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Thursday, June 2, 2011
What happens when you take an Explorer and slap a Mercury badge on it? Why, you get the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer, of course. Aside from minor styling and equipment differences, the Mountaineer is basically an Explorer by another name, which means it's a holdout from that bygone era when all SUVs employed tough body-on-frame construction. One notable difference is the Mountaineer's optional full-time all-wheel drive (the Explorer typically offers a true 4WD system with a low-range transfer case) that hints at its slightly more upscale intentions. This is an SUV for the suburban set. Trouble is, there are a slew of car-based crossover SUVs on the market now, and just about all of them are better choices for the suburbs than the dated Mountaineer.
The one thing the Mountaineer unequivocally has going for it is towing capacity. With a maximum rating of over 7,200 pounds with the optional V8, the Mountaineer can tow as much as some pickup trucks, whereas crossover SUVs typically top out at less than half the Mountaineer's limit. If you plan on towing trailers or boats on a regular basis, the Mountaineer actually makes sense. As vehicular workhorses go, this Mercury is pleasantly refined and luxurious.
As modern SUVs go, however, the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer is mostly outclassed. Its available all-wheel-drive system is matched by every notable crossover SUV, and a crossover's car-based chassis will always trump the Mountaineer's truck-style underpinnings when it comes to negotiating bumps and corners. Performance and fuel-efficiency are issues as well: The base Mountaineer's archaic 210-horsepower V6 is put to shame by virtually every other six-cylinder engine currently available, and neither the V6 nor the optional V8 comes close to matching the typical crossover SUV's fuel economy.
The Mountaineer does have some old-school SUV company. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Borrego, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota 4Runner can all be counted as spiritual brethren, proving that there's still a market for nature-oriented 'utes even in this day and age. And for on-road use, the Mountaineer is actually a pretty good pick among this group. But the Mountaineer's on-road bias means you really should cross-shop it against crossovers more than traditional SUVs. And in this case, there are simply better choices than Mercury's rebadged Explorer.
The Mountaineer can carry five occupants, with an optional third-row seat raising capacity to seven. The Sync communication system integrates phones and media players and allows those devices to be voice-activated. Sirius' subscription-based Travel Link service, included with the optional navigation system, can pull up local gas prices, movie times, weather reports and sports scores.
*Optional heated leather seats
*Second-row seats can be bench or buckets; they recline on the Premier
*Optional Sync system and satellite radio
*Optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system with 8-inch video screen
*Optional navigation system with Sirius Travel Link
*Optional power-folding third-row seats
Technology and Connectivity Features
Standard and available 2010 Mercury Mountaineer technology features include:
* AM/FM single CD/MP3 player with audio input jack
* Premium AM/FM in-dash, six-CD/MP3 player with subwoofer and audio input jack
* Voice-activated navigation system
* Rear-seat DVD system
* Power Code™ remote start
* Battery saver feature
* Illuminated entry
* Keyless Entry Remote (2)
* Security – SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS)
* Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
* Adjustable pedals
* Heated windshield
Mercury says the front styling and rectangular headlights suggest a subtle evolution in the company's design direction, with an emphasis on the vertically stacked front-end elements. Premier models add upgraded wheels and aluminum roof rails.
*17-, 18- and 20-inch wheels
*Satin aluminum touches on exterior
*Available power-retractable running boards
*Standard black crossbars for roof rails
*Standard capless fuel filler system
The 2010 Mountaineer's standard engine is Ford's 4.0-liter V6, which makes a lackluster 210 hp and a more respectable 254 pound-feet of torque. The Mountaineer Premier can be equipped with an optional 4.6-liter V8, which puts out a peppier 292 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard with the V6, while the V8 comes with a six-speed unit. Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available with either engine.
A V8-equipped AWD Mountaineer required 8.3 seconds to reach 60 mph in our instrumented testing. That's not bad, but the Toyota 4Runner is quicker, and many V6-powered crossovers put up comparable numbers. EPA fuel economy estimates for a rear-drive V6 Mountaineer are below-average at 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined -- the V8 is actually better at 15/21/17. Opting for 4WD predictably lowers the ratings for both engines. Properly equipped, a rear-wheel-drive Mountaineer with the V8 can tow up to 7,220 pounds.
Ford's AdvanceTrac now incorporates standard trailer-sway control. The system senses when the trailer you're towing is starting to sway and takes measures to bring it back into line. Other standard features include:
*Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
*Side-impact and side curtain airbags
*Electronic stability system with Roll Stability Control
Standard and available 2010 Mercury Mountaineer safety features include:
* AdvanceTrac with RSC and Trailer Sway Control
* Dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags
* Belt-Minder®
* Front Passenger Sensing System
* LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system on rear outboard seat locations
* SOS Post-Crash Alert System™
* Safety Canopy® with roll over sensor (two rows of protection)
* Safety Belts, pretensioner/Energy Management System
reference:www.edmunds.com,www.cars.com,www.autospectator.com
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