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Mercury Mariner - What the Auto Press Says

Redesigned last year, the Mariner stands out for its attractive exterior, although reviewers have consistently complained about its aging powertrain and chassis. For 2009, Mercury attempts to remedy that with performance upgrades.

Despite the improvements, the Mariner still trails top rivals in its class. "The addition of more power and a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission goes some way in prolonging the life of this aged SUV," says Consumer Guide. "Engine noise and interior refinement are sore spots, as are sticker prices if options are not carefully chosen. Mariner remains a pleasant and likable compact SUV, but be sure to check out the competition as well."

For 2009, the Mariner's four-cylinder and V6 engines both gain more power and an optional six-speed automatic transmission is available. In addition, the SUV gets a revised suspension and recalibrated brakes. The performance enhancements should also improve fuel economy, which has never been one of the Mariner's strong points.

The Mariner comes in two trims -- the base model and the Premier, which adds several features. It is also available as a hybrid model, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, which is reviewed separately.

• "The Mercury Mariner, which shares its platform with the Ford Escape, continues with many mechanical improvements aimed at more power, better fuel economy and better drivability." -- Cars.com
• "In sum, we haven't been high on this aging Mercury in recent years, but its upgrades for 2009 give us pause. ... While the 2009 Mercury Mariner is definitely worth a longer look than it was last year, don't forget about newer competitors such as the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4." -- Edmunds
• "Mariner retains the fuel-efficiency, maneuverability and the fun-to-drive nature that is a core characteristic of the small SUV package." -- The Auto Channel

Mariner Performance - 7.5 (Good)

While the Mariner previously lagged far behind competitors in the performance category, powertrain and chassis revisions for 2009 have helped -- but not quite enough. "Do these upgrades pull the Mariner even with the best compact SUVs? Well, yes and no," says Edmunds. Though reviewers are pleased with the extra power and better fuel economy, they still find the 2009 Mariner's brakes sub-par. Read More

Mariner Exterior - 8.0 (Very Good)

The 2009 Mercury Mariner's styling is well-liked for its refined, clean elements and bright chrome waterfall grill. "Wearing all-new sheetmetal, the Mariner now features a much more prominent waterfall grill that apes the single-frame grille treatment found on VW and Audi products," says Car and Driver. Read More

Mariner Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)

Reviewers generally praise the 2009 Mercury Mariner's cabin for its stylish look and well-thought-out storage features. "Fit and finish is good inside the 2009 Mercury Mariner, and functionality is boosted by a huge center console with removable bins," says Edmunds. On the down side, reviewers have mixed feelings on the seats. Read More

Mariner Safety - 9.9 (Excellent)

Like the 2008 model, the 2009 Mariner does very well in federal government crash tests. In fact, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has named it a 2009 "Top Safety Pick." The Mariner's excellent list of safety equipment includes traction control. Read More

Mariner Reliability - 7.0 (Good)

The 2009 Mercury Mariner reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Mercury supports the Mariner with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Read More