Overview & Reviews

Small SUVs like the Mercury Mariner represent one of the near-perfect compromises of the automotive world. They allow consumers to sit up high with a broad view of the road, load up children and cargo without bending and twisting, and plow through freak winter storms without stopping to put on snow chains. Yet, unlike larger SUVs, they're easy to drive, easy to park and (mostly) easy on the wallet when it comes time to refuel.

As such, having a compact sport-utility in the lineup is a must for any successful automotive brand. Mercury was a latecomer to this segment, adding the Mariner to its portfolio for 2005. Only three years later, it received a thorough cosmetic freshening and that was followed the next year by mechanical improvements. Sadly, this addition to the lineup wasn't enough to save Mercury, as the brand was gone after 2011.

A sibling of the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, the Mercury Mariner compact crossover SUV used all the same underpinnings as its relatives, but gained unique styling touches inside and out. In general, it was a mid-pack choice for a modern compact SUV; other top crossovers typically offered greater refinement, versatility and overall performance.

Most Recent Mercury Mariner
The Mariner was sold for two generations. The more recent version was offered from 2008-'11. Compared to earlier Mariners, these newer models featured an exterior and interior makeover that improved quality.

Mercury offered two trim levels: base and the more upscale Premier. In that first year, a 2.3-liter inline-4 rated for 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque powered the base Mariner. The base V6 and Premier models came with a 3.0-liter V6 good for 200 hp and 193 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was available across the board.

For 2009, mechanical changes were made. The inline-4 grew to 2.5 liters and 171 hp, the V6 was pumped up to 240 hp and both were matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission. That year also saw the debut of Ford's Sync multimedia voice control system and a revised suspension that improved ride quality. In light of all that, the 2009 and later Mariners are the more desirable ones. A number of high-tech features arrived for 2010, including Ford's MyKey system (which allows parents to limit speed and audio volume for their teen drivers), a back-up camera and a nifty Auto Park feature that steers the car during parallel parking.

Although the Mariner had some desirable technology features, its subpar brakes and aged overall design were fairly apparent when compared to rivals from Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. As such, if you're shopping for a used compact SUV, we recommend that you also consider those competitors before making a decision.

Past Mercury Mariners
The Mercury Mariner was introduced for 2005 as a slightly more upscale twin to the Ford Escape. As such, the pre-2008 models suffered from poor interior materials just like the Escape. Still, this "original" model was pleasant to drive, with tight and responsive handling that only fails to impress when compared with newer compact SUVs. From '05 through '08, the Mariner was powered by either by a 2.3-liter inline-4 that made 153 hp or a 3.0-liter V6 making 200 hp -- both of which came with a four-speed automatic transmission. The '05 to '07 Mariner came in base Convenience, midlevel Luxury and high-line Premier trims. The Convenience model offered basics like air-conditioning, a CD player and power accessories, while the Luxury moved you up to a V6 engine and a few more features. The Premier's highlights included leather seating, rear parking sensors and side airbags.

User Reviews:

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  Love my Mariner! - 2010 Mercury Mariner
  By BK2010 - January 11 - 7:40 am

  My M.M is much more than I thought it would be. The big rebates/incentives and good gas mileage (for an SUV) were huge motivators in my decision to purchase a M.M. I was surprisingly shocked at how much I like this SUV. My MPG gauge tells me I am getting 27, great, smooth ride, love the interior & the sun roof. An extra plus is the sync system which I have finally mastered.

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  Mariner classy vehicle - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By Kevin - January 3 - 10:16 pm

  This car is really a great little SUV It is fun to drive. It has power to get up and go. The interior is really sharp looking .The body is great looking the front of it with all the chrome makes it look that much more classy . Try it you will like it.

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  Mariner handles like a dream - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By D. Bryant - December 28 - 11:40 pm

  Just purchased the Mercury Mariner 4wd and love it. This is the second snow storm in two weeks, and it handles perfectly thru the heavy conditions. The last two days Ive insisted that my wife drive it to work for her safety. It does handle like a car not stiff like the Explorer we had last.

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  Love the car, but Im averaging 19 MPG - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By mko - December 19 - 8:33 am

  I drive the car on the weekends in the city, and on the highway. Took a very long road trip from Chicago to Santa Fe in August. Love the car, but I dont know how these other people are getting mid to high 20s for gas mileage. Im consistently getting 18- 20.

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  Jessica - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By jessica - December 15 - 6:30 am

  I bought this car after the escape I had transmission went on it at 80,000 miles didnt have this one a year and the transmission went very disappointed good thing it was still covered in the warranty dont think I will buy ford products ever again.

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  First SUV and love it - 2007 Mercury Mariner
  By Mercury - November 16 - 10:10 am

  Its my first SUV and I think I made the right choice. We looked at alot and ended up choosing the Mercury. I love it. Ive only had it 2 months but we had alot of snow in those 2 months and it handles great. Which is one of the reasons I wanted 4WD. I havent had any problems at all with the vehicle.

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  Loving It - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By Susan - October 25 - 11:00 am

  Ive really enjoyed driving my new Mariner. 100 miles every day on farm to market roads in southern Texas. Averaging 24 MPH and no problems so far except for a small squeak in the center dash when driving over a different type of payment. Enjoy the Bluetooth and Sync. Comfortable seating - that surprised me for a compact SUV. Id recommend it to another single person or a family with small kids.

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  Very Poor Gas Mileage - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By missmgmnt - October 10 - 10:09 am

  I traded my 2006 Kia Sorento in for the 2008 Mariner this past July. The Mariner was very stylish and offered newer accessories like heated seats and the back up warning system. Initially when I filled my tank up the mileage meter would read "320 miles to empty". But since my first oil change at the dealer this figure has steadily decreased to the point where today it read "227 miles to empty". How on earth could the fuel efficiency drop from 320 to 227 miles like that???? When I fill the tank I generally add between 11-12 gallons so that isnt the issue. VERY disappointed! With the high cost of gas today, such poor fuel economy is just unacceptable. Wish I could get my Kia back! :-(

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  I made the right choice - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By dcsteg - October 7 - 11:53 pm

  I have been researching this vehicle for several months in the automoblle magazines. It is everything I expected it to be. Build quality is excellent. Black paint is perfect. Interior well thought out with good fit and quality. The ride is a lot more confortable than the Mark 8 I traded in, and gas milage is in the mid 18s. Dealership gave me a great deal and with the 1.9 financeing it was a go.

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  A Non so likeable SUV - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By MechanicalAnimal - September 7 - 12:43 pm

  I leased our 2006 Mariner for my wife in 2006 in an effort to find a more economical replacement for her 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. I thought she would be able to live with a smaller sized four-cylinder SUV. I was sorely mistaken. She almost immediately complained about the lack of power. After spending time behind the wheel myself, I must admit the engine is not powerful enough for that size/weight vehicle. Furthermore the brakes are substandard in wet conditions and the gas tank is too small which results in having to hit the gas station more often than one would like. Overall not a fun vehicle to drive. My first (and probably last) Ford Motor Company product.