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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  What a package! - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By Jerry - October 9 - 5:33 pm

  Mariner Premier V6 is loaded with features for the money. I previously owned 4 Mazda products and wanted a Tribute but dealer could not locate a Grand Touring V6 in 3 states. I now feel the Mercury (based on Tribute) is the better choice. More features and more upscale look. Im very pleased.

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  Its a looker!!! - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By Shirley - October 1 - 2:40 pm

  In May I purchased my first Mariner and I have to say I love driving it! I read the Editors Review on this vehicle before buying and Im happy that I was able to overlook the rather negative review. Its interesting to me that so many people continue to check out my vehicle especially when some of them are driving BMW and Lexus. Not bad for a vehicle with a "nine-year-old platform". The Mariner is very easy to handle and has all the features that I was looking for. My 12 yr old daughter and her friends love riding in it at night for the ambient lighting. My only negative would be the silver coating around the radio controls, gear shift and door handles. It may be hard to keep looking nice.

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  Awesome SUV! Sync is great! - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By owensry - September 27 - 12:00 pm

  I love the 2009 Mariner. The Sync system is great, along with the leather heated seats, and the black on black colors. The handling is great, has lots of power on the new 240HP V6 engine, along with great fuel economy. I recommend everyone to go for the V6 engine instead of the I4. Has more horsepower and isnt much less of a fuel difference.

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  Love my Mariner! - 2005 Mercury Mariner
  By Kortney - August 31 - 12:23 pm

  I love my Mariner. I went from a Mustang to this "more family" type vehicle. The power is impressive for this suv. It is very comfortable for me. I did remove the side steps because I found they really served no purpose, my dress would drag across and get dirty when getting in. I removed them and problem fixed and it looks great still. I love that the back glass will open by itself, Ive used this feature very often already. the gas mileage I average is 18.6 (better than my Mustang) so Im happy.

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  2006 Mercury Mariner - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By Peggy - August 29 - 9:43 am

  This was the best deal on a vehicle all the way around. I commute 3-4 hours per day and didnt feel safe on the freeways in my 4-cylinder. This car was top on the safety list for its class and I can see why. Its sturdy, not too big, has a luxury interior, and good options. Handles well in traffic. I looked at the Ford Escape which uses the same body, but the interior was very cheap, using plastic instead of chrome for the buttons and console areas. The fact that I got it loaded for 0% interest and $1,000 rebate made my purchase even sweeter.

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  Surprises Ford wont tell you about - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By CMB - August 29 - 5:06 am

  I love my 2008 Mariner. But be warned, in 2008 they changed a design that sends the transmission fluid through the A/C condenser. Why? Not really sure, but if you think you are leaking oil, it may be transmission fluid and it may be coming from the condenser. This leak will drain your transmission in about 3 days. Call Ford, they will have this $450 part in stock as they are replacing them weekly. But, they will not admit there is a problem. Yes, there is a TSB on this issue starting with 2008s. Again, based on my ratings, I do love this truck. As for the loud tire noise, trust me its the original tires. I put new tires on and now I enjoy my hour and half drive to and from work.

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  The Good The Bad & The Ugly - 2007 Mercury Mariner
  By gtsfreak - August 24 - 7:41 am

  Bought this car used with 30K + miles on it from local Ford dealer. Although it has run pretty good for two years, I am now experiencing ABS light problem, but Im getting ahead of myself. This V-6 is extremely responsive. It fires up every morning... almost revs too much. Makes me wonder if the idle speed is set too high. But shes a mad banshee on the road. Smooth transmission. Seats are comfortable. Interior knobs and features are ok. Some things about this car are bizarre. (e.g. two ways to turn off heat controls. Cannot control direction of air conditioner - It comes out every where! Whats with that? Intermittent wiper decal diagrams are reversed.) Audio - OK. Brakes - suspect.

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  Drive a lot before buying - 2009 Mercury Mariner
  By Not Pleased - August 21 - 8:03 pm

  This is my fourth Ford/Mercury I have owned and also the worst. The gas mileage is fine and was the reason I downsized from an Explorer. But the noise level inside this car is awful. My 10 year old Explorer was a quieter ride than this vehicle. The roads I tested it on near the dealership must have been very smooth. I will never buy another car without going over all types of roads, including bad ones. Please turn every knob to maximum level before buying. Turning heat/AC to anything above the lowest level is very noisy. The dealership says it is normal tire noise when I complain about the noise inside the vehicle. The radio has to be turned up loud to hear over the outside noise.

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  very safe! - 2008 Mercury Mariner
  By Molly Mc - August 13 - 3:43 am

  although the gas mileage could be improved and the transmission slipping could use improvement too,i cannot say enough about how great the safety features on this car are. I was recently hit from behind by a drag racing honda going in excess of 65 mph. both side curtain air bags deployed, side impact airbags,seatbelts worked fantastic and although my Mariners floor buckled and roof creased in two places and is probably a total loss,i walked away from this accident with a little whip lash. This car took hit fantastically.

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  Great Car - 2006 Mercury Mariner
  By L Fitt - August 12 - 12:40 am

  Have owned the vehicle for almost 6 months with not a single instance of a problem. It is a uiet and the ride is great for a smaller SUV. Owned a Mercury Grand Marquis before and we enjoy this car a much as the other one. Wish the fuel mileage was better on our 4-cylinder engine, but it is pretty quiet and responsive.