2008 Mercury Mariner

2008 Mercury Mariner Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the Mercury Mariner:

The Mariner is an SUV that drives much like a car. Strong and lightweight unibody construction, as well as a tuned four-wheel independent suspension, gives a supple ride while providing the proper control in emergency maneuvers..

-- Car and Driver

Gauges large and legible, controls handy and intuitive..

-- Consumer Guide

Two-tone suede and leather seating steals the show...and combined with contrasting stitching, the look is very handsome..

-- Edmunds.com

Fun to drive, the Mariner offers impressive road manners for a compact SUV. It drives much like a tautly suspended sedan, with little body roll and responsive steering..

-- Edmunds.com

The overall look is one of polish and refinement..

-- New Car Test Drive

What reviewers liked least about the Mercury Mariner:

Automatic transmission generally smooth, but sometimes hesitates to downshift for passing..

-- Consumer Guide

Wind rush intrudes from around 60 mph, mostly from door mirrors..

-- Consumer Guide

Fuel economy was disappointing..

-- Consumer Reports

Unfortunately, Mercury stylists couldn't resist the urge to throw some wood grain trim in...and there's just a bit too much of it to seem convincing..

-- Edmunds.com

The Mariner is not designed to navigate truly rugged terrain off road..

-- New Car Test Drive

Mercury Mariner Comparisons:

Compared with some of the other small trucks in its segment, the Mariner feels lively and sporty..

-- Car and Driver

Mariner delivers more of a luxury sedan-like ride with minimal bouncing or bumping than Escape, which, by comparison, is a little rougher around the edges and not as refined as the Mercury..

-- Cars.com

Knee and foot room above the class norm, helped by flat floor..

-- Consumer Guide

...isn't as rugged as some other compact SUVs like the Nissan Xterra and Jeep Liberty..

-- Edmunds.com

Although long-term reliability is not likely to be as good as that of its Japanese competitors, the well-rounded Mariner is still one of the best compact SUVs available..

-- Edmunds.com

Essentially an upmarket Ford Escape, the Mariner receives Mercury-influenced styling cues inside and out..

-- Motor Trend

Best one-liner about the Mercury Mariner:

You get more than a touch of class with the Mariner..

-- MSN Autos

The stereo...shouts standard Ford gear..

-- New Car Test Drive