Mercury Mountaineer Review

The Mercury Mountaineer has always been a solid choice among midsize SUVs. At its debut, it offered good space for medium-size families, decent handling, tolerable ride quality and at least some semblance of off-road capability. These qualities have held steady through two generations.

Although the Mountaineer is mechanically identical to the Ford Explorer and shares its trucklike chassis construction, Mercury has attempted to differentiate it over the years by specifying more standard amenities, softer suspension tuning and all-wheel drive instead of traditional four-wheel drive. For years, those virtues placed the Mercury Mountaineer in the upper ranks of midsize SUVs. This was especially true after its most recent 2002 redesign, which brought about a vast improvement in ride and handling.

Even with that improvement, however, the Mountaineer has been outclassed in recent years by newer crossover SUVs. These vehicles typically offer better on-road handling and roomier interiors to boot. They don't have as much towing capacity as the Mercury, though, so the Mountaineer still deserves consideration for sport-utility shoppers with more demanding needs.

Current Mercury Mountaineer

The current Mercury Mountaineer is available in five- and seven-passenger versions. Engine offerings include a 210-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 and a 292-hp 4.6-liter V8. V6 Mountaineers come with a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V8 gets a six-speed automatic. Both the V6 and V8 can be ordered with rear-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Mountaineer comes in two trim levels: Base and Premier. Both the Base and Premier are well equipped while the Premier throws in a few more luxuries such as leather upholstery, heated seats, rear parking sensors and the Sync voice-activated multimedia integration system. Options include a rear entertainment system and a navigation system. The latter also comes with Sirius Travel Link, which displays current traffic conditions, local gas station prices and even sports scores and movie listings. In addition, Mountaineers with a third-row seat are eligible for second-row captain's chairs, which drop passenger capacity to six.

In reviews, we've found that the Mountaineer has a smooth and composed ride and respectable handling; some credit must go to the SUV's independent rear suspension, which was an upgrade from the first model's live rear axle. This Mercury also has strengths as a people hauler, partly thanks to its fold-flat third-row seat that still ranks among the roomiest of traditional midsize SUVs. Downsides include weak acceleration with the V6 engine and a dated dashboard design.

Used Mercury Mountaineer Models

There have been a number of equipment changes to the Mercury Mountaineer since the current generation's 2002 debut. V8 models sold through 2005 made just 232 hp and came with a five-speed automatic. The Mountaineer's safety quotient rose in 2004 when Mercury added stability control as an option, and again in 2005 when it was made standard and packaged with Roll Stability Control. Standard side curtain airbags completed the picture in 2006; in previous years, they were optional so it's a good idea to make sure an individual Mountaineer has them. Microsoft's Sync system was added to the options list in mid-2008 and became standard on the Premier for '09.

Production of the Mountaineer started with the debut of the second-generation Explorer for the 1997 model year. It was initially unique for only coming with Ford's 4.9-liter pushrod V8, the famous 5.0 Mustang motor whose gas-guzzling habits were downright offensive. Things improved when Mercury received the better of the Explorer's two V6s, a 210-hp 4.0-liter, as its standard engine the next year. Initially, buyers had a choice between 2WD and AWD, but in '98, Mercury added a third option, a dual-range 4WD system.

The Mercury Mountaineer's trucklike suspension gave it a bouncy ride typical of the era, and although acceleration was adequate, neither engine was especially powerful or refined by modern standards. Also, the Ford Explorer-Firestone controversy regarding tire tread separation and increased rollover risk applied equally to the Mountaineer. In the highly unlikely event you encounter a first-gen Mountaineer still wearing its original Firestone tires, you'll want to upgrade to better rubber immediately.

On the upside, the original Mercury Mountaineer's seating comfort and cargo room were always competitive, and its repair record stands above GM or Jeep's entries. Overall, we'd say that if your budget limits you to a midsize SUV from the late '90s, the Mercury Mountaineer is a decent choice.