Overview & Reviews

The Mercury Mountaineer should be a respectable choice for a used midsize SUV. 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 held steady through two generations.

Although the Mountaineer was mechanically identical to the Ford Explorer and shared its chassis and most sheet metal, Mercury 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 2002 redesign, which brought about a vast improvement in both ride and handling.

Despite that, the Mountaineer was outclassed in more recent years by newer crossover SUVs such as the Acura MDX and Buick Enclave. 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 those used SUV shoppers with more demanding needs.

Most Recent Mercury Mountaineer
Sold from 2002-'10, the second-generation Mountaineer was greatly refined in terms of luxury and performance. A wider stance and an independent rear suspension improved both handling and ride, while a new 4.6-liter V8 provided ample power with smoother operation. The cabin offered a few new perks as well, such as optional power-adjustable pedals and a third-row seat.

Buyers could choose between a 210-horsepower V6 or the new V8. The V8 versions sold through '05 made 240 hp and came with a five-speed automatic. We would recommend a 2006 or later version, as that year the V8 got a power boost to 292 hp along with a six-speed automatic, improving both performance and, to a lesser degree, fuel economy. The Mountaineer's safety quotient rose in 2004 when Mercury added stability control as an option, and again the following year when it was made standard and packaged with Roll Stability Control. Standard side curtain airbags completed the picture for 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 2009. The following year would be the Mountaineer's last, as the Mercury brand would be phased out during 2011.

This Mountaineer was available in five- and seven-passenger versions and with a choice of either rear-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The trim levels were typically topped by the Premier, which provided leather upholstery, heated seats, rear parking sensors and the Sync voice-activated multimedia integration system. Main options included a rear entertainment system and a navigation system. One could also opt for second-row captain's chairs, which dropped passenger capacity to six.

In reviews, we found that the Mountaineer had a smooth and composed ride and respectable handling, due in no small part to the SUV's independent rear suspension. The latter was an important 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 ranked among the roomiest of traditional midsize SUVs. Downsides include weak acceleration with the V6 engine and a dated dashboard design.

Past Mercury Mountaineer Models
The first-generation Mountaineer debuted for 1997 as the uptown cousin to the then-second generation Ford Explorer. The Mountaineer 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 the following year when Mercury received the better of the Explorer's two V6s -- a 210-hp 4.0-liter -- as its standard engine. 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. 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. The notable changes through this generation's run include the availability of automatic rear load leveling suspension and rear park assist for 1999, and a child seat tether/anchor system for 2001.

In its favor, the original Mercury Mountaineer's seating comfort and cargo room were always competitive, and its repair record stands above GM's 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.

User Reviews:

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  Nice vehicle, great lease deal - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Shelcom - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Very quiet for an SUV. Build quality surprisingly good, especially for an American model. The $4000 rebate and cheap lease made me look. Driving it made me sign the papers. Really nice family vehicle.

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  6 speed transmission a problem - 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
  By chris61 - May 15 - 4:36 am

  My wife and I replaced our 1999 Mountaineer with this 2006 Premier 2WD. She really likes her car, and for the most part, I do too. Im not disappointed with the gas mileage, as we knew going in it wasnt going to win any economy championships. My biggest disappointment has been with the six speed transmission. We currently have 25000 miles on it, and it has been back to the dealer for the trans too many times to count. The problem is with the 1/2 upshift and 2/1 downshift. The problem is especially noticeable on the first drive of the day. If you dont come to a complete stop it wont shift all the way to first, then almost "stumbles" until youre into 2nd. They replaced the MTronics last.

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  Would look MUCH better w/chrome rims - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Shockin Sean - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this truck for 2 days. The moonroof is malfunctioning b/c of what my dealer attributes to, "Maybe this wasnt made for a DVD player." What? Huh? Ford charged a lot of $$ to install the DVD and hes now saying the DVDs causing my moonroof to not retract properly?! They sent a tech over to fix it. Of course, it worked right afterwards. Then it refused to open again in 3 hours. They said to bring it to the service center and theyd be able to fix the "problem" quickly. Yeah, right! Besides that problem, I hear an annoying rattling emanating from the DVD panel (situated on the interior middle roof). Its not TOO loud but certainly bothersome.

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  surpirsed - 2002 Mercury Mountaineer
  By driver3 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  didnt expect to like this vehicle as much as i do, coming from an older bmw 735i. however, its the same size and width as the car, has lots of V-8 power and drives tight. substantial looking and stylish at the same time, the interior trim looks great. drove the explorer too, but the mountaineer edged out the explorer in every department.

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  Mountaineer - 2005 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Tommy - May 3 - 6:23 am

  Excellent handling SUV. Quality interior, great sounding stereo system, a pleasure to drive.

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  Love the new Merc! - 2004 Mercury Mountaineer
  By saleen #182 - May 2 - 4:36 am

  I love the new Merc. Mountaineer. It is a ceramic white Premier w/every option available. Took it on a 2300 mi. trip, performed great. My family loved the truck & DVD player, kept them entertained & even made a fan out of my "chevy loving" father. The truck gets lots of posotive feedback from almost everyone I meet. I got a really good price on it as well. Overall, very happy with the truck.

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  Nearing End of 1st Year - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Roosterman - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Overall, I like the Mountaineer better than its cousin the Explorer. Its a shame, though, that Fords cost accountants seem to be "driving" the quality of Fords products down because of cheap materials. This is a well- designed vehicle that could be alot better if the quality was higher. I dont think Ford is capable any longer of delivering a vehicle anywhere close to the quality of the Toyotas and Hondas. I checked the resale value on this vehicle recently and was amazed at how it had plunged, far greater than normal first year depreciation which, for most American vehicles, is pretty lousy anyway.

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  Great Vehicle - 1997 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Bill J - April 11 - 4:46 am

  Outstanding comfort, driver friendliness, with great curb appeal and fantastic reliability. Handles very well even with heavy trailer loads or on dirt roads. Lots of pep with V8 engine and excellent fuel economy for its size and weight averaging better than 17 mpg for over 11 years. Excellent access to trunk area with large storage capacity.

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  I will buy another one - 1999 Mercury Mountaineer
  By baldbuckeye - April 6 - 2:00 am

  If you want the reliability of an Explorer, but want to drive something a little differant and a little more upgraded, pick a Mountaineer. I have driven it in every kind of weather and it has performed great.

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  Best Value on the Market - 2003 Mercury Mountaineer
  By Mr. Q Inc. - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I originally considered the Aviator, Envoy XL, and Sequoia. After driving the Mountaineer, I could not figure why I should pay at least $5,000 more for the others. Outstanding handling and the V8 engine had more than enough power. So comfortable I look forward to coming back to it. I dont notice road bumps that I use to, but yet very sturdy when it hits a big bump. Was more quiet than the Aviator, more powerful than both the Envoy & Sequoia, as comfortable as the Envoy, and way less expensive than all the above. I drive 120 miles/ day, and enjoy every one of them in this vehicle. The children love the room in the back as well.