Ride height remains the same, but step-in is made easier by incorporating the rocker panel into the bottom of the door. While overall length hasn't increased much, it's up just over a half-inch to 190.7 in., the 2.0-in.-longer wheelbase providing better leg room. The new model has greater road presence, the result of a 2.5-in.-wider track.

Not only is the Mountaineer a much different animal from the Explorer, thanks in large part to the looks and handling (revised shock valving gives it a slightly firmer ride), the improvements to the chassis move it way ahead of the previous Mountaineer. Overall, the interior nicely reflects the upscale image Mercury seeks to project. The Mountaineer is also equipped with side-impact airbags, which will later be modified to offer rollover curtain protection. The steering column is adjustable, and the pedals have power adjustment. The instruments are faced in silver with black lettering and orange indicators, while the steering wheel sports brushed aluminum spokes. Inside, the machined look is carried over by the extensive use of brushed aluminum accents on the door trim and center console. And the optional all-wheel-drive system is fully automatic no locking low range here. Instead of knobby all-terrain rubber, the Mountaineer is shod with P245/70R-16 all- season street tires. There is modest contrasting cladding, slotted 6-spoke alloy wheels and chromed horizontal grille work over the taillamps. Designers have given it a clean, machined look with sharp-edged fenders, a bold vertical grille and large, high-tech headlamps with projector-beam bulbs. The Mountaineer, on the other hand, is more of an urban cowboy. Reinforcing that philosophy is the design, which is evolutionary. For them, the Ford division offers an all-wheel-drive option with automatic high and low settings, as well as a suspension tuned for both on- and off-road work. The Explorer will continue to appeal to SUV traditionalists who see hard-core off-road capability as an essential attribute. With 7-passenger seating (optional on Explorer, standard on Mountaineer), the redesigned sport ute is better positioned to compete with minivans and at the same time offer more capacity than the 5-passenger, car-based, which has as much interior volume as the previous generation Explorer.Īlso worked hard to differentiate the Mercury Mountaineer from the Ford Explorer. recognized this need by upsizing the duo and adding third-row seating to what was previously perceived as a compact sport ute. In redesigning its and, the engineers at Ford Motor Co.

It's no secret that the booming popularity of sport utilities is being fueled by upwardly-mobile boomers who essentially need the people-hauling capability of a minivan, but don't want its styling.

Mercury mountaineer