Overview & Reviews

The Mariner, based on the successful Ford Escape, is new for 2005.

• Powerful V6, large cargo capacity, comfortable and stylish interior, carlike handling.

• Faux wood trim is unconvincing, fuel-thirsty V6.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 91.00

• 

  Noisy - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Denise - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased a week ago. So far, a lot of wind noise even @ 45mph, rattling noise on passenger rear side, and it vibrates like crazy @ stoplights. Engine sounds like its idling too high like its ready to race. Also the windshield wipers are extremely loud!! Thumps. I took 3 months deciding if I wanted this suv or not. Wish I would have waited longer.

• 

  a neat little suv. - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By chas wright - June 9 - 2:53 pm

  performance comfort and handling all excellent for a suv. cannot fault anything except fuel economy and size of fuel tank. I drove houston to miami shortly after purchase and it felt like I had to stop at almost every gas station. w/o a/c on the trip average was less than 21.5 mpg. this is considerably less than advertised.Otherwise a driver friendly super little vehicle with excellent ride.

• 

  Not all happy - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Is it me or? - September 24 - 2:03 pm

  Let me start on the positive. The Mariner is pretty inside and out,as compared to the Escape and Tribute. I have two major issues with this vehicle. First, there is an undeniable steering wheel vibration at highway speeds (70+). After 4 failed service appts., I demanded I drive another (no different). The dealer blames it on Continental Tires, but after replacing all with Michelins, same problem. They openly revealed that Ford/Mercury is aware of the issue and is "working on it." Another model issue is the brakes. Very loud in cold weather and snow and they are "developing" a replacement pad that wont be ready until March 05 (Im on the "list"). Lastly, horrible gas mileage!

• 

  Long Term Review - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Brian - March 18 - 9:23 pm

  In short, this has been a really pleasant vehicle for the past 5 years. This was my first SUV, I wanted something with storage but not something huge. I have a small roadster that I drive most of the summer, and every time I get back into the Mariner Im reminded about how comfortable it is. Easy to drive & park with a very comfortable interior for short and long trips. My only problem was a radio with a defective speed sensor (which was replaced under warranty). Recommended if youre looking for a small SUV.

• 

  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.

• 

  third suv - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By BRENDA SAVGE - May 3 - 10:10 am

  we went looking for another suv- had an explorer- traded in for expedition- which saved my life in a rollover on ice-- bought another expedition- and now we wher in of a second car/suv- in looking around at other models- we settled on the marnier on first site- bought the suv- without even test driving- and then drove it home 27 miles from the dealer-- and loved every minute of that drive- looking forward to taking the suv this weekend to las vegas- and given the expedition a rest...

• 

  love it - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By mark - April 11 - 3:06 am

  Wife and I love most everything about this vehicle. Our 2000 Ford Explorer would only avg about 12-13 mpg in town and we never got over 19 on the hi-way We opted for the 4cyl FWD auto version. With lots of short trips we avg 18-20 mpg and Hwy mpg has hit 29mpg. Performance with the 4 cyl has been better than expected. The only complaint that we have is that of road noise. It is a great small SUV

• 

  Great Value Decent Performance - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Joe - January 21 - 3:30 am

  Ok - so we needed an SUV at our vacation home - Ford came out with the employee pricing and we took a Luxury FWD with a roof rack off the lot - yes, Out the Door" for $19,500 - including tax, license, dealer junk fees, prep, salesman commissions etc etc. The standard V6 auto luxury pkg., no options except the roof rack. Adequate performance [I own a Porsche and the wife a Saab], great vision out the front, decent seats, CD player, buy one now with ee pricing & $2000 rebate.

• 

  Mariner - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Minnesota - March 24 - 11:53 am

  This has been the most trouble-free car Ive owned. I recently checked the highway mileage and was pleased to find I was getting 27 MPG.

• 

  Disappointed with the paint. - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By hov - January 24 - 12:50 am

  I really enjoy driving the Mariner. It is fun to drive and handles really well. I was disappointed in the design after I found that the paint below the rear passenger doors (where the body flairs out) was badly chipped after only 2k miles of careful driving. We put on mud flaps and it was re-painted, 2k later, the same result. Ford claims this is a vehicle trait. A very poor trait to have in an otherwise good vehicle. I am curious to see if anyone else has noticed this premature wear.