The Mariner is sold as a 4 wheel drive SUV with front wheel drive standard and four wheel drive optional. The engines are either the standard I4 or an optional V6. Both are paired to a 4 speed automatic transmission.

Since it's introduction, over 100,000 of these SUVs have been sold. That includes one special edition hybrid model that was delivered to former President Bill Clinton in 2006. It had several features, such as LED lighting, not found on the standard Hybrid Mariner model.

This car went through a redesign for the 2008 model year. It's based on the same platform as the previous version, but the new Duratec V6 engine has been modded to lower fuel consumption by 10%. Every little bit helps, I suppose.

These cars can be found at your local Mercury dealership, which is often combined with Ford dealerships, especially in suburban and rural areas. You'll also find some great deals on Mariners listed on eBay.