2005 Mercury Mariner
What's Special About It?
Based on the platform of the popular Ford Escape, the Mercury Mariner is a small, luxury sport-utility vehicle that will debut sometime in 2004 as a 2005 model. Its emphasis is on luxury and value, that is, offering more quality materials and amenities to customers who are attracted to the size of the Escape. It will be the entry-level sport-utility in the Lincoln-Mercury lineup, which includes the Mercury Mountaineer, Lincoln Aviator and the Lincoln Navigator.
With its satin-aluminum-finished grille, clean body design, monochromatic paint scheme, large multispoked alloy wheels and satin-aluminum trim, the Mariner definitely has an upscale look.
It will be offered in front- or four-wheel drive with power coming from either a 2.3-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter, 24-valve V6. Both engines come with a standard four-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel independent suspension assures a comfortable ride.
Mercury vows to provide a top-grade cabin. "Mariner will have the best interior of any small SUV," James O'Conner, Ford vice president of marketing, sales and service, said. A quick peek inside the cabin of the show mock-up model revealed a pleasant mix of quality material, a tasteful color palette without a single shade of gray, chrome door pulls and other accents, wood trim and an uncluttered, attractive dash.
Why Should You Care?
If you like the idea of a smaller sport-utility but still want the more upscale feel of the bigger 'utes, the Mariner might have what you're looking for. As the first of many new Mercury products set to debut over the next several years, the Mariner is an attempt to attract younger buyers who might not have otherwise thought about Mercury in the past. — Neil Dunlop
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