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What's New for the 2005 Mercury Mariner?
With Ford pinning Mercury's chances at survival on badge-engineering, it comes as no surprise to learn that the 2005 Mariner is a thinly-veiled version of the Ford Escape. That's fine, because the Escape is a fundamentally appealing vehicle, offering a compelling blend of space, style, and performance.
Advantages of the 2005 Mercury Mariner:
- Upscale appearance
- Strong V6 engine option
- Automatic 4WD
- Available side curtain airbags with rollover protection
- Roomy and comfortable interior
Objections to the 2005 Mercury Mariner: - Target buyer likely not interested in Mariner's standard four-cylinder engine
- There's nothing here that isn't available for less money on the Ford Escape
- Some interior bits and pieces don’t say "upscale" the way they ought to
Editor's Advice:
Given the Mariner's upscale styling details and its basis upon the fundamentally sound Ford Escape, this Mercury has a good shot at success, bridging a gap that exists between loaded versions of the Toyota RAV4 and basic editions of the BMW X3 2.5i.
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