Special to The Detroit News
We tested a top-of-the-line 2005 Mariner Premier 4WD priced at $27,845, with
only two options--a reverse sensing system ($255) and side air bags and curtains
($595).
SHE: The Mariner has got one of the prettiest little cabins in the class,
especially if you get the Premier model with the perforated suede-like inserts
in the door panels and seats and the dark wood trim. It's a pleasure to be
behind the wheel of this good-looking SUV.
HE: But the Mariner is something of a poseur. It's really nothing more than a
garden-variety BMW Escape in mild disguise. Let's face it. The Mariner is
basically an Escape with a different grille, plus a few more interior frills--
sort of like gilding the dandelion. I suppose that's a little harsh, but I'm
looking at all the other great vehicles you can buy for $28,000 or less,
including the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Jeep Grand Cherokee. For that
kind of money, the Mariner doesn't even come close. Heck you can get a BMW X3
for just over $30,000. Time for BMW to go back to school on this one.
SHE: Granted, there were some things about the Mariner that irritated me, too,
especially the rear seat. It's got no vents, no individual reading lights and no
hooks for the dry cleaning. OK, the hook for the dry cleaning is located in the
cargo area, which seems like a dumb place. But I keep looking at my notes and
remembering all the stuff I loved about the Mariner. And how easy it was to live
in. It's a snap to whip it into tight parking spaces. And the visibility is
excellent, especially with the three-window design on either side. We had
several test vehicles in our driveway the week we had the Mariner, and I
invariably ended up in the little Mercury because I felt so at home in it.
HE: I felt so cramped in it, especially when I was forced to ride in the back
seat, which has barely enough room for a large male, let alone three
average-size adults. I have some other issues, too, which the Mariner shares
with the Escape, including that anemic 3.0-liter V-6, which runs out of steam
way too soon for comfort. It's mated to an old-fashioned four-speed automatic
transmission, so the performance is merely average and the fuel economy is only
so-so. In fact, we averaged only three miles per gallon better than we did in a
big Dodge Dakota Quad Cab pickup with a 4.7-liter V-8. On the upside, the
Mariner, like the Escape, offers a pretty decent ride with good control, thanks
in part to its four-wheel independent suspension.
SHE: I think you're steering people wrong. The Mariner isn't below average, as
you suggest. It's very competitive against products like the Jeep Liberty and
the Hyundai Santa Fe. I think the exterior design should appeal to men, too,
because that grille makes the Mariner look like a mini armored tank.
HE: Uh, how about a girl's idea of what a mini armored tank should look like.
SHE: Single women and empty nesters should feel just fine in the Mariner. And
because it's a Mercury, it won't be as ubiquitous on the road as an Escape. It's
a little more exclusive. And that surely is worth a modest premium.
Detroit-based automotive information services company.