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Christopher Jackson | 3/19/2008 | Mercury
Perhaps it's got something to do with my office's location in the shadow of Ford's World Headquarters, or maybe compact SUVs are quickly becoming ubiquitous, but I was surprised that very few people noticed that I was driving a 2008-model Mercury Mariner. In spite of the complete redesign and flashy new oversized grille, the 2008 Mercury Mariner fades easily into the background.
This might be due in part to the fact that the Mariner, Mercury's entry in the growing compact-luxury SUV market, has chosen to remain tall while everyone else is going low. The trend with sport-utes these days is to migrate onto automotive platforms, which offer lower silhouettes and more confident handling. The move tends to reduce overall towing and hauling ability, and very few crossover vehicles are ever going to be much good off-road. Then again, most modern SUV drivers don't go off-road anyway. By contrast, the Mariner, Mercury's upscale version of the pleasant Ford Escape, emerges from a fresh round of 2008 updates with improved safety and driving dynamics, and with its trucklike soul intact.
What makes it different from its twin-under-the-skin the Escape? The 2008 Mercury Mariner is decidedly more luxurious. Where the Escape is ready to go play in the mud, the Mariner looks more at home in an upscale urban setting. Built-in running boards and body-colored mirrors are evidence of the Mariner's plusher take on things. The 2008 redesign is about as thorough as Mercury could do without changing the Mariner's basic structure. The exterior styling is much bolder and more distinctive, with a larger waterfall grille, a tremendous Mercury badge and smoother lines. The larger headlamps don't quite mimic those of the larger Mountaineer, but the Mercury DNA is obvious thanks to subtle logos integrated into the lamps and the trim. The taillights are crystal-and-chrome units that resemble custom components.
The interior has been updated as well, and it looks much better. Seats, instrument panel, doors and console have all been redrawn with a more integrated look in mind. There's more color contrast as well; Mercury's dark/light interior treatments work wonders on the Mariner's interior, as do the satin pewter accents and Alcantara faux suede inserts on the doors and seats. The new center stack is well-organized, if a bit fussy, and the nighttime lighting has been re-colored to a pale blue that's more readable (and better-looking) than the old green. Mercury's redesigned the display for the available navigation system as well, and the shifter has finally moved from the column into the console. It's also clear that the Mariner's basic structure hasn't changed. The seats are still tall and comfortable, but legroom, headroom and visibility are a generation behind the cutting edge. That isn't to say it's not useful; a center console big enough to hold a laptop computer and a hidden compartment beneath provide some urban convenience. There's also a new available cargo management system in the back. The Mariner's roof panel has also been subtly redesigned, to improve interior noise levels.
Standard equipment is generous: an MP3/iPod jack, side-curtain and rollover airbags, anti-lock brakes and a stability control system are all included in the base price. The uplevel Premier model adds a choice of 16" or 17" wheels, leather seats and dual-zone climate control.
The 2008 Mercury Mariner's base engine is the familiar 2.3 liter four-cylinder powerplant, or you can step up to the 3.0 liter V6 which is also a carryover from last year's model. These engines produce 153 and 200 horsepower, respectively, and the four-cylinder even returns respectable fuel economy. The Mariner is also available as a hybrid, for even better fuel efficiency (and a much higher price tag). The V6 is most suited to the Mariner's mission in life however, offering up a smooth and relaxed drive with ample power. A cool new detail is the one-touch start, which allows the driver to twist the key once instead of holding it until the engine starts up. It's a common feature on luxury cars, but is new to this class of vehicle. Four-speed automatic transmissions are standard across the board; for a manual, you'll have to go to the Ford Escape. Front-wheel drive is standard, with four-wheel drive available. It's not a pavement-only all-wheel drive system, either. The Mariner's Intelligent 4WD System detects wheelspin and modulates the torque appropriately. It's able to mimic the effects of a locking four-wheel drive system without the on-pavement driveline binding that's common to those systems. And it works. We've taken the Mariner off-road and found it surprisingly capable.
Handling feels approximately the same as before, because the MacPherson strut front suspension and independent rear haven't changed much. That's not a bad thing of course; the Mariner's handling was already among the best in class. It's responsive and stable on pavement. Electronic power steering is new, and improves steering feel as well as fuel economy. Brakes use an efficient front disc/rear drum arrangement.
As compact luxury SUVs morph into more carlike crossover vehicles, the trucky little 2008 Mercury Mariner seems at a glance to have been left behind. On the other hand, not everyone needs to go carlike--there's still a need for compact luxury SUVs that have some measure of ability. Mariner pricing starts at $25,380 for the Premier model. Our tester was a Premier with a navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, 17" wheels and a trailer towing package, and it stickered for $29,945.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2008 Mercury Mariner
Length: 175.2 in.
Width: 81.3 in.
Height: 70.0 in.
Wheelbase: 103.1 in.
Curb weight: 3549 lb.
Cargo space: 29.3 cu.ft (seats up); 66.2 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Towing capacity:
Base price: $25,380
Price as tested: $29,945
Engine: 3.0 liter DOHC V6
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Horsepower: 200 @ 6000
Torque: 193 @ 4850
Est. mileage: 19/23
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