2009 MERCURY NEW CAR MODEL GUIDE

Two sedans and three wagons make up the 2009 line for Mercury from the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Co. Sedans include a premium mid-size model called Sable and the elegant Milan, sized one step below Sable. Wagons range from the truck-based sport utility vehicle (SUV) Mountaineer to car-based crossover utility vehicles (CUV) like Mariner and a gas-electric variation, Mariner Hybrid.

Sable
Mercury's premium sedan has the body of a mid-size model but the cabin of a big car with seats for five and luxurious appointments. The fuel-efficient 3.5-liter V6 makes 263 hp and links to a six-speed electronic automatic transaxle with standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. Standard safety equipment includes side air bags for front seats and Ford's Safety Canopy curtain-style air bags, plus the AdvanceTrac electronic stability control system. Optional Mercury Sync adds voice control over in-vehicle phones, media players and USB storage devices.

Milan
Mercury's four-door mid-size sedan for 2009 shows a new deluxe trim treatment — Voga — and revamped powertrain options. There are two engine choices — a 2.3-liter four-pack or 3.0-liter V6. The four-pack produces 160 hp and links to a five-speed automatic. The 221-hp V6 employs a fuel-efficient six-speed automatic. The base issue of Milan stocks premium cloth covering all seats, while Milan Premier goes with soft leathers and the Voga series on Premier offers rich cashmere leather and a special color palette for cabin trimwork.

Mariner
This compact wagon is an easy-driving CUV riding on a car's platform. It stocks premium equipment and optional V6 power plus FWD or AWD traction. The tony cabin, with two rows of seats for five, features woodgrain trim with chrome and aluminum accents. Mariner divides into two grades — Mariner and Premier, the latter with luxury touches and leather seats. Powertrain upgrades apply to 2009 Mariner models, beginning with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine worth 171 hp tethered to a five-speed automatic. The 3.0-liter V6 climbs to 240 hp and works with a new electronically controlled six-speed automatic.

Mariner Hybrid
Mercury's hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) off Mariner has a new 153-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that sips gasoline plus a battery-powered electric motor. The electric plant can propel the wagon or work with the gas engine to deliver a power boost like the kick of a V6. An electronic control module manages energy produced by the two plants and sends it directly to the front wheels — or to all four wheels for the optional AWD version. Standard safety systems include the AdvanceTrac anti-skid device with Roll Stability Control (RSC), plus the Safety Canopy curtain-style air bags.

Mountaineer
Mid-size Mountaineer the truck-based SUV brings a passenger compartment of generous scale with three rows of seats and lots of on-board amenities, such as power-controlled running boards tucked into rocker panels. The seats include benches on second and third rows which fold down to form a flat cargo floor. A 210-hp 4.0-liter V6 is the standard engine, while a 4.6-liter V8 is available for 292 hp. Optional AWD models use Ford's Control Trac system to automatically channel engine torque to any wheel. The AWD gear also includes Ford's AdvanceTrac traction controller with RSC.

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