Mercury Mountaineer

The Mercury Mountaineer is a mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was sold by Mercury from 1996 until 2010. The first Mercury SUV, the Mountaineer was a divisional counterpart of the Ford Explorer, marketed above it and between the Lincoln Aviator (ultimately replacing the latter). Across its three generations, the Mountaineer was marketed exclusively as a 5-door wagon, with no counterpart to the 3-door Explorer Sport or the Explorer Sport Trac pickup truck.

For its entire production, the Mountaineer was assembled by Ford at its Louisville Assembly facility (Louisville, Kentucky); prior to 2007, additional production was sourced from St. Louis Assembly (Hazelwood, Missouri). After the 2010 model year, the Mountaineer was discontinued, becoming the second Mercury line (after the Sable) to be discontinued before Mercury was withdrawn at the end of 2010.[1]

Background

For the 1991 model year, General Motors introduced the Oldsmobile Bravada mid-size SUV, derived from the newly-created five-door version of the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. The first premium brand to release an SUV, Oldsmobile marketed the Bravada as a competitor to the Range Rover

First generation (1997–2001)

The first-generation Mercury Mountaineer was an early 1997 model, entering production in April 1996.[2] While falling short of Lincoln-Mercury sales projections, the Mountaineer would outsell its Oldsmobile Bravada competitor by a wide margin.[3] The model line became the third-best selling Mercury, trailing only the Sable and the Grand Marquis.

As with the Ford Explorer Limited, the Mercury Mountaineer was offered only as a five-door wagon.

Body

At its launch, the Mercury Mountaineer was closest in appearance to the two-tone Ford Explorer XLT, but equipped between the Explorer Eddie Bauer and Explorer Limited.

In addition to the Mercury waterfall-style grille (which was not recessed) styled similar to the Grand Marquis, the Mountaineer was styled with a distinct dark-gray lower body color scheme (with painted bumpers). The rear liftgate and bumper (with rear foglamps) were sourced from the European-export version of the Explorer.

For 1998, the Mountaineer adopted the same mid-cycle revisions as the Explorer, including body-color D-pillars and the relocation of the license plate to the liftgate (the Mountaineer dropped the export rear bumper and its foglamps). The grille opening was inverted (with new headlamps), along with a new front bumper.

Chassis

The 1997–2001 Mercury Mountaineer shares the chassis of the second-generation Ford Explorer, sharing a 111-inch wheelbase. Though heavily based upon the first-generation Ford Ranger, the five-door sport-utility vehicles are wider and have a distinct wheelbase. As with the Ford Explorer, the Mountaineer is fitted with fully independent wishbone front suspension and a leaf-sprung live rear axle.

For 1997, the Mercury Mountaineer was fitted with a 215 hp 5.0-liter V8 with a 4-speed automatic transmission. For 1998, the 205 hp 4.0-liter SOHC V6 was offered as an option. Like the Ford Explorer, the V8 engine was mated to either rear-wheel drive or full time all-wheel drive (viscous coupling center differential); part-time four-wheel drive was unavailable with the V8 engine. The V6 Mountaineer was offered either as rear-wheel drive or ControlTrac four-wheel drive with "Auto", "High" and "Low" modes.

Trim

The first-generation Mercury Mountaineer was introduced in a single trim level, combining many available features of the Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer and Limited. With the exception of a sunroof, CD changer, and the selection of front seat design, there were few freestanding options.[4]

For 1998, the addition of the V6 version differed primarily in its powertrain configuration, with Mercury choosing to continue to offer the Mountaineer as a single comprehensive trim level.[5]

Third generation (2006–2010)

The third-generation Mercury Mountaineer was introduced for the 2006 model year, again serving as a counterpart of the Ford Explorer. Though unchanged in wheelbase, the model line rode on an all-new chassis, gaining nearly three inches in length. In contrast to the Explorer, the third-generation Mountaineer retained many styling elements from the previous generation, introducing clear-lens taillamps, fender-mounted turn signal repeaters, larger wheels, satin-silver trim for the sideview mirrors and bumpers; the grille and tailgate received larger Mercury emblems.

Following the discontinuation of the Lincoln Aviator, the Mountaineer again served as the premium mid-size SUV offering of the Lincoln-Mercury division. To better differentiate the model line from the Explorer Eddie Bauer and Limited, Lincoln-Mercury upgraded the interior trim of the Mountaineer and carried over various features from the discontinued Aviator, including the option of a DVD-based navigation system with voice control (not offered on any Explorer until 2008). As an option, the Mountaineer Premier offered power-retracting running boards (a feature adopted from the larger Lincoln Navigator, not introduced on the Explorer until 2007).

The Mountaineer carried over the 210 hp 4.0 L SOHC V6 as the standard engine, introducing a 292 hp 4.6-liter Modular 24-valve V8 as an option (replacing the previous 16-valve version). V6 engines were paired with a 5-speed 5R55W automatic transmission; V8 engines received an all-new 6R 6-speed automatic.

During its production, the third-generation Mountaineer saw relatively few functional changes. For 2007, "MOUNTAINEER" badging was returned to the doors (after a four-year absence). For 2008, side-curtain airbags were made standard. For 2009, trailer-sway control was made standard on examples equipped for towing. The navigation system was upgraded, including traffic flow monitoring and live updates on fuel prices from nearby service stations.[7] For 2010, all trim levels received the Ford MyKey system as a standard feature; the system is a programmable security