The boomer had parked himself beside our black 2006 Mercury Mountaineer and was obviously waiting for another warm body to arrive. Normally such lurking would be cause for pepper spray, but we knew this guy's intentions were pure by the extreme brightness of his yellow shirt. No carjacker, murderer or Amway salesman would ever walk around in something so flamboyant, at least not while on the job.
"Hmmmm," he said circling the SUV. "Never heard of a Mountaineer before."
And that, right there is the Mountaineer's biggest problem. Although it's been around for a decade, and essentially amounts to a gussied-up Ford Explorer , it continues to fly under the radar of most SUV buyers. Only 15 percent of the 250,000 Explorer/Mountaineers sold in 2005 were Mountaineers.
Upscale value
Those 30,171 people are the savvy shoppers. We did a little math. Turns out the Mountaineer is less expensive and offers more stuff than the Explorer.
Mercury's top-shelf Mountaineer Premier with all-wheel drive carries a base price of $35,500. Before options, the most expensive Explorer, a V8 Limited with four-wheel drive, sets you back $35,940. Both carry the same basic equipment, although the Mountaineer's power-folding third-row seat is standard, while a third-row bench is optional on the Explorer. That makes the Mercury a better overall value.
Entry-level Mountaineers and Explorers still use 4.0-liter V6, but the higher trims carry a new three-valve, 4.6-liter V8 engine with 292 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission comes standard with the V8.
Our very black seven-passenger test vehicle was equipped with second-row bucket seats, power running boards, a power moonroof, a DVD navigation system, adjustable pedals, 18-inch aluminum wheels and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, bringing the total price up to $41,990. That's $2,200 less than a comparably equipped V6-powered Acura MDX.
Black tie
With identical powertrain options, the differences between the Mercury and Ford are largely aesthetic. Items exclusive to the Mountaineer include power running boards and an abundance of satin-aluminum trim, both inside the cabin and around the exterior, plus unique jeweled taillamps.
Like the Explorer, the 2006 Mountaineer has gotten a fairly extensive refresh. Updated styling with a bolder grille, a new tailgate and new taillamps give it fresh appeal.
Although the Explorer can get pretty fancy in its upscale Limited trim, the Mountaineer's overall look is designed more for the opera than an off-road trail. Taking this fashion model off-road seems as likely as the Donald quitting his comb-over.
On the blacktop
More than 50-percent stiffer than the old Mountaineer, the revised Mercury frame provides benefits in both ride and handling. Playing its part underneath the sheet metal is a new independent rear suspension and modified front suspension, which make the Mountaineer feel much more sedanlike than its predecessor. There's also additional sound insulation to keep the interior quiet, and the variable assist power steering system has been tweaked for more feel and reduced effort at parking lot speeds.
Fuel economy is up as well. The new powertrain offers a notable increase in the SUV's miles-per-gallon score of 20 on the highway — up 10 percent over last year's model.
Unfortunately, the good vibes on the open road don't translate to the test track. Although straight-line power is respectable for an SUV with a 0-to-60-mph time of 8.3 seconds, the last Acura MDX we tested sprinted to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. The Mountaineer's 56.9-mph slalom speed is also slower than the Acura's 57.5-mph performance and the Mercury's stability control system intervened at every entry and exit cone.
The system, which is called AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, uses a gyroscope to sense a roll condition and then applies braking and engine controls as necessary to help the driver regain command of the vehicle. It works, but it seems to come on prematurely, and there's no way to shut it down.
Larger four-wheel antilock disc brakes bring the Mountaineer from 60 mph in a respectable 138 feet, but a spongy pedal and noticeable brake fade keep it from being anything more than an adequate performer. Plus, the Acura stops from 60 mph in 132 feet.
Black and white
We were taken with the Mountaineer's striking black leather interior, which is complemented by stark white inserts on the seats and door panels.
Front seats are comfortable with an inch more legroom than you'd find in a seven-passenger Acura MDX, although some complain the Mountaineer's seating area is a little narrow, mostly due to the outboard armrest intruding on personal space. A redesigned door release makes closing the door awkward, since you have to grab for a handle mounted below the armrest.
Satin-aluminum trim surrounds the gauge cluster and center stack giving the SUV a trendy, polished look. We like the way a large Mercury logo floats on the dark navigation screen while the system's isn't in use, and found its touchscreen easy to operate. Also standard on the Mountaineer Premier are front-seat side airbags, and a reverse-sensing system to warn drivers when they're closing in on objects behind them.
Second-row passengers get 37 inches of legroom, while MDX riders score an extra inch, and the serious mechanics underneath the Mercury's front power seats block any additional toe room.
Although the power-folding third-row seat provides enough space for even adults on an occasional-use basis, the bench eats up 2 cubic feet of storage space cutting the cargo capacity in a seven-passenger Mountaineer down to 82.8 cubic feet, which is large for the class.
Less true luxury than the competition
All that satin-aluminum trim does give the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer more glitz than the mainstream Ford Explorer. It's a good-looking package. In fact, the man in the battery-powered leisure wear wasn't the only one to inquire about our test truck during our time with it. Add in the value story and the Mercury becomes a compelling alternative to the Ford.
