Lexus HS250h sales disappoint ... because high end Prius is NICE! and gets 50mpg?

Mercury cars was once upon a time Merkur. So I doubt they were once part of Mercury Marine. They are the mid-brand of Ford. Gerenally not as luxurious as Lincoln, and sometimes sportier than Ford. That is, they might use European spec suspensions as opposed to squishy American. Currently, the brand seems to be the platform for upscale twins to the mid-size and smaller Fords, where Lincoln is for the full size vehicles.

The Mercury Mariner is the Ford Escape, which is in the class with the Rav4. If the Toyota/Lexus hybrid SUVs weren't up to towing your boat, Ford won't either.

 

LOL! Well every once and a while I guess an armchair opinion turns out to be right.

Mercury the outboard boat engine company and Mercury the car company are different companies. Mercury is a marketing division of Ford...the Mercury Mariner is a rebadged Ford Escape.