowing if one of those sharp-edged rocks might sever the brake line. With that in mind its probably best to keep the Mariner to light-duty adventures.

Braking in mind, stopping power is commendable. The Mariner features standard 4-wheel discs and ABS in 4WD trim, helped along by sticky 16-inch rubber wrapped around attractive alloy wheels. Front-wheel drive Mariners get rear drums and standard ABS.

As for hauling a boat or camper to your favorite vacation spot, it wont handle anything over 3,500 pounds. This should be ample, though, for most applications. Its cargo storage is also quite good, delivering up 29.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 62.5 cubic feet if the rear seats are flipped forwards. Remove the 2nd row cushions and a total of 66.3 cubic feet can be utilized.

Although still a compact SUV, its optional 7-speaker MACH Audiophile sound system featuring an AM/FM stereo and 6-disc in-dash CD changer makes it feel more like a concert hall. The system is one of the best in its class, picking up every nuance of the latest Tom Waits CD, Real Gone. The standard audio system is an AM/FM stereo with a single-CD player and integrated digital clock.

Those comfortable seats I mentioned earlier were covered in Mercurys premium leather trim, heated up front despite their soft and grippy “Preferred Suede” inserts. The drivers seat also featured 6-way power adjustment to optimize comfort, plus a manual lumbar support, ideal for long trips. Stock seats are clothed in premium cloth while the drivers seat features 2-way manual adjustment. Some may prefer more conventional leather appointments, also heated up front with a 6-way power drivers seat and manual lumbar support.

All the luxury features expected in a Mercury vehicle are present in the standard package, such as power windows and door locks, while power-remote, heated sideview mirrors are optional.

So whats next for the Mariner? A hybrid gasoline-electric version, based off of the Escape Hybrid, will debut in 2006 as a 2007 model. The eco-friendly sport utility was shown in the metal to the worlds top automotive media at the New York International Auto Show in Manhattans Jacob Javits convention center on April 7th. While late to the hybrid party, the Mariner HEV will offer what many consider to be the most functional combination of stellar fuel economy, ultra-low emissions, rugged functionality and luxurious appointments. While nicely equipped, the Mariner Hybrid has been designed to be more affordable than the only alternative hybrid electric sport utility to be announced thus far, the Lexus RX 330-based 400h.

Back to the present, the Mariner is available for the paltry sum of $21,995, not much more than the $19,405 needed to buy into a Ford Escape despite its many standard features. In Luxury trim the price escalates to $23,495, also quite reasonable. Its final designation, Premium, tallies up at $25,245, and features most features currently available in the luxury SUV realm, less four-wheel drive which adds on an additional $1,750 for a total price of $26,995. Add on every available feature and the top price paid wont exceed $29,065, other than the $590 destination fee and applicable taxes of course. Considering the compact SUVs high-level of luxury and sporty demeanor it is a pretty decent deal even when fully optioned out.

But the Mariner might be best for acquiring new buyers into the Ford Motor Company family. After all, there are few luxury compact SUVs on the market, and of those fewer still that are priced only slightly more than entry-level models. With a passion for SUVs still burning strongly, and fuel costs at record highs, the compact luxury sport utility segment only makes sense. Currently, only the Ford-owned Land Rover Freelander plays in this market, BMWs new X3, which borders on midsize, and to some extent Jeep, at least when its Liberty is loaded with options.

The Mariner is an intriguing prospect, and one that new SUV buyers wouldnt want to overlook.