The 2010 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is in most ways a re-skinned version of the successful Ford Escape Hybrid.  Both are front-wheel drive SUV’s that also offer the option of all-wheel drive for drivers who often have to deal with snowy winter roads or slick, wet pavement.  They also each offer very good cargo space for their size, with a 29 cubic foot trunk and 66 cubic feet of total usable space.  Perhaps what is most endearing about the Mariner is that like the Escape it offers real-world combined fuel economy in the neighborhood of 30 miles per gallon.

The 2010 Mercury Mariner Hybrid’s fuel mileage is broken down by the EPA into 34 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway (front-wheel drive models only – all-wheel drive detracts somewhat from these numbers).  Responsible for these impressive numbers – significantly higher than the ones provided by gasoline-powered competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V – is a 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder engine that is bolstered by a pair of battery-powered electric motors (3 in total for all-wheel drive models).  Together they produce a very usable 177 horsepower that works well to keep the SUV moving forward with considerable authority.  Seamless shifts from its continuously-variable automatic transmission and effortless management of the balance between battery use and gasoline power make it difficult to tell from behind the wheel whether the Mariner is a Hybrid model or not – at least until it comes time to pay the monthly fuel bill, when the differences are thrown into stark relief.

The new Mariner Hybrid benefits from the same gee-whiz technologies packed into the Escape, not the least of which is an optional automated parallel parking system that amazingly pilots the vehicle into an acceptably-sized parking spot almost at the touch of a button.  Regenerative braking and a feature that shuts the gasoline engine down when stopped help to improve fuel savings to an even greater degree, and the 2010 Mariner Hybrid finally benefits from electric air conditioning that doesn’t power off when the 4-cylinder stops purring as it did in previous models.

Final thoughts: From a safety standpoint, the green Mariner gets high marks. It scored five stars (out of 5) for all occupants in front and side impact crash tests from NHTSA. Unlike the nearly identical 2010 Escape hybrid, the Mariner is much more elusive. Chances are you will need check with several dealers just to find one on the lot, as not as many are made. If you like the styling, you can always order one to your exact specifications. Federal tax credits expire soon on the Mariner hybrid. According to FuelEconomy.gov the current credit is $650 to $750 and it will be gone as of April 1, 2010.

2010 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
MSRP $29,995
Estimated MPG 34 City/30 Highway

Review from Edmunds
Road Test from Automedia
Test drive with video from Autoblog (2009 model)