But the Mountaineer still falls short of high-brow competitors like the MDX, which continue to offer a higher level of refinement and more performance. Although it's better than before, when it comes to increased sales, the Mountaineer still has quite a mountain to climb. Yuk, yuk.
"Hmmmm," he said circling the SUV. "Never heard of a Mountaineer before."
And that, right there is the Mountaineer's biggest problem. Although it's been around for a decade, and essentially amounts to a gussied-up Ford Explorer , it continues to fly under the radar of most SUV buyers. Only 15 percent of the 250,000 Explorer/Mountaineers sold in 2005 were Mountaineers.
Upscale value
Those 30,171 people are the savvy shoppers. We did a little math. Turns out the Mountaineer is less expensive and offers more stuff than the Explorer.
Mercury's top-shelf Mountaineer Premier with all-wheel drive carries a base price of $35,500. Before options, the most expensive Explorer, a V8 Limited with four-wheel drive, sets you back $35,940. Both carry the same basic equipment, although the Mountaineer's power-folding third-row seat is standard, while a third-row bench is optional on the Explorer. That makes the Mercury a better overall value.
Entry-level Mountaineers and Explorers still use 4.0-liter V6, but the higher trims carry a new three-valve, 4.6-liter V8 engine with 292 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission comes standard with the V8.
Our very black seven-passenger test vehicle was equipped with second-row bucket seats, power running boards, a power moonroof, a DVD navigation system, adjustable pedals, 18-inch aluminum wheels and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, bringing the total price up to $41,990. That's $2,200 less than a comparably equipped V6-powered Acura MDX.
Black tie
With identical powertrain options, the differences between the Mercury and Ford are largely aesthetic. Items exclusive to the Mountaineer include power running boards and an abundance of satin-aluminum trim, both inside the cabin and around the exterior, plus unique jeweled taillamps.
Like the Explorer, the 2006 Mountaineer has gotten a fairly extensive refresh. Updated styling with a bolder grille, a new tailgate and new taillamps give it fresh appeal.
Although the Explorer can get pretty fancy in its upscale Limited trim, the Mountaineer's overall look is designed more for the opera than an off-road trail. Taking this fashion model off-road seems as likely as the Donald quitting his comb-over.
On the blacktop
More than 50-percent stiffer than the old Mountaineer, the revised Mercury frame provides benefits in both ride and handling. Playing its part underneath the sheet metal is a new independent rear suspension and modified front suspension, which make the Mountaineer feel much more sedanlike than its predecessor. There's also additional sound insulation to keep the interior quiet, and the variable assist power steering system has been tweaked for more feel and reduced effort at parking lot speeds.
Fuel economy is up as well. The new powertrain offers a notable increase in the SUV's miles-per-gallon score of 20 on the highway — up 10 percent over last year's model.
Unfortunately, the good vibes on the open road don't translate to the test track. Although straight-line power is respectable for an SUV with a 0-to-60-mph time of 8.3 seconds, the last Acura MDX we tested sprinted to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. The Mountaineer's 56.9-mph slalom speed is also slower than the Acura's 57.5-mph performance and the Mercury's stability control system intervened at every entry and exit cone.
The system, which is called AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, uses a gyroscope to sense a roll condition and then applies braking and engine controls as necessary to help the driver regain command of the vehicle. It works, but it seems to come on prematurely, and there's no way to shut it down.
Larger four-wheel antilock disc brakes bring the Mountaineer from 60 mph in a respectable 138 feet, but a spongy pedal and noticeable brake fade keep it from being anything more than an adequate performer. Plus, the Acura stops from 60 mph in 132 feet.
Black and white
We were taken with the Mountaineer's striking black leather interior, which is complemented by stark white inserts on the seats and door panels.
Front seats are comfortable with an inch more legroom than you'd find in a seven-passenger Acura MDX, although some complain the Mountaineer's seating area is a little narrow, mostly due to the outboard armrest intruding on personal space. A redesigned door release makes closing the door awkward, since you have to grab for a handle mounted below the armrest.
Satin-aluminum trim surrounds the gauge cluster and center stack giving the SUV a trendy, polished look. We like the way a large Mercury logo floats on the dark navigation screen while the system's isn't in use, and found its touchscreen easy to operate. Also standard on the Mountaineer Premier are front-seat side airbags, and a reverse-sensing system to warn drivers when they're closing in on objects behind them.
Second-row passengers get 37 inches of legroom, while MDX riders score an extra inch, and the serious mechanics underneath the Mercury's front power seats block any additional toe room.
Although the power-folding third-row seat provides enough space for even adults on an occasional-use basis, the bench eats up 2 cubic feet of storage space cutting the cargo capacity in a seven-passenger Mountaineer down to 82.8 cubic feet, which is large for the class.
Less true luxury than the competition
All that satin-aluminum trim does give the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer more glitz than the mainstream Ford Explorer. It's a good-looking package. In fact, the man in the battery-powered leisure wear wasn't the only one to inquire about our test truck during our time with it. Add in the value story and the Mercury becomes a compelling alternative to the Ford.
But the Mountaineer still falls short of high-brow competitors like the MDX, which continue to offer a higher level of refinement and more performance. Although it's better than before, when it comes to increased sales, the Mountaineer still has quite a mountain to climb. Yuk, yuk.
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