2009 Mariner Hybrid Scores High

With over a year and 20,000 miles logged behind the wheel of the first generation of Ford Motor Company's popular hybrid compact SUV, Green Car couldn't wait to test the new-and-improved 2009 model. Our inaugural Green Car of the Year, the 2007 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, was an impressive vehicle in its own right.

The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids were freshened last year with more contemporary front and rear fascias and new interior trim. Less evident updates include thicker glass for a quieter ride and reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness. Overall, the package feels more upscale and polished.

With competition like the Saturn Two-Mode Hybrid from General Motors on the way, Ford revised the gas-electric powertrain for the 2009 model year to create an even more competitive product. On the gasoline side, the new model offers a more powerful 2.5 liter Duratec DOHC 16 valve four-cylinder with intake variable cam timing (i-VCT). The new engine produces 155 horsepower - 20-more than the old 2.3 liter engine. It also delivers 12 additional lbs-ft of torque, with 136 lbs-ft now on tap.

Like the 2.3-liter variant before it, the larger 2.5-liter is converted to run as an Atkinson cycle engine for greater fuel efficiency. Unlike the more conventional Otto cycle used in most internal combustion engines, the Atkinson cycle leaves the intake valve open longer so the compression stroke is shorter than the power stroke. The trade-off brings a 7 to 8 percent increase in fuel efficiency but a reduction in torque output. However, torque from the gasoline engine isn't an issue since the hybrid powerplant's electric motor provides 100 percent of its torque from zero rpm.

With the added punch from its 94 horsepower AC synchronous electric motor, the Mariner Hybrid now offers a combined output of 249 horsepower. The result is acceleration that exceeds the V-6 model. Our best 0-60 mph time came in under 10 seconds, about 1.5 seconds quicker than the older model. The 2009 Mariner Hybrid's electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) was also much more responsive than the previous generation. The CVT in our long-term tester would allow the gasoline engine to rev freely when you first rolled into the throttle under load. The 2009 eCVT is much more positive, providing a quicker response to throttle application.

Ford also revised the Mariner Hybrid's braking system for a more refined feel and less obvious transitions through the regenerative braking phase. A new pedal sensor is key to the new system and is said to allow further fine-tuning of the regenerative brake energy capture process.

The more robust hybrid system is immediately evident. It is also now possible to accelerate up to 40 mph on electric power alone, a big improvement from the previous iteration's electric-only capability of up to 25 mph. This takes a feather touch on the accelerator to keep the gasoline engine from kicking-in, but with practice the electric mode is much more useable. Ford engineers reworked the hybrid programming without a significant change to the nickel-metal-hydride battery pack that's housed below the rear cargo floor. The old model would also disable the electric mode when 'max AC' was selected. For 2009, there's a new economy AC button that keeps cool air moving in the vehicle even when driving solely on electric drive.

The Mariner Hybrid's 2009 EPA fuel economy ratings are an impressive 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive model. The four-wheel drive version, which has a second electric motor powering the rear wheels, nets estimates of 29 city and 27 highway mpg. We had little trouble beating these figures with 'green' drive techniques, with 36 to 37 mpg around town not uncommon and a steady 65 mph on the highway in zero wind conditions delivering just over 33 mpg.

The Mariner Hybrid's green portfolio includes Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV II) and Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) ratings. Its greenness extends to the inside, where the Mariner, like the Escape Hybrid, offers bio-based polyurethane seat foam derived from soybeans and other plant seeds. Fabric woven from polyester fibers recycled from post-industrial materials, which would normally be dumped in a landfill, covers the seats.

Driving the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid brought back pleasant memories of our year with the 2007 long-term test unit. As a smaller SUV, the Mariner is easy to drive and park even in congested city conditions. The Mariner is nimble, offering good road feel translated back through the electric assist power steering. We wouldn't go so far as calling the ride or handling qualities refined, but they certainly are pleasant.

For 2009, Ford's Sync electronics package can also be added to the Mariner Hybrid. This allows using voice commands to control audio and navigation systems, as well as a bluetooth cell phone. Our test car also offered an audio-in jack and USB port in the lower portion of the center dash stack for versatility. Another useful touch is the addition of a 110-volt household outlet to power up a laptop or other power hungry necessities of modern life.

After a week of driving the new 2009 Mariner Hybrid, we wouldn't mind another 20,000 miles behind the wheel.

The Good: Excellent Fuel Economy, comfortable, and versatile
The Bad: Powertrain a bit noisy during hard acceleration
The Rating: 9.5 (out of 10)