New Car Review of the 2005 Mercury Mariner Compact Sport Utility Vehicle

Description: Compact Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $21,405 - $26,405
Invoice Price Range: $19,860 - $24,410
Where built: Japan

Mercury's new compact-class SUV comes with premium equipment and optional V6 power plus front-wheel-drive (FWD) or automatic all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. It's called a crossover wagon because Mariner rides on the platform of a car and blends the manners of a sedan with the elevated stance and cargo capacity of a SUV.

The exterior looks rugged with a bold face featuring a vertical grille in satin aluminum and corner cluster headlamps set above integrated foglamps. Mariner's upscale cabin, with two rows of seats for five, has woodgrain trim with bright chrome and satin aluminum accents. The wagon divides into three equipment grades -- Convenience, Luxury and Premier, the latter with luxury touches and leather seats.

Mariner's base engine, the Duratec 23 with aluminum block and heads, displaces 2.3-liters and makes 153-hp. The 3.0-liter V6 -- dubbed Duratec 30 -- climbs to 200-hp and is the standard on Luxury and Premier models. A 4-speed automatic transmission works with either plant. Optional AWD traction runs in FWD mode unless on-board wheel sensors detect slippage and the smart device diverts some of the engine's power to turn the rear wheels.