For the past several years, the small SUV segment has seen rapid growth. From the Honda CRV to the Saturn Vue, brand after brand has gone after a slice of the mini-ute pie. Well, now Mercury is having a go at it with their new Mariner. Base on the well-regarded Ford Escape, this is the first small utility from a domestic premium brand. So let’s see if adding the Mercury style is enough to cut it.

Mercury is in the middle of a marketing push to ‘‘open new doors’‘ for its products and entice younger, savvier buyers to give them a try. The 2005 Mariner compact utility is a big part of this new appeal. While based on the familiar Ford Escape, the Mariner is being positioned as a premium SUV, with more style and luxury than down-and-dirty rivals like the Jeep Liberty, Nissan X-terra, and the Honda CR-V. It’s available in three trim levels, Convenience, Luxury, and Premier.

Mariner’s wheelbase of 103.1 inches and overall length at 174.3-inches is typical of small-utes, matching the CR-V perfectly. But it is more agile than CR-V and most rivals with a tight turning diameter of only 35.4 feet. Add to that class-standard length a wide 61.3-inch track and standard 16-inch painted alloy wheels, and it all adds up to impressive interior room, cornering stability, and ride quality for Mariner.

Brand styling cues are all present. Mercury’s waterfall grille with a satin aluminum finish and bright bumper insert are both flanked by complex lens headlamps and standard fog lamps. Monochrome colors, Euro-style fender turn-signals, keypad entry, grilled taillights, and a chrome exhaust tip all say that this small SUV is fashion conscious.

And from runway looks to raceway specs, when it comes to power, Mercury hit the Escape parts bin one more time. The front-wheel drive Mariner Convenience use’s Escape’s base 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder with 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque. Luxury and Premier models get Ford’s familiar 3.0-liter V6 for a stout 200-horsepower and 193 pound feet of torque. The sole transmission is a 4-speed automatic.

To the V-6 you can add ‘‘intelligent four-wheel drive. On dry roads all power goes to the front axle. When slippage does occur, a variable hydraulic clutch can send up to 100% of the torque to the rear axle. We would normally call such a single speed automatic system all-wheel drive. But Mercury gets away with calling it four-wheel drive because in extreme conditions the front and rear axle physically lock together for a 50/50 torque split.

So how does all this hardware measure up? Well, our Mariner V-6 managed 0-60 in a reasonable 9.5 seconds, the quarter mile in 17 seconds at 83 miles-per-hour. Our drivers were impressed with the V6’s broad powerband but felt the automatic’s shifts were somewhat slow and clunky. Runs through our slalom course revealed the Mariner’s very competent handling capabilities. Steering is nicely weighted, providing a sporty, car-like feel and great feedback for the driver.

Braking numbers were more average for a small-ute. Our Mariner Premier’s all-disc brakes brought our driver to a halt from 60 in 133 feet. Stops were smooth and consistent thanks to standard ABS with Brake Assist. Whether under power or braking, in two wheel drive or four, this sporty upscale compact-ute is supported by a MacPherson strut front end and multi-link coil spring independent rear suspension. And when properly equipped, the V6’s maximum towing reaches a good for its class 3,500 pound pull weight.

Yet even more impressive is the Mariner’s pleasing upscale interior. More satin-aluminum and chrome accent the center stack and console. The overlapping chrome ringed gauges are almost chic. Tilt steering is standard and the overall layout is thoughtful and smart. Our Mariner Premier adds heated leather seats with contrasting suede-inserts and a 300-watt MACH premium audio system with subwoofer. And in back, a split 60/40 seat allows a roomy retreat for three tag-a-longs. The Mariner’s lift-gate with flip-up window offers easy access to 29 cubic feet of cargo space and there’s an available under-floor storage bin. Fold the seats and capacity jumps to a wide and tall 66 cubic feet.

As to efficiency, EPA fuel economy estimates are 18 city/23 highway with four-wheel drive. That’s great for a V-6 SUV and almost as efficient as a CR-V 4-banger. Cabin safety can be ordered top notch with the optional front side impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags, with rollover sensor.

Pricing for the front-wheel drive Mariner Convenience model starts at $21,995. With V-6 and four-wheel drive, the Luxury array goes for $25,245. And to drive away our 4X4 Mariner Premier, the price begins at $26,995. Not bad, and a power moon roof and reverse sensing system are optional.

With its stylish new skin, high-class interior and swaggering demeanor, the Mariner is more than a badge-engineered Escape. It looks, drives, and arrives like the premium model it is. Indeed, the 2005 Mercury Mariner should not only open more doors, but more eyes as well.

Specifications

  • Engine: 3.0-Liter V6
  • Horsepower: 200
  • Torque: 193 Lb Feet
  • 0-60 MPH: 9.5 Seconds
  • 1/4 Mile: 17 Seconds @ 83 MPH
  • 60-0 MPH: 133 Feet
  • EPA Mileage: 18 MPG City 23 MPG Highway