|
All New 2008 Mercury Mariner
Hybrid
By J.H. Bell
Automotive Reporter
Tell Us Detroit
 This
time last year I wasn’t interested in fuel-efficient
vehicles but the thing that opened my mind were the gas
prices that continue to rise. I thought, “There had to
be a way to save consumers some of their hard earned
money.” Moreover, how could I save my hard earned money!
People set up car pools, utilized the “park and ride”
and public transportation in order to save themselves a
few bucks. Folks tucked their favorite gas-guzzlers in
the garage because the normal $15 or even $20 could only
get them a few miles down the road before that haunting
gas icon lit up and we’d begin swearing as though we had
an audience.
NAIAS previewed the SMART Car last year, and
unfortunately the only place I’ve seen it besides last
year’s auto show are in Nintendo Wii commercials! OMG,
how I would love to test that! In ‘07 hybrids that
caught my attention were Toyota’s Prius and Camry. But
this past December, I was able to test one of the few
SUV Hybrids on the market, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid,
the first full-hybrid premium SUV in the world.
This hybrid leaves the decision making all up to its
owner by offering three types of engines to choose from.
Its gas engine and electric motor work together
harmoniously, a “perfect marriage” of sorts. At a stop
the gas engine quickly shuts off taking advantage of the
electric idling and you’d almost think your car has
stalled on you if you’ve never been in a hybrid. When
the engine starts back up it gives the battery time to
recharge. Driving actually charges the battery so don’t
worry…..you don’t have to plug it in when you’re home!
Once you hit 25 mph, the electric motor kicks in and
provides the SUV with all the power it needs to run. The
power is drawn from both the battery pack and the
generator motor. This compact design practically
releases no harm pollutants. The vehicle system
controller is the heart of the hybrid. It orchestrates
many of the SUV’s functions such as shutting the engine
down during coasting and at stoplights to save fuel. The
regenerative braking assists with conserving energy.
On those mornings after we have about 6-10 inches of
snow and the roads are icy, the Intelligent
Four-Wheel-Drive System (4WD) helps provide more
sure-footed traction.
This confident and sophisticated SUV features an MP3
audio input jack, a classy black on beige interior, a
center console large enough to hold your laptop and a
top-of-dash display for eyes-on-the-road functionality.
With the redesigned exterior and generous use of
noise-dampening materials, the Mariner also provides a
ride that is quieter than the 2008 Honda CR-V at highway
speeds.
As a little tidbit that I found to be most interesting
is that if you meet the requirements, you can qualify
for a federal income tax credit of $3,000 on Mariner
Hybrid FWD (front-wheel drive), and $2,200 on Mariner
Hybrid 4WD (four-wheel drive). That’s a credit, not a
deduction (consult your tax advisor for the amount of
credit you can claim).
The Mariner starts at $20,920 and you should expect to
spend upward about another $2000 for the hybrid with
full amenities.
Three engine options:
Duratec 2.3L DOHC I-4 engine (EPA-estimated mpg of 20
city /26 hwy (FWD), 19 city/24 hwy (4WD).
Duratec 3L DOHC V-6 engine (EPA-estimated mpg of 18 city
/24 hwy (FWD), 17 city/22 hwy (4WD).
2.3L 16-valve I-4 gas engine (EPA-estimated mpg of 34
city /30 hwy (FWD), 29 city/27 hwy (4WD)
|
