The Mercury Mountaineer is relatively expensive for its class. With the optional V8 engine, all-wheel drive system and Class III/IV Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, the Mountaineer is rated to tow up to 7,040 pounds.
The Honda Pilot, for example, will save you nearly $1,600 as compared to the base 2010 Mercury Mountaineer and has a better 17/23 base fuel economy rating. It starts at about $3,000 less than the Mountaineer and still boasts a better 17/21 fuel economy rating – which is surprising considering that it’s built on a truck-based platform just like the Mercury. Best of all, it’s rated to tow 7,500 pounds – that’s even more than the Mountaineer – when properly equipped.
Why, you get the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer, of course. 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. The Mountaineer does have some old-school SUV company.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer is a midsize SUV available in base and Premier trim levels. Rear-wheel drive is standard on both trims, with all-wheel drive optional.
Optional is a Five-Passenger Value Package that adds power-adjustable pedals, driver memory functions, reverse parking sensors, running boards, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear manual climate controls, leather upholstery, heated power front seats, satellite radio and the Sync voice-activated communication and entertainment system. The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer Premier comes standard with 18-inch chrome wheels, rear parking sensors, aluminum-trimmed heated exterior mirrors with puddle lamps, aluminum roof rails, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear manual climate controls, leather upholstery, heated power front seats, driver memory functions and Sync. Options include 20-inch wheels, the tow package, power running boards, a power-folding third-row seat, a rear-seat entertainment system, second-row fold-flat bucket seats and a voice-activated navigation system with DVD audio and video capability, an internal hard drive, 10 gigabytes of music storage and an integrated real-time traffic feature that also provides local gas prices, movie times and sports scores.
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. Properly equipped, a rear-wheel-drive Mercury Mountaineer with the V8 can tow up to 7,220 pounds.
Safety
The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer fared quite well in crash tests, earning a perfect five stars across the board in all government frontal and side impact tests. The third-row option reduces available cargo space, but only slightly: Seven-passenger Mountaineers top out at 83.7 cubic feet, while five-passenger versions can swallow 85.8 cubic feet.
The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer, to put it bluntly, is a 2010 Ford Explorer, rebadged and presented with slightly different trim and details. The 2010 Mercury Mountaineer is no exception; Mercury's waterfall grille and softer front end help make the Mountaineer appear just a little more carlike.
Two different powertrain choices are offered in the 2010 Mercury Mountaineer. The 2010 Mountaineer can be configured to be either a five- or seven-passenger vehicle, and when equipped, the third row can be power operated. The Mountaineer is quite roomy inside, with a good driving position. Ride quality is quite good, though—credit the Mountaineers SUV's independent rear suspension.