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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No Regrets - 2010 Mercury Mariner
By ernie - January 28 - 6:43 pmBeing that dad worked for FORDS, I figured it was time to get rid of the Honda Odyssey and downsize into the Mariner. It is a great vehicle and coming from a minivan I was impressed, I dont feel like I am missing anything. The quality is outstanding, and I simply have no regrets!!
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Cool - 2006 Mercury Mariner
By Chris - January 13 - 3:06 pmSmooth Quite ride. I test drove the 2006 Rav and CRV and found the Mariner to be much more luxurious than others.
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New Mariner - 2005 Mercury Mariner
By Michael - January 11 - 7:13 pmWe bought the Mariner right after the holidays, so weve had a month with it and absolutely love it. Very comfortable ride and quiet, almost like a car. We were hesitantly traded in our aging subaru outback, but now couldnt be happier. Exterior styling is excellent. We opted not to get the luxury enhancement package and comfort package (which would add power seat, driver message center, auto headlights), but we dont miss them. The manual driver seat is plenty adjustable for me and my wife to both drive comfortably, and the car is still very functional without the other features.
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Love my Mariner! - 2010 Mercury Mariner
By BK2010 - January 11 - 7:40 amMy 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 pmThis 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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First SUV and love it - 2007 Mercury Mariner
By Mercury - November 16 - 10:10 amIts 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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I made the right choice - 2005 Mercury Mariner
By dcsteg - October 7 - 11:53 pmI 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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Great Value and Style - 2007 Mercury Mariner
By PJ - September 6 - 6:03 pmLove my Mariner. I handles better than a larger SUV, feels peppy and stylish. Perfect for trips with the family (and large dog).
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This was a good choice - 2005 Mercury Mariner
By John W. Mapes - June 25 - 11:16 amReal fun to drive although I feel its terrible on gas and the tank could be alot bigger than it is. Interior is very well planned but side seat controls are hard to access with doors closed. One problem I am experiencing is braking noise coming from both front and rear calipers, somewhat like it sounds when the brakes are worn and need replacing. Need to contact dealer on this. They are definatly dealing, with 1400 off sticker and 2750 in rebates I came in under 24000. All told, a great value I thought.
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Excellent after 100,000 miles - 2008 Mercury Mariner
By shihchi - June 17 - 10:26 amBought my Mariner new in June 2008, trading in an 02 Escape w/ 150,000 miles on it. Now at 100,000 miles, the Mariner has had no problems. Avg. 26-29 mpg. "Hassle" of folding down back seats is nonexistent: requires 30 seconds. No big deal. Replaced noisy OEM Continental tires with Goodyear Assurance tires, and little, if any, road noise can be heard. Like the leather seats and moonroof. 1st gen. 4-cylinder, 4-spd auto trans. work well; I dont miss additional cubes or gears. Pop-open rear window very handy. Upscale ambience nice. Never experienced trans.-coolant leakage; recalled before any problems experienced. Seats very comfortable for all-day drives between Dallas and St. Louis.
