Toyota RAV4 vs. Mercury Mariner Hybrid Review

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs about the same to get the Toyota to the dealership as the Mariner Hybrid. Regarding MSRP, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid costs markedly more than the Toyota.

Utility
The Toyota will quite certainly prove more practical than the Mercury Mariner Hybrid for those of you with frequent child-cargo.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Toyota RAV4 offers a bit more head room than the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, there frankly isn't much of a difference. The ampler interior dimensions of the Toyota RAV4 make it quite a bit more spacious for your passengers than the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

Dimensions
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid's tank is roughly the same size as the Toyota RAV4's, though the Toyota RAV4's is a little more capacious. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid rides lower than the Toyota RAV4, which is a good thing for its center of gravity and ease of access. The Mercury and the Toyota RAV4 compete for the same parking spaces.

Performance
Regarding horsepower, the Toyota packs quite a punch and will knock the Mercury down a few rungs. On the other hand, keep in mind that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Handling
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 have roughly similar tires. With its tighter turning circle, the Toyota RAV4 is definitely nimbler than the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, something to consider if you do a lot of city driving; however, remember that a vehicle with a tight turning circle may feel a bit twitchy on the highway.

Drivetrain
The Toyota RAV4's engine is quite a bit larger than the Mercury Mariner Hybrid's. Note that bigger engines may use more gas than smaller ones. The Toyota RAV4 packs quite a punch compared to the Mercury regarding torque, which is roughly equivalent to acceleration.

Overview
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid and the RAV4 have the same basic after-sale protection.