2009 Mercury Mariner Review

PROS  Lots of passenger and cargo room, Reasonable prices, Easy to drive and park

CONS  Sloppy steering, Too noisy, Bouncy ride

Mariner is Mercury's entry into the compact SUV class. It was first introduced in 2005 and shares engines and chassis with the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute. Competitors include the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Saturn VUE, and Toyota RAV4.

Like Escape, Mariner is a four-door wagon that seats five on twin front bucket seats and a three-place rear bench seat. It has a lift-up rear tailgate with a separate-opening glass. For 2009, Mariner gets more powerful engines and a six-speed automatic to go along with a fresh interior that it received in '08.

Mariner comes in Base, Premium, and Hybrid trim. All models are available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The AWD system does not have a low range and isn't intended for severe off-road use.

The base and Premium are available with either a 171-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter V6 with 240 horsepower. For 209 the four-cylinder gains 19 horsepower and the V6 gains 40. Sole transmission for those models is a six-speed automatic.

Mariner Hybrid uses a system similar to that found in the Toyota Prius. It features a 153-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and a continuously variable transmission. Like the Prius, Mariner Hybrid can operate in electric only mode at low speeds and does not need to be plugged in.

A towing package is available and it increases maximum capacity to 3500 pounds on V6 models.

Standard safety features include antilock brakes, stability system with rollover sensors, tire-pressure monitor, and front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. A rear-obstacle-detection system is optional.

The Base model starts at $22,310 and includes air conditioning, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, split-folding rear seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, rear wiper/washer, floormats, theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, fog lights, 235/70R16 tires, and alloy wheels.

Premier prices range from $24,425 to $27,175. Included on that model are all of the features standard on the Base plus leather/alcantara upholstery, 6-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, satellite radio, iPod adapter, Bluetooth cell-phone link, voice recognition, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, outside-temperature indicator, illuminated visor mirrors, automatic headlights, and roof rack.

Hybrid models start at $29,750 and add to the Base dual-zone automatic climate controls, six-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, satellite radio, iPod adapter, Bluetooth cell-phone link, voice recognition, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, outside-temperature indicator, illuminated visor mirrors, automatic headlights, and roof rails.

Key options include power sunroof, navigation system, satellite radio, 110-volt power outlet (hybrid only), and remote engine start. All Mariners carry a destination charge of $725 and are built in Ford's plant in Kansas City, Missouri.

Get up and Go  Despite an increase of 40 horsepower, the V6 engine isn't as peppy as you'd expect. It is clearly quicker than last year, but, unless you mash down on the throttle, acceleration around town is subdued. Highway passing punch is a better but still not in the same class as Toyota's V6 in the RAV4.

Thankfully, Mercury replaced its aging four-speed automatic with a more modern six-speed unit. The new transmission is markedly smoother shifting, both up and down, and reacts more quickly to driver input.

Mariner uses a full-time AWD system that doesn't have a low range and is not intended for severe off-road use. However, in the snow it performs like a champ, keeping wheel spin to a minimum and allowing the driver to focus on the road.

The V6 AWD Mariner is EPA rated at 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Those numbers compare favorably with other V6/automatic compact SUVs. In addition, Mercury says that the V6 engine will run just fine on regular-grade gasoline. In routine driving expect to average about 18 mpg. Straight highway driving will net you about 23 mpg.

On the Road  Mariner rides like a traditional compact SUV, that means lots of bouncing on bumpy roads and some head toss on uneven pavement. Newer designs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have more comfort and less bouncing. The Mariner not terrible, mind you, but Mercury needs to put a little more effort into smoothing out the rough edges.

When the roads grow twisty, Mariner isn't as nimble as new compact SUVs, either. The biggest hindrance is the sloppy steering. It's slow and doesn't impart a lot of road feel. Also, the tires are tuned for traction in the rain and snow, so they don't have as much dry-road grip as you'd expect. While all of this doesn't make for a sports car, it does make for a SUV that's actually somewhat capable when the roads grow slippery.

Body lean in quick maneuvers and lane changes is modest. Brakes on the gas-only models are strong, aided by an easy-to-modulate pedal. Hybrid models seem short on braking power and have a mushy pedal, which is probably due to the regenerative braking.

On the highway, Mariner isn't as quiet as vehicles like the CR-V and RAV4. There's too much wind rush and road rumble. Noise levels aren't overwhelming, but you'll have to turn the radio up a notch or two on the highway.

Behind the Wheel  Mariner's interior was freshened in 2008 and Mercury did a good job of upgrading the look and feel. Materials aren't class leading, but they are pleasant enough and assembly quality is good. The design is also pleasant to the eye and functional.

Gauges are large and easy to read. Radio and climate controls are clearly marked and easy to operate. Window, lock and mirror switches are right where you'd expect them. The optional navigation system is easy to program and responds quickly to last-minute course deviations. About the only grips are an emergency-brake release that's too far under the dash and trip-computer buttons that are obscured by the steering wheel.

Front seats are typical small SUV fare, meaning they are upright, firm, and long-haul comfortable. Lateral support is lacking, but it isn't like Mariner is a sports car. Head room is great and leg room more than acceptable.

The driving position is higher than most compact SUVs, though step in is not much higher than a traditional wagon. Visibility is good to all directions and the optional rear-park assist works well to warn of objects that might be below the driver's view.

Rear seats offer more head and leg room than most competitors. The seats themselves are somewhat hard and flat. The floor is devoid of a driveline hump and that's a boon for three-across seating.

Mariner's cargo area is generous, even by compact SUV standards. Its functionality is enhanced by a large tailgate with separate opening glass and a low load floor. Rear seatbacks fold flat to increase cargo space, but not before first tipping the seat bottoms forward and removing the headrests. Interior storage is adequate and no more.

Bottom Line  Despite substantial improvements for 2008 and more power for 2009, Mercury's Mariner is showing its age when compared to newer competition. Still, that doesn't mean it's not a good vehicle or a good buy. It's got great passenger and cargo space, plenty of maneuverability, and, with three different engines and an extensive options list, a price point for every compact SUV shopper.