Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV

After more than 20,000 miles of flawless service, it's time to move on from our Mercury Mariner Hybrid to other long-term test vehicles. During its yearlong test run, this highly-functional vehicle served diverse missions including school shuttle, commuter transport, horse feed hauler, and long-distance runner. It delivered without complaint while providing exceptional economy and ease of operation.

From the outset the big story has been fuel economy. Our 2007 Mariner Hybrid carries EPA estimates of 32 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway. With the exception of driving in extreme weather conditions, we consistently achieved or beat those numbers with little effort. Our best fuel loop was a combined city and country route where the electric drive could be used to its full potential, posting over 34 mpg. Using every trick in the driving-for-efficiency book, we even maintained 38 mpg for one 15-minute stretch just to see what could be done. On the highway, 29 mpg to 30 mpg is a good average unless traveling above 70 mph. We regularly observed highway-cruising range on the Mariner's fuel computer of well over 400 miles on a single tank.

Our worst tank of 25.2 mpg was in near-zero temperatures that necessitated engine warm-up and running the defroster full time. When either the defroster or max AC setting are selected on the climate control knob, the computer keeps the gasoline engine running full time to supply adequate hot or cold air to clear the windshield or cool down the cabin on really hot days.

For 2008, the Mariner Hybrid's official economy rating dropped to 29 mpg city and 27 mpg highway due to the EPA's well-publicized revised test procedure, which is designed to more accurately reflect the way most Americans drive. That said, if you are getting less than 30 mpg around town with this vehicle, then you're not using the hybrid system very efficiently. With light accelerator pedal pressure, the Mariner will run solely on electric power at speeds up to 25 mph. Toying with the system allowed us to cover more than two miles on electric power alone.

It should be noted that for 2008, the Mariner Hybrid is available as a front-wheel drive model to complement the all-wheel drive powertrain that was exclusively offered in the past. The Ohio winter conditions under which our test vehicle operated made the AWD well worth the additional cost (AWD is a $1,750 premium). If you want to save some bucks and live in an area where you don't need the added traction, the front-wheel drive Mariner Hybrid will deliver slightly better fuel economy. The 2008 EPA numbers for the front -wheel drive model are 34 mpg city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Once the 2.3 liter, Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine kicks in, the combination of gas and electric power delivers acceleration on par with the 200 horsepower V-6 available in non-hybrid models. The 2.3 liter gasoline engine produces 133 horsepower and 124 lbs-ft of torque, with the electric motor offering an additional 70kw of power at 5,000 rpm and 330V of maximum voltage. The transition between electric and gas/electric is smooth and seamless. Power is delivered to the wheels through a continuously variable transmission.

Unlike less conventional hybrids like Toyota's Prius, driving the Mariner Hybrid is quite uneventful. All controls are straightforward and normal. In fact, if you don't point out the hybrid's unique features, it is possible to fool an inattentive driver into believing they are driving a regular SUV. We don't recommend this since a driver would be quite alarmed when the engine shuts off while braking to a stop at the first signal. After pulling out of a neighbor's driveway in silent electric mode we overheard the comment, "that's just weird"... a nod to the only hint of motion being the sound made by tires rolling across the pavement.

Overall, the Mariner Hybrid has been quite a comfortable ride. We would prefer more front seat support in our long-term tester, but that's a shortfall that's happily been remedied with improvements on the 2008 model. The seats in earlier versions are fine for commutes and shorter trips, but when the hours and miles behind the wheel stretch on we found the need for a little stretching of our own.

Driving dynamics remained quite pleasant over the course of our yearlong evaluation. In a word, the Mariner Hybrid is nimble. Steering feel through the electric system is light, but not over-assisted. This is one SUV that is fun to drive on a twisty country road, something we happened to do a lot. We were also impressed by the all-wheel drive system's performance when winter threw its worst at us. Snow, ice, and rain-slick roads were all handled with complete composure.

The Mercury Mariner, like its Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute siblings, is a "right"-sized SUV for many applications. We found it just big enough to get the job done, but not so large as to ever feel cumbersome or wasteful. Over the course of the yearlong test, we carried over 500 pounds of horse feed and pellet stall bedding in the rear-cargo hold without complaint. The backseat area is great for kids and adequate for two adults, though legroom is a bit lacking for taller passengers.

The Mariner Hybrid is produced in Claycomo, Missouri, at Ford's Kansas City Assembly plant. Overall build quality of our tester was top notch; body lines were straight and the Mariner exhibited a very solid feel. Pleasantly, after more than 20,000 miles, the Mariner was still devoid of squeaks and rattles, and felt as tight as the day we drove it out of Dearborn with just 23 miles showing on the odometer.

The loss of our 2007 Mariner Hybrid long term test vehicle was made a little easier by a recent stint behind the wheel of the updated 2008 Mariner. We found evolutionary improvements to be evident in various areas as one might expect, with the new model providing quieter and smoother operation while also exhibiting more pleasing road manners. The update goes beyond cosmetic changes to include items like thicker glass and a redesigned roof panel that improves airflow to reduce wind noise. Along with the more supportive seats, the reduction in wind and road noise will certainly make the 2008 model more pleasant during longer trips.

Mariner Hybrid carries an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on hybrid-related components. As Green Car Journal's inaugural Green Car of The Year in 2006, the Mariner Hybrid was a milestone for both the publication and the Mercury division of Ford Motor Co. In our eyes, this model is a winner and a tough act to follow.