In a general, impressionistic way, the Mariner looks a lot like a shrunken version of the larger Mercury Mountaineer SUV. And while it may have a sedan-style unitbody with fully independent suspension underneath, the Mariner has a more conventional, upright, truck-style look than a lot of its competitors.

It starts with the big, bold, waterfall grille, which immediately attracts the eye from any angle on the front of the vehicle. There's a lot of brightwork on the Mariner front and rear, but it's mostly a satiny, aluminum finish rather than conventional chrome. It gives the Mariner a more understated, slightly more upscale look than the closely related Ford Escape.

The high beltline creates the impression that the windows are short or narrow, emphasizing the Mariner's truck-like look. The taillights have the same eyebrow shape as the headlights, which helps connect front and rear. The lenses are clear, with red and white clusters.

We particularly like a couple of features in back of the Mariner. A step pad on the bumper provides secure footing for anyone who steps up to put something on the roof rack, and the two-piece tailgate is handy. The rear glass can be popped open with the key fob, so dropping smaller items like a gym bag into the cargo area is easier than it might be with some competitors, which require hefting the entire gate upward.

Interior

The Mariner?s cabin contributes considerably to its overall refinement and appeal. This interior isn't a great leap forward in any particular fashion, but it's carefully thought out and well executed. Ergonomic function is excellent, and the visual impact is good.

The brushed, satiny aluminum trim that abounds outside the Mariner carries over inside, and anyone who likes the effect should find the Mariner a pleasant place to spend time. The look and feel of the materials give the impression of quality. The headliner is plush and molded to the contour of the roof.

The leather upholstery is thick and tailored tautly around the seats. The front seats are smaller than those in a larger sport utility. We'd guess drivers with wide frames might find them small. There isn't an abundance of side bolstering, either, but that makes it easier to slide into the seats, and there's enough to keep occupants solidly in place for the type of driving a typical Mariner owner is likely to undertake. For most drivers, the seats should have enough cushion and support to limit fatigue during a long commute.

The gauges are clustered in a shaded binnacle that can be absorbed in a glance: Tachometer left, speedometer right, with fuel and coolant temperature in the middle, along with an easy-to-read trip- and systems-info display. We loved this, because it includes a menu that allows the driver to easily cycle through and change features like headlight-off delay and auto-locking.

The gauges and switches feature Ford's corporate signature backlighting style, which the company calls Ice Blue. No gripe here, as the bluish white is crisper and brighter than conventional green-yellow or orange lighting.

The dashboard is tall and squarish, but attractive. Big vents at the ends move lots of air, and there are two more in the middle near the top of the center stack. These can be aimed to avoid blasting the driver's hands or face with a rush of air. At the very top, nearly eye level, sits a neat display that shows compass heading, date and time, exterior temperature and interior temp settings.

Measured by the placement and function of switches and controls, the Mariner is first rate, and examples are easy to find. When the driver rests his or her left forearm on the door rest, the window buttons sit almost perfectly at the fingertips. With elbows on the door rest and center console, arms are even and hands rest nicely at nine and three on the steering wheel. The mirror adjustor sits on the door pillar, and it's easy to reach when the driver's head is in driving position. One easy-to-use stalk controls the blinkers and all wiper/washer functions. Steering-wheel controls for cruise and audio work without moving hands from the driving position.

The primary audio and climate controls are even better. The volume and station-selector knobs are good sized, but more importantly, they are raised substantially from the stereo plate, rather than nearly flat to the surface as they are in many vehicles. The radial switches for fan and temperature are also big and easy to find. Picking nits, the pushbuttons to control airflow direction and the rear defogger are a bit small, but they tend to be adjusted less frequently than the others. The auxiliary audio jack is at the bottom of the center stack, opposite a 12-volt power point, and just above a lined bin where you can set an iPod with reasonable assurance that it will stay put for the entire trip home.

Our Mariner Hybrid had the optional touch-screen navigation system, which is becoming one of our favorites from any manufacturer. Its biggest weakness is the display screen, which is smaller than those in some other brands. Yet the graphics are clear and easy to read to the smaller details, at night or wearing sunglasses in bright daylight. More importantly, the system is easy to use with minimal distraction, and easy to learn.

It's an expensive tool (or toy, depending on your perspective), but we particularly recommend the nav system with the Mariner Hybrid. In the hybrid, it includes an Energy display that demonstrates in real-time the fuel-saving benefits of hybrid drive. By paying some attention to the graphs, you'll find yourself becoming a more environmentally friendly and fiscally efficient motorist. It can be fun to see how efficiently you can drive, or not. We wish Mercury offered this feature without the nav system.

Interior storage creates another Mariner strength, or at least storage within reach of the front passengers. Start with that rubber-lined, slide-proof bin in front of the shifter, which is great for iPods, phones, glasses, a wallet or change. High-trim Mariners feature swing-down overhead bins for glasses and garage-door remotes. The glovebox is big enough for some stuff beyond the owner's manual and documents, and there are decent-sized bins molded in the door bottoms (though whatever goes here tends to slide as the Mariner slows or accelerates). The crown jewel is the center console, which allows stacking of smaller items inside and hiding valuables, like a digital camera or MP3 player, at the very bottom under a tray.

The rear seatback could be a little too upright for some tastes, but otherwise the rear bench is comfortable. There's plenty of knee room and ample headroom. A medium-sized adult should stay comfortable in the outboard seats for an hour or more, assuming the person in front isn't terribly tall or pushing the front seat all the way rearward. The middle space works best for kids in a booster seat. There are cupholders and a power point on the back of the center console, but storage space for rear passengers is limited to bins at the bottoms of the rear doors.

Cargo capacity is 66.4 cubic feet, with 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat. On the plus side, the extra battery pack under floor in the Mariner Hybrid does not significantly encroach on storage space.

Further, the Mariner's cargo space is easy to access. The rear seat folds quickly, 60/40, and the bottom can be removed to make a perfectly flat load floor. The fold-flat front-passenger seat is a great addition, too. The design seems to do nothing to diminish the seat's comfort, yet its back can fold forward to a level on the same plane as the folded rear seat and cargo floor. This allows the Mariner to carry much longer items securely inside.

There aren't a lot of frills in that cargo area, but the essentials are there: Tie-downs, and an optional cargo shade and under-floor bin that's deep enough for a small load of groceries. The bin may be more valuable as a place to separate wet items like beach towels. The carpet behind the rear seat is also reversible, so the rubber-coated bottom can be turned up.

Mercury invested a lot of time and money reducing interior noise, starting with thicker side glass. The windshield has an acoustic laminate sandwiched between two layers of glass. The headliner has significant sound-deadening capability, and the carpeting is quite thick. The net result is that, in overall noise, vibration and harshness control, the Mariner is near the upper end of the competition.