As the sibling to the Ford Explorer, albeit the upscale, "refined" version, ask a veteran of Mercury dealerships how difficult it was being Mountaineer just a few years ago. It proved to be a hard sell some months when incentives for Explorer often netted the buyer a similarly equipped SUV for the same price.
Not any longer - at least not by design.
The
2006 Mercury Mountaineer is a superb seven-passenger mid-size SUV that demands attention with its new design while offering a sizable upgrade on power with a new three-valve V-8 engine.
The '06 Mountaineer, with its revitalized exterior is simply more Mercury than ever before. Exhibiting lines that are much more rounded and contemporary than the previous model, the Mountaineer looks aerodynamic and athletic.
I've always loved the signature waterfall grille, which remains the prominent center of attention on a great front-end style treatment that includes trapezoidal headlamps and accentuating rectangle fog lamps (see photo).
Of special note were the power running boards located on both sides of my tester. This $695 option was one of the coolest features as the full-length running boards opened and retracted as either driver or passenger door is opened or closed. In my opinion the real value to this feature, in additional to the ease they offer entering and exiting the Mountaineer, cannot even be gauged while inside the cabin. Running boards are utilitarian by nature, but after serving their function, these boards disappear - enhancing further the smooth, aerodynamic effect of the entire vehicle.
Inside, the Mountaineer maintains the level of sophistication promised on the exterior. My tester offered supple leather seats and accents (part of the $3,795 Premium Package) as well as power seats and mirrors and a fabulous 6-CD Audiophile system with Navigation.
Style moves from the soft and sophisticated gauge displays to the well-positioned display screen. Sightlines are good and cargo space is ample. Remember, this is seven-passenger vehicle that will accompany five adults and two teens in the back. Still, with the seats in the flat position there is ample room for sports equipment, groceries or building materials.
Base models of the Mountaineer ($29,795) offer dependable and adequate 4.0-liter V-6 with 210 horsepower and 254 lbs.-ft. of torque. My tester, showcasing the new 4.6-liter V-8, was a wonderful upgrade from the previous generation power plant and it performed admirably in the city and on the highway.
Considering the cost of fuel these days, I feel compelled to soften the "admirably" comment for performance to be directed at ride quality. The 14 city/20 hwy fuel economy, for this size SUV, comes with the territory. It is not any worse than others of its size and weight in this class. Though the Hybrid version does offer 33 city/29 hwy.
I found the Mountaineer and its six-speed automatic transmission to be a joy to drive in all conditions. Shifts were smooth and deliberate whether in short sprints in the city or accelerating into interstate traffic. Once inside the cabin, if you ignore the great view over the road, you would be hard pressed to not feel like you were in a sedan. Very un-sedan like, the Mountaineer has a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds.
It's amazing what a year can do for the image of a vehicle. Mountaineer was always a fine performer, but lacked a bit of identity as Explorer's more refined cousin. Thankfully, this new upgrade is better and more refined than its value-driven sibling.