2005 Mercury Mariner New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2005 Mercury Mariner?
With Ford pinning Mercury's chances at survival on badge-engineering, it comes as no surprise to learn that the 2005 Mariner is a thinly-veiled version of the Ford Escape. That's fine, because the Escape is a fundamentally appealing vehicle, offering a compelling blend of space, style, and performance.

Advantages of the 2005 Mercury Mariner:

• Upscale appearance
• Strong V6 engine option
• Automatic 4WD
• Available side curtain airbags with rollover protection
• Roomy and comfortable interior

Objections to the 2005 Mercury Mariner:

• Target buyer likely not interested in Mariner's standard four-cylinder engine
• There's nothing here that isn't available for less money on the Ford Escape
• Some interior bits and pieces don’t say "upscale" the way they ought to

Editor's Advice:
Given the Mariner's upscale styling details and its basis upon the fundamentally sound Ford Escape, this Mercury has a good shot at success, bridging a gap that exists between loaded versions of the Toyota RAV4 and basic editions of the BMW X3 2.5i.