Overview & Reviews

Hybrid SUVs like the Mercury Mariner Hybrid are aimed primarily at green-thinking car buyers who want it all. By sport-utility standards, fuel economy is high and tailpipe emissions are low. At the same time, the Mariner Hybrid allows one to live the hybrid car lifestyle without losing the everyday versatility provided by all-wheel drive and a decent-sized cargo area.

As part of Mercury's demise, the Mariner Hybrid will only be produced through 2011. Mechanically, it's identical to the Ford Escape Hybrid. Differentiation comes about mostly through altered exterior styling and the Mariner's higher-quality interior.

Most Recent Mercury Mariner Hybrid
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid compact SUV was produced in two generations. The more recent ran from 2008-'11.

This Mariner was available in one well-equipped trim level. Standard amenities included full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, the Sync phone/MP3 player interface and an in-dash CD changer with MP3 audio input. Options included heated leather seats, an upgraded seven-speaker audio system, a navigation system, a sunroof, a rearview camera, MyKey (which allows parents/owners to limit speed and audio volume) and an automated parallel-parking assist feature.

A two-wheel-drive Mariner Hybrid should be able to deliver close to 30 mpg in real-world city and highway driving. Its powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, a pair of electric motors and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Under full acceleration, both power sources work together to provide maximum oomph, but under lighter load conditions, such as stop-and-go traffic, the Mariner Hybrid alternates between the two, oftentimes running purely on battery power alone. A regenerative braking system converts energy normally lost as heat into electricity to recharge the vehicle's batteries.

Although the cumulative horsepower rating of 177 doesn't sound very impressive, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid was quicker than the regular four-cylinder Mainer. Two-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive models were offered.

The Mariner Hybrid's cabin was tastefully accented with faux aluminum, chrome and wood-grain trim. The backseat was roomy and comfortable enough to keep a pair of adults content on road trips, and there was almost 28 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 66 cubic feet when folded.

With its gas engine and electric motors working in concert, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid returned outstanding fuel mileage. Unfortunately, its engine made a lot of noise under hard acceleration. Ride quality was acceptable for a small SUV, but handling was unimpressive because of the additional weight of the hybrid components. Braking performance was poor due to the Mariner's lackluster front disc/rear drum setup.

There were only a few changes during this model's time. For 2010, the Mariner Hybrid benefited from a few more high-tech features including the "Auto Park" automatic parallel-parking option and MyKey (which allowed parents to limit speed and audio volume for their teen drivers). Most importantly, a new electrically driven air-conditioning compressor arrived as well. Previously, the A/C would shut down with the engine when the vehicle stopped at a light or was stuck in traffic. You could override this, but then you wouldn't get the fuel economy savings auto stop/start provides.

Past Mercury Mariner Hybrids
The first-generation Mercury Mariner hybrid was produced for 2006-'07. These earlier Mariners had a hybrid powertrain similar to that of the second-gen version, albeit with a slightly smaller, 2.3-liter 155-hp engine. All-wheel drive was standard. Also, they lacked the newer Mariner's updated styling and features.

User Reviews:

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  2007 my impression - 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By j - November 15 - 4:33 am

  good handling and mileage. adequate power but stupid navigator system (small screen, uses multiple cds to operate), no temperature indicator, a/c does not have thermostatic control, harsh ride, wheel adjustment does go high enough, and does not have electonic stability control (a must for a new car)

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  Great car - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Barb - November 14 - 6:13 pm

  Just returned from a 3410 mile road trip. Included interstates (30, 10, and 59) and old state highways, average mileage was 32+/mpg. Kept up with the 18 wheelers on the nightmare that is 10 in Louisiana without a problem, "Little blue" did everything I asked. Cargo capacity was more than sufficient for two old boomers on a retail therapy binge. Parallel parking on a crowded street in old town Willimington was a breeze! After 4 1/2 months driving this car Im happier than I was when it was finally delivered! Did not get the on board navigation system, (I can read a map) just added leather seats to the standard Mercury package.

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  Great SUV - 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By JG - November 11 - 5:23 pm

  I wanted to wait until I got to drive this in the snow to give it a full review - and now I have here in New England. I have been very happily surprised in nearly every aspect of this car, from its handling and braking, to its fuel economy, to its overall comfort - in all of them it has excelled. The Navigation and Sync systems are outstanding and fun to explore, with easy-to-use podcasts and music and hands-free phone all projected through speakers, as well as real time traffic re-routing. And it does just fine even in deep snow.

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  WOW - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Darwin - September 24 - 2:53 am

  This hybrid is awesome. I bought it for my wife. Ii find that I am trying to find ways to get the keys from her hands. This Mariner is just fun to drive and well appointed. Everything about it just wow. Definitely pleased. Plus the tax incentive will definitely help offset the cost. Must go drive and try out. If you can afford to spend a little more, its worth it!

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  Exceeding Expectations - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Matrix D. - August 19 - 8:43 am

  Going from a Cadillac DTS to the Mariner Hybrid, I thought I might be giving up some creature comforts and settling for less, but Im not. The car handles well, its fun to drive, I love the visibility of being higher, and Im totally hooked on seeing how gas efficient I can drive. My husband and I are competing to see who can drive the longest for free in other words, driving just via the battery and with no gas. My regular driving habits are giving me about 30-31 MPG, a significant improvement from the Cadillacs 16-18 MPG average. Its been a long time since Ive felt this great about a new car!

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  Great SUV. - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Haole Boy - August 15 - 7:26 am

  1. Despite its appearance, this is indeed a compact SUV. Compare all specs w/the Hyundai Tucson for instance and they are very similar. I was surprised to find that it is shorter than my A4. However, the storage is still more than suficient and when driving, you feel safe and like youre driving a larger SUV, and heck, it fits nicely in a smalle townhouse garage. Love both the interior and exterior design. This SUV consitently turns heads. Have put about 900 miles on it, including a 600 mile road trip. Overall averaging a good 31 mpg. It certainly lacks some pep, but thats to be expected from a 4 cyl hybrid SUV. I still have been able to accelerate into high speed traffic satisfactorily.

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  Great Vehicle, Minor Flaws - 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By BC - July 20 - 7:40 pm

  I have had this car for almost 3 months now, and am very pleased with it. I average 31.3mpg with about 60/40 mix of city/highway driving. I really love driving this vehicle, and its very agile and easy to park. Im 6-3" and it still has plenty of room and is easy to get in and out of. Lumbar adjust is useless and obstructed by center console. TIP--If you notice that your engine does not turn off at stop lights, turn your window defroster off. The tilt wheel has very limited range adjustment upward. The mpg is great and varies only slightly between highway & city. UHAUL makes a drill-free hitch for this vehicle and it is useful for a needed hitch-hauler cargo carrier for trips.

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  good if you dont need air conditioning - 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Chris - July 5 - 11:53 pm

  I drive 2500-3000 + a month. It works well for all the city driving that I do. It has enough room for my dogs and stuff in the back. It is comfortable to ride in. It is very functional for me more so than a "fun" car.

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  Not perfect, but not bad - 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By epstein-nc - May 14 - 5:03 pm

  Its a Ford Escape with a Mercury label. Ive done lots of city, highway and offroad driving with no major complaints. Its the size an SUV should be. Its interior styling is no-frills-American, even the luxury model is basically the entry level model with leather, seat heaters and a fancy radio. Im not saying I dont like the vehicle, it is very practical and comfortable.

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  Good vehicle - 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
  By Rick Ridder - May 10 - 6:56 pm

  We have had no problems with it. Drove from Denver to Oregon and back. Averaged 33 mpg. My only complaint is that going up steep hills at above 6000 ft., it tends to be under-powered a bit. Still, it performs better than my Suburu, and has better overall comfort than any of the other vehicles I tested in the same class. Definitely a good vehicle. Very pleased owner.