Mountaineer gets a makeover

Auto industry markets Mercury vehicle to suburban professionals

In ancient Greece the planet Mercury went by two names: Hermes, the rapidly moving winged messenger of the Gods, and Apollo for its apparition as a rising morning star.

Today, the Mercury Mountaineer is modern-day Detroit's rapidly rising star, having benefited from a complete makeover giving it not only good looks, but improved technology.

Originally, the Mercury was mostly a Ford with more flash and dash for a little more cash. But the winged messenger from the engineering department put a stop to that with the introduction of the redesigned Mountaineer. So now the Mountaineer has its own unique handling qualities, look and features.

Mountaineer utilizes the body-on-frame design of the Explorer, which, in four-wheel-drive form is a real off-road vehicle. It also borrows the Explorer's unusual four-wheel independent suspension and excellent rack-and-pinion steering. These two features used to be found only on high performance sports cars, but are gradually working her way into the mainstream. But it is still a rarity in the SUV category.

The Mountaineer is no off-road vehicle, in the sense that the Explorer, or the Jeep Liberty, which was reviewed last week, is. For one thing there is no low range. Like Buick, Mercury markets its vehicles to suburban professionals who would rather watch a mud race rather than be in one. The Mountaineer is for the middle-class connoisseur who needs a minivan but doesn't want to be seen in one. If you want to play in the mud and rocks, set your sights on the Explorer. If you want a better handling, sport/luxury vehicle that will pull through the snow and ice and the occasional gooey back road, the Mountaineer is for you.

The all-wheel-drive system is completely automatic. Requiring absolutely nothing from the driver, the system sends about 35 percent of the power to the front wheels and 65 percent to the rear under normal conditions. If traction changes, as when going up an icy incline, the power flow changes, sending less power to the slipping tire and more power to the others. All-wheel-drive makes sense in this area where there are enough tough winter conditions to cause havoc, but no serious off-road situations warranting a low range.

Safety features include new optional head-and-chest side curtain airbags that deploy from the headliner across the majority of the side glass area to help protect occupants during a collision. The insurance companies like the Mountaineer, and you know how stingy they are!

Another reason buyers choose this vehicle over a minivan is that it comes equipped with seating for seven, and is available with separate air conditioning for the rear passengers, just like minivans. And the Mountaineer is set up for a comfortable ride. The one I drove rode more firmly than a typical full size sedan, but in exchange it provides excellent handling. The engineers chose different shock and spring rates, looking for a more sporting ride. On backcountry roads around the Cape Girardeau area there wasn't a hint of sway or body lean in the curves.

The Mercury's grill has handsome, bold vertical lines. The headlights are smartly styled into the fenders. Below the headlights, dark plastic cladding protects the bumper area and holds a pair of recessed round driving lights. Similar cladding running the length of the vehicle protects the lower door area from stone chips and door dings. A sharp crease runs down the side of the vehicle just below the door handles, giving Mountaineer a sophisticated, up-town look. At the rear, stylists have provided chic grills for the taillights. It looks good sitting in a field at a construction site or parked next to the country club.

Inside, my passengers gave the Mountaineer mixed reviews. Some thought the plastic silvered trim with faint hatch marks around the stereo and heating controls looked cheap for a car in this price range. They liked the brushed aluminum look found in the Lincoln Aviator we tested a couple of weeks ago. Others found it attractive. Me? I would have preferred a dark walnut look.

Check it out for yourself and decide. The two big gauges on the instrument panel are attractive and easy to see, because of their bold illuminated red pointers. I call them the "Pointer Sisters," but "tachometer and speedometer" are more appropriate! The interior was quiet and lacked wind noise. The front bucket seats were comfortable and supportive. The second-row seat is split 40/20/40 to make it fairly easy to reach the standard third-row seat, which provides decent room for two adults. It folds nearly flat into the floor. It is fairly easy to get in and out of the Mountaineer because it has the optional running boards. It would be a big reach without them. There is a slick-shifting automatic transmission with five gears, rather than the common four. Acceleration from the smooth running V-6 engine was adequate but not thrilling. If you will be towing anything or carrying a full load of passengers, I recommend the V-8.

You can buy this Mercury equipped with handsome cloth seats, anti-lock breaks, front and rear air, speed-sensitive wipers, a nifty backing-up warning system and lots of other goodies for less than $30,000 because Ford is offering plenty of rebates and incentives. Tell the salesperson at Ford Groves in Cape Girardeau that the winged messenger sent you.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian.