Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner Get More-Efficient Engines

Today in Washington, D.C., Ford will announce that its recently redesigned — the changes came for the 2008 model year — Escape and Mercury Mariner compact SUVs will get new engines for 2009. This is an unusual move, but obviously the public desire for fuel efficiency influenced the upgrades. The 2009 base model will get a larger 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 170 hp — up 17 hp from 2008 — but an estimated 1 more mpg.

The improvements are thanks to the engine itself, which features more-advanced technology like variable cam timing. The fact that it’s teamed with a new standard six-speed automatic transmission doesn’t hurt, either. The V-6 engine also gets a big boost in power — up 30 hp to 230 hp — and it too will get an estimated 1 mpg better fuel economy.

The hybrid versions of the 2009 Escape and Mariner also get the new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but Ford is mum about increases in fuel efficiency. There is very good news about the 2009 hybrids, though: Both get new braking systems that should alleviate one of our biggest gripes with those cars — besides their sluggish launch. Stability control, which wasn’t even offered as an option on the 2008 hybrid, is standard for 2009.

These upgrades should keep the Escape competitive in an ultra-competitive segment that’s still absent too many other hybrid players. The 2009 Escape and Mariner go on sale this summer.