2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
MSRP $30,115
As most know by now, Ford is putting the Mercury line out to pasture after this model year. Luckily for Mercury buyers, Ford will still be around, and parts and repair will still be available. The Mariner is pretty much a twin to the Ford Escape Hybrid, except for options and cosmetics.
The 2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is a compact hybrid crossover SUV that seats five. It has a 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor/generator that produce a combined total of 177 horsepower. It comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a continuously variable transmission. An upgrade to 4-wheel drive with an extra electric motor to power the rear axle is available. It is rated at 34 mpg in the city, where the electric motor does a lot of the work, and 31 mpg on the highway. 4-wheel drive reduces these numbers to 30 in the city and 29 on the highway.
The Mariner has a lot of conveniences and features in their standard package. It comes with keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, full power accessories, cruise control, wood-grain interior trim, 2-zone climate control, an outside mirror with an integrated blind spot mirror, and the Ford Sync interface. The audio system has 4 speakers, a CD/MP3 player, AM/FM radio, satellite radio, and an audio jack. Plenty of add-ons are available in the form of the Leather and Hybrid Premium packages.
The Mariner comes with anti-lock brakes, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, and rollover sensors. It also has the patented Ford MyKey system, which allows parents to program the Mariner for maximum speed and stereo volume for younger drivers. Best of all, it aced every test from both the US government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, getting the highest possible scores in every instance.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
The interior, while it has a lot of conveniences, is rather ordinary. There really aren’t any distinguishing factors here. There is plenty of headroom and legroom all around, but the seats don’t adjust a lot, and the rear seats aren’t as comfortable as modern seats are. There is plenty of space, though: 29 cubic feet behind the seats and 66 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded down.
The handling and ride quality are decent for this market segment. The engine is powerful enough, and the steering is accurate. The suspension is tweaked for comfort, and the ride is smooth and car-like. There is a mild amount of body roll, though.
There are a few negatives. First, the seats really need to be addressed. They are tolerable, but one would expect more. Secondly, the Mariner labors and makes too much noise during acceleration or high speeds. This is really unheard of in a hybrid.
The verdict: this is a decent vehicle, but the competition is better. Wait for the end of the year and try to get at least $5,000 off.
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