2006 Mercury Mariner

Seller Comments

What Edmunds.com says put a Ford Escape in a Mercury outfit and what do you get? The 2006 Mercury Mariner, an excellent small SUV in pretty dapper digs. Powerful V6, large cargo capacity, comfortable and stylish interior, carlike handling, optional side curtain airbags. Ford introduced the Escape in 2001 to capture buyers in the rapidly growing small SUV segment. It quickly became a best-seller thanks to a desirable combination of size, power and ruggedly handsome styling. Mazda also sells a version of this vehicle, called the Tribute. Feeling a bit left out of the party (and in dire need of an affordable vehicle to get customers into the showroom), Mercury jumped on the bandwagon in 2005 with its own version, called the Mariner. The Mercury Mariner shares the Escape's basic structure, platform and powertrains. What sets the Mariner apart, though, is style. The handsome front end is decidedly Mercury, and other unique exterior bits like distinctive wheels and sleek rocker moldings move this compact SUV upmarket a few notches. Differences are readily apparent inside, too. Plenty of metallic-look trim adds polish without appearing gaudy. Two-tone suede and leather seating steals the show, however, and combined with contrasting stitching, the look is very handsome. One of our main beefs with the Escape has always been its uninspiring style, especially inside. Perhaps unintentionally, Mercury has taken a huge step in the right direction with its upscale treatments. Before you scoff at the idea of a thinly veiled SUV gussy-up job, just think back to 1999 when Cadillac put some jewelry on a Tahoe and called it an Escalade. And we all know how well that idea turned out. Underneath the pretty layers, the Mariner is all Escape. This is a good thing. The 2006 Mercury Mariner is intended for those who want the styling and all-wheel-drive capability of a traditional luxury SUV combined with the size, price, practicality and driving characteristics of a midsize car. The Mariner is more suited to on-road driving than off-roading, due to its light-duty 4WD system and unibody construction, and isn't as rugged as compact SUVs like the Nissan Xterra and Jeep Liberty. To allay concerns about side-impact safety in small SUVs, both front seat-mounted side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are optional. Although long-term reliability is not likely to be as good as that of its Japanese competitors, the well-rounded Mariner is still one of the best compact SUVs available. If you'd like a bit of class with your compact SUV, the Mercury Mariner should fit the bill quite nicely. The Mercury Mariner in only one four-door body style with either front-wheel drive or automatic four-wheel drive. Three trim levels are offered: Convenience, Luxury and Premier. Base Convenience models start you out with a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine; 16-inch alloy wheels; a CD player; air conditioning; power accessories keyless entry; and cruise control. The Luxury adds a 3.0-liter V6, a power driver seat, a six-disc CD changer, an alarm system, message center with compass and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Premier models step up with machined alloy wheels, heated outside mirrors, a MACH premium audio system with subwoofer and heated leather seats with contrasting suedelike inserts. Side curtain airbags and a reverse-sensing system are optional. Standard on the Mercury Mariner is a 2.3-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that makes 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque, matched to a four-speed automatic transmission. A manual gearbox is not available. Standard on Luxury and Premier models is a potent 3.0-liter V6, which makes 200 hp and 193 lb-ft of torque. It's also paired with a four-speed automatic. With the V6, the Mariner can tow up to 3,500 pounds. ABS is standard on all Mariners, and V6 4WD models have four-wheel disc brakes. Optional on all Mariners are front-seat side airbags and full-length head curtain airbags that deploy in

Message from Internet Sales Team:

No Payments Until 2010 on any New Vehicle. Experience The Darrow Difference

Options

Auxiliary Pwr Outlet, Child Safety Locks, Power Door Locks, Front Reading Lamps, Bucket Seats, Driver Air Bag, Power Passenger Mirror, Rear Defrost, Fog Lamps, Aluminum Wheels, Passenger Vanity Mirror, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, Power Windows, Pass-Through Rear Seat, AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Player, Power Driver Seat, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, Vehicle Anti-Theft System, Driver Vanity Mirror, Keyless Entry, Tires - Front All-Season, A/C, CD Player, Privacy Glass, Front Floor Mats, 2nd Row Bench Seat, Power Steering, Passenger Air Bag, 4-Wheel ABS, Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers, Intermittent Wipers, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Compact Spare Tire, Power Driver Mirror, Cruise Control, Tires - Rear All-Season, Four Wheel Drive