2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid Reviews

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid offers buyers an earth-friendly alternative to regular SUV’s. As a full hybrid, the Mariner Hybrid can provide truly guilt-free operation by running solely on electric power in low-load conditions.

Standard safety features include front airbags, front seat mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags for front and rear passengers. The Mariner Hybrid carries-on for 2011 with minimal changes.

Hybrid SUVs like the Mercury Mariner Hybrid are aimed primarily at green-thinking car buyers who want it all. 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. Most Recent Mercury Mariner Hybrid
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid compact SUV was produced in two generations. This Mariner was available in one well-equipped trim level. A two-wheel-drive Mariner Hybrid should be able to deliver close to 30 mpg in real-world city and highway driving. 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. Braking performance was poor due to the Mariner's lackluster front disc/rear drum setup.

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). Past Mercury Mariner Hybrids
The first-generation Mercury Mariner hybrid was produced for 2006-'07. All-wheel drive was standard. Also, they lacked the newer Mariner's updated styling and features.

Mercury Mariner Goes Out with a Bang
Ford is retiring the Mercury name, but that hasn’t put a dent in the reputation of the 2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The 2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid comes in two versions. A four-wheel-drive (4WD) model gets 30 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. A front-wheel-drive model offers 34 mpg city, 31 mpg highway. The hybrid SUV delivers this fuel economy using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine alongside an electric motor. Beyond the high fuel economy for its class, reviewers also note that the 2011 Mariner has a responsive hybrid drive train and excellent crash safety features. The Mariner is also bundled with innovative high-tech features. One downside to the 2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, noted by many reviewers, is that the Mariner is on the pricey side.

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2011 Mercury Mariner review

The 2011 Mercury Mariner offers decent performance, fuel economy and some impressive features like the Ford Sync system and an automatic parallel parking assist system. Interior
Available in four different trim packages, the base I4 and I6, Premier I4 and Premier I6, the 2011 Mercury Mariner doesn't offer any different features between the four-cylinder and six-cylinder powered models. Premier packages add parking sensors, heated leather seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat and the Ford-produced Sync system. Base models come with 16-inch alloy wheels and foglights, while the Premier Models can be upgraded with 17-inch wheels. Performance

Offered in both front- and all-wheel drive models, the 2011 Mercury Mariner's base powerplant is a 2.5-liter inline four cylinder engine that puts out just over 170 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque. The I4 models achieve an EPA-estimated 20 mpg during city driving, 28 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg overall when equipped with front-wheel drive. Adding all-wheel drive drops fuel economy to 19/25/21 mpg. The I6 front-wheel drive models provide more power without significantly detracting from the overall fuel efficiency rating (18 mpg city/26 mpg highway/21 mpg combined).

In some ways, the Mariner is still a decent small crossover. The Mariner also offers a number of high-end features unavailable on most rivals, such as Ford's Sync voice-activated multimedia system. The Mariner also offers features like an automated parallel parking assist system and MyKey (which allows parents of teenage drivers to set electronic limits for vehicle speed and stereo volume). Other Mariner strong points are excellent crash test scores and the availability of a hybrid model (reviewed separately).

The 2011 Mercury Mariner compact SUV is available in four trim levels: base I4, base V6, Premier I4 and Premier V6. The Premier models add rear parking sensors, ambient interior lighting, heated front seats, leather upholstery (microfiber suede inserts are a no-cost option), a power driver seat, a six-speaker stereo, Sync and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Options for base models include a roof rack, a moonroof, Sync, leather upholstery (with heated front seats), a power driver seat and ambient interior lighting.

Powertrains and Performance
The 2011 Mercury Mariner is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. EPA estimates are about average for this segment, with front-wheel-drive I4 models checking in at 20 miles per gallon city/28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined (19/25/21 for AWD models), while front-wheel-drive V6 models are rated at 18 mpg city/26 highway/21 combined (17/24/20 for AWD models).

Safety
Antilock brakes (albeit with rear drums), traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags with a rollover sensor are all standard equipment on the 2011 Mercury Mariner.

The Mariner earned a perfect five stars from the government in both front and side crash tests. Unfortunately, the Mariner's braking performance is poor. From 60 mph, the Ford Escape we tested (mechanically identical to the Mariner) required 138 feet to come to a halt.
The Mariner shows its age, however, in terms of comfort and space. Cargo volume stands at a useful 29 cubic feet with the rear seat in place and 66 cubic feet when that seat is folded down not bad given the Mariner's relatively compact footprint.

Driving Impressions
The 2011 Mercury Mariner feels reasonably secure during quick changes of direction, and its ride quality is pleasantly supple.
With traction and stability control standard, front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags controlled by a rollover sensor, the 2011 Mercury Mariner scored five out of five stars in government crash tests for occupant protection in both front and side collision testing.
In 2009, the Mariner adopted more significant powertrain updates. A third powertrain is offered in the Mariner Hybrid, which is virtually identical to the award-winning Ford Escape Hybrid. The technology in this version of the Mariner crossover couples a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a full hybrid system combining an electric motor system. The Mariner's somewhat upright look translates into plenty of interior space. Safety scores for the Mariner crossover have been strong. Features like Ford's voice-controlled SYNC system have kept the Mariner somewhat up to speed.

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2010 Mercury Mountaineer Review

The Mercury Mountaineer is relatively expensive for its class. With the optional V8 engine, all-wheel drive system and Class III/IV Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, the Mountaineer is rated to tow up to 7,040 pounds.

The Honda Pilot, for example, will save you nearly $1,600 as compared to the base 2010 Mercury Mountaineer and has a better 17/23 base fuel economy rating. It starts at about $3,000 less than the Mountaineer and still boasts a better 17/21 fuel economy rating – which is surprising considering that it’s built on a truck-based platform just like the Mercury. Best of all, it’s rated to tow 7,500 pounds – that’s even more than the Mountaineer – when properly equipped.

Why, you get the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer, of course. As modern SUVs go, however, the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer is mostly outclassed. Its available all-wheel-drive system is matched by every notable crossover SUV, and a crossover's car-based chassis will always trump the Mountaineer's truck-style underpinnings when it comes to negotiating bumps and corners. The Mountaineer does have some old-school SUV company.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer is a midsize SUV available in base and Premier trim levels. Rear-wheel drive is standard on both trims, with all-wheel drive optional.

Optional is a Five-Passenger Value Package that adds power-adjustable pedals, driver memory functions, reverse parking sensors, running boards, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear manual climate controls, leather upholstery, heated power front seats, satellite radio and the Sync voice-activated communication and entertainment system. The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer Premier comes standard with 18-inch chrome wheels, rear parking sensors, aluminum-trimmed heated exterior mirrors with puddle lamps, aluminum roof rails, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear manual climate controls, leather upholstery, heated power front seats, driver memory functions and Sync. Options include 20-inch wheels, the tow package, power running boards, a power-folding third-row seat, a rear-seat entertainment system, second-row fold-flat bucket seats and a voice-activated navigation system with DVD audio and video capability, an internal hard drive, 10 gigabytes of music storage and an integrated real-time traffic feature that also provides local gas prices, movie times and sports scores.

Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available with either engine.
A V8-equipped AWD Mountaineer required 8.3 seconds to reach 60 mph in our instrumented testing. Properly equipped, a rear-wheel-drive Mercury Mountaineer with the V8 can tow up to 7,220 pounds.

Safety
The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer fared quite well in crash tests, earning a perfect five stars across the board in all government frontal and side impact tests. The third-row option reduces available cargo space, but only slightly: Seven-passenger Mountaineers top out at 83.7 cubic feet, while five-passenger versions can swallow 85.8 cubic feet.
The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer, to put it bluntly, is a 2010 Ford Explorer, rebadged and presented with slightly different trim and details. The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer is no exception; Mercury's waterfall grille and softer front end help make the Mountaineer appear just a little more carlike.

Two different powertrain choices are offered in the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer. The 2010 Mountaineer can be configured to be either a five- or seven-passenger vehicle, and when equipped, the third row can be power operated. The Mountaineer is quite roomy inside, with a good driving position. Ride quality is quite good, though—credit the Mountaineers SUV's independent rear suspension.

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