The Mercury Mariner is a crossover SUV,very similar to the Ford Escape but somewhat more luxurious. The Mariner is expected to go out of production after this model year,along with the entire Mercury lineup.

Four trim levels are available on the 2011 Mercury Mariner. The base i4 and V6 trims feature 16-inch alloy wheels,fog lights,some power accessories,air conditioning,and a 4-speaker sound system with redundant controls located on the steering wheel. Options include leather upholstery with heated front seats,sunroof,more power accessories (including the driver?s seat),and ambient interior lighting. The Premier i4 and the Premier V6 trim add most of those options (the sunroof is still optional),plus a 6-speaker sound system,rear parking sensors,and more. Options with the Premier trims include 17-inch wheels,rearview camera,dual-zone automatic climate control,parking-assist system,microfiber-suede upholstery,upgraded sound system,and a hard-drive-based navigation system. The Mariner offers 29 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats,and 66 cubic feet of space with those seats folded down,according to the manufacturer.

The 2011 Mercury Mariner?s i4 trims feature a 171-horsepower,2.5-liter,inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive (FWD) or 19/25 with optional all-wheel drive (AWD),according to the EPA. The V6 trims employ a 240-horsepower,3.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with FWD or 17/24 with AWD. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Standard safety features on the 2011 Mercury Mariner include anti-lock brakes (disc in front,drum in the rear),traction control,stability control,adjustable front head restraints,front side air bags,and head curtain air bags. In government crash tests,the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Mariner 5 (out of 5) stars in frontal- and side-impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Mariner highest-possible ?Good? ratings in frontal-offset tests and for side protection.

Starting MSRP for the 2011 Mercury Mariner is $23,565.