New 2009 Mercury Mariner

It is normal to wonder why automobile manufacturers miss the boat on functionality and fuel economy. However, those over at Mercury got the memo and have incorporated two new, more powerful and fuel efficient engines in the 2009 Mercury Mariner.

Starting with a 2.5-liter, 171-horsepower DOHC I-4 engine, the Mariner then jumps to a 3.0-liter, 240-horsepower DOHC V-6. That’s an increase of 18- and 40-horsepwer respectively. Both are mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission and feature the Easy Fuel capless fuel system.   Expect to get 17-20 MPG in the city and 24-28 MPG on the highway. If that isn’t green enough for you, opt for the Mariner Hybrid that gets 29-34 MPG in the city and 27-31 MPG on the highway. The Mariner gets better gas mileage than its competitors: the Honda CR-V, Acura RDX and Hyundai Tucson.

With standard front-wheel drive or available Intelligent 4-wheel drive, the Mariner can handle a variety of road and weather conditions with ease. Available option packages include a leather trim package with premium leather upholstery and a six-way power driver seat. The Moon and Tune package includes a 6-disc in-dash CD changer and power moonroof for those long road trips. The SYNC™ Communications and Entertainment System lets you use voice commands to access your music collection by genre, album, artist or song title and operate your Bluetooth®. 

A standard anti-lock braking system prevents wheel lockup during hard braking. Occupant protection is excellent in both rows of seats, with standard dual front airbags and the Dynamic Side Impact Airbag Package, which includes side curtain airbags, front seat side airbags, and a rollover sensor. A standard tire pressure monitoring system alerts the driver to any significant drops in tire pressure. To assist in parallel parking maneuvers, the Reverse Sensing System uses an audible alert that activates when nearing objects.

New styling elements enhance the Mariner’s rugged stance. Available integrated running boards offer a step up into the cabin. The optional roof rack has black cross bars to strap your gear or bikes down to. Optional heated, dual power adjustable mirrors are no match for snow and winter ice. Utilize up to 66.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, or use the available seating for carpooling.

Get more power, fuel economy, safety and technology with the 2009 Mercury Mariner.