-
CNET editors' rating:
3.0 stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating -
Average user rating:
Write your own review
Product summary
The good: The 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid has typically excellent full-hybrid fuel economy around town and in slow traffic. Its low-speed acceleration is solid, and it boasts a small, easily parkable footprint.
The bad: The 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid's suspension manages to give both excessive body roll and harshness over poor surfaces. The entire entertainment/information system needs a serious upgrade in order to be even second rate.
The bottom line: Although the hybrid system performs well in the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, the subpar navigation and audio system quickly lower the techie value of this small SUV.
Specifications: Body style: SUV; Trim levels: Base; Available Engine: Gas See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 03/22/2006
Like the Escape Hybrid, the 2006 Mercury Mariner is a full hybrid, capable of running under gasoline or electric power--or a combination of the two. It runs quietly in pure electric mode at speeds less than 25mph, and to further save fuel, its 2.3-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine can shut off when the vehicle comes to a stop. The engine automatically restarts very smoothly.
The 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid's list price is $29,225. But bringing it up to even a semiluxury ambiance requires the Premium Package. This package includes heated power mirrors; a navigation system and an associated fuel and energy display; a six-CD changer under the front-passenger seat; a retractable cargo cover over the rear area; side and side-curtain air bags; and leather seating surfaces. It costs a hefty $3,795. Add the $615 destination charge, and the Mariner Hybrid comes in at $33,635.
The 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is small on the outside, letting it easily maneuver in the tight confines of city traffic and parking. But its tall design gives it ample interior space, even in the rear seat. Headroom is especially good, and unless the front seats are all the way back, rear legroom is reasonable. The battery pack under the cargo floor has no adverse impact on interior volume, since the space-saver spare tire is located outside and underneath the rear, as is customary in trucks. As with nonhybrid models, the second-row bench seat is split 60/40 with flip and fold cushions, as well as a back, for a long, flat load floor when desired.The 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid's interior design is contemporary international, with chrome-bezel instruments and silvery plastic trim on the center stack and the doors. Most switches and controls are backlit for easy visibility at night. The leather seats in our test vehicle, part of the comprehensive Premium Package, were more comfortable than average. But only the driver's seat is power adjustable--and just the cushion, with back and lumbar adjustments manual. Because of limited space between the seats and doors, access to the seat controls was difficult.
Unfortunately, the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid's dashboard electronics are not up to par. The designers of the navigation and information system should go back to the drawing board. First complaint: The audio system must be on in order for the navigation or information systems to work. Once on, the tiny LCD is hard to see because of its size and its low resolution. Destinations can be entered through the appropriate menu choice but not by positioning the map pointer. We did not find the list displays of street and city names to be particularly convenient. When we first attempted to enter a destination, the system thought it was in Texas; we were in California. Current-position accuracy was off by as much as 100 yards. Database access and route calculation were both slow, with average route-finding ability.
On a more positive note, the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid's user interface is simple, with well-marked hard keys for the radio, the phone, the display of fuel/energy use, and current location. Context-sensitive soft keys on the left side of the screen are marked by onscreen text. The phone button is still a mystery to us, as there is no Bluetooth cell phone integration.
The AM/FM six-CD changer held a nostalgic surprise: a cartridge-type CD changer under the front-passenger space. MP3 fans, or even people who burn their own audio CDs, will not be pleased with this system. It's difficult to access and not MP3 CD compatible. A note in the manual warns against use of paper labels on homemade audio CDs.
Hybrids will be hybrids, with electronic devices that may switch on as soon as the car is unlocked--before the gasoline engine starts--and remain on after passengers exit and lock the vehicle. Many mysterious noises come from the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid at those times.The Mercury Mariner is a full hybrid, and it can operate as an electric vehicle at speeds less than 25mph. The 2.3-liter gasoline engine is based on the similarly sized Ford Duratec but uses the Atkinson combustion cycle, in which late-closing intake valves effectively lower the mechanical-compression ratio in order to reduce pumping losses. The effective-compression ratio is less than 9:1 at low-rpm speeds for good drivability and much higher at high engine speeds for increased efficiency and power. It develops 133 horsepower at 6,000rpm, with 129 pound-feet of torque at 4,500rpm. This is less than the standard four-cylinder engine's 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet, but the loss of low-rpm torque is more than compensated by the electric motor, which makes its maximum torque as soon as it starts to turn.
Continue readingUser reviews
Write your own review Be the first one to review 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid and share your experience with the CNET community!
