2005 Mercury Mariner Road Test

Ideal for Canada

Every now and then I see a TV ad or a placement in a magazine for Ford Motor's Mercury division, and wonder how it is that this

How is it that the once proud Mercury brand is no longer available in Canada? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

once proud brand is no longer available in Canada. I owned a black on red leather '64 Montcalm coupe, ironically a model not even available south of the border when it was new, and loved it. It was massive, powerful and gorgeous, slung low to the ground, true to the brand's hotrod mystique.

Today's Mercurys don't promote the same level of youthful lust as those from the '50s and '60s, but that doesn't mean they're not intriguing. While I can't attest to being a fervent Grand Marquis fan, the only model still available north of the 49th for the same reason it's still available in the U.S., it just won't

The vehicle that best separates Mercury from its blue-oval sibling is the new Mariner, a compact sport utility based off of the Escape. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

die, I really like the chiseled waterfall grille design of the Ford Explorer-based Mountaineer and more-distinctively-attractive-than-Freestyle Monterey minivan.

I think, however, that the vehicle that best separates Mercury from its blue-oval sibling is its newest Mariner, a compact sport utility based off of the Escape, Canada's most popular sport utility. Its exterior styling is truly unique, boasting flush fascias front and rear, upscale brushed aluminum trim and a gorgeous waterfall grille that visually extends downward to a racy air inlet that spans most of the lower front fascia. Each end meets up with large, rectangular fog lamps, giving the car a mini-Lincoln Navigator appearance.