Sporty compact SUV

If you've ever wondered how difficult it would be to start a new business to produce your own dream machine, consider what Henry Ford went through. Before man could fly, Ford built his first car, or "quadricycle" in 1896. Three years later he formed the Detroit Automobile Company, but its cars didn't sell, his ideas differed from those of his stockholders, and he left to begin a successful racing career. By 1901 he had formed his second company, the Henry Ford Company, but after just three months he was in trouble again with his financiers. He left with a $900 settlement and an agreement that the company would change its name, which it eventually did -- to Cadillac!

The rest of the story is, of course, famous American folklore. Henry Ford went on to motorize the world with affordable automobiles, the first being the Model A of 1903 with a total of 8 horsepower, and the most recent, with 200 horsepower, is the subject of this week's test report, the Mercury Mariner.

The first Mercury appeared in 1938. Powered by a V-8 engine, it was aptly called the "Mercury Eight." Filling a gap in the medium-priced field, it was an instant success, and in 1945 Ford created a new division, Lincoln-Mercury, by combining it with the luxury Lincoln brand, and letting it share the basic body of the more expensive car. Today, however, Mercurys are more closely related to Fords, often sharing the same engine, transmission and body, but featuring more elegant styling and enhanced interior features. So it is with the Mariner. Based on the hot-selling Ford Escape compact SUV, it fits nicely into the mid-price niche. The similar Mazda Tribute is tuned for sports enthusiasts, the Escape goes after the mass market, and the Mariner, in keeping with tradition, is for those looking for something a little nicer.

I tested a top-of-the-line 2006 Premier, with front-wheel drive, V-6 engine, and automatic transmission. Its silver-clearcoat metallic paint job, spoked alloy wheels and chrome waterfall grille made a handsome picture. Muscular and rugged-looking, it suggests it can go anywhere, but alas, this vehicle is not intended for off-roading. Because it is built for style and comfort, I suspect we'll be seeing more Mariners at soccer fields than at off-road conventions.

There are three Mariner models: the Convenience, starting at $21,405 in front-wheel drive and $23,155 in all-wheel drive; the Luxury at $22,995 in FWD and $24,745 in AWD; and the Premier at $24,745 in FWD and $26,495 in AWD. Two engines are available -- a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder and a 3-liter V-6, which my test vehicle had. Producing 200 horsepower, the 24-valve double overhead cam engine was smooth and refined. Mated to a computer-controlled four-speed automatic transmission that always knew when to shift, and just as importantly, when not to shift, it provided ample acceleration for easy merging with interstate traffic. It is rated to tow 3,500 pounds. A manual transmission is not available.

The interior accommodations of my test vehicle were perhaps the best part. The Mariner comes well equipped with the expected power accessories (except for power seats) and the fit and finish is -- shall we say "fitting"? -- for a car striving for the luxury realm. The materials have the feel of quality, and the decor is tasteful. There are brushed and bright chrome accents here and there, and the look is that of an up-and-coming achiever -- not opulent luxury, but not economy class, either.

Front bucket seats are well contoured and bolstered, and the rear seat is a 60/40 split unit, which folds nearly flat to accommodate loading oversized items through the rear liftgate. The vehicle seats five, and all seating positions have three-point belts and adjustable head restraints. Front seatbacks feature map pockets, as do both front doors. The center console has two cupholders and a well-positioned armrest.

Driving Impressions

After 15 minutes behind the wheel on a curvy two lane rural highway, one of my fellow test-drivers remarked, " This thing is actually fun to drive!" And it's true. The Mariner is certainly no sports car, and it isn't blessed with a big engine or an impressive exhaust note, but because of its responsive steering, taut suspension and accommodating seating position, it accumulated good marks from everyone who drove it. I wished for more sound insulation, as the road noise was no better than the Ford version and the wind noise could have been better damped in this near-luxury SUV. But the overall ride was very nice -- not jouncy or harsh like some compact SUVs on the road today, and not a single rattle or squeak, even on rough gravel roads. Even the picky folks at Consumers Reports magazine liked it enough to give it a "Best Buy" rating.

The Mariner V-6 FWD is rated for 20-mpg/city and 25-mpg/highway. The 4-cylinder will do slightly better, and the AWD version will do slightly worse.

I personally think a proper SUV should have a tailgate -- liftgates belong on mini-vans! But the Ford folks don't agree, and the Mariner is a nice compromise. As Henry Ford discovered more than a hundred years ago, sometimes a compromise is the best solution.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at sjr1@robertsonsphotography.com.