A well-known publication focusing on the environment and the automotive industry recently bestowed the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid with its highest praise, lauding Ford for essentially painting different stripes on the back of a Ford Escape Hybrid and charging an extra $700 for it.

OK, that’s some strong paraphrasing, but judging by the Mercury’s placement in the bottom half of this list, one could safely assume we don’t concur with that magazine’s thinking. As one of our editors noted, the Mariner Hybrid is the “same as a Ford Escape, but wearing a cheap suit and tie.” Yes, the EPA rates it at 33 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg in mixed driving, but that’s for a four-wheel-drive SUV with a price higher than a comparable Ford Escape Hybrid. Plus, the Ford can be built as a front-wheel-drive model, allowing for a $2,500 savings over the Mariner while boosting EPA-estimated mileage to 36 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined.

For a fuel-efficient SUV, the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is an option to be considered, especially if a Ford badge just won’t do and thoughts about future battery disposal issues are of little concern.