Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Bumped Up for 2009

The Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner get powertrain upgrades for 2009, bringing the four-cylinder model to just 30 fewer horses than the original V-6. The new four, also fitted to the hybrid, is a 2.5-liter unit with variable cam timing on the intake side, for 170 horsepower (up 17); V-6 models will get a boost of 30. Equally important, both engines will come with a six-speed automatic rather than a four-speed. Minor revisions include a freshened front-end look and more soy-sourced seat foam to save on petroleum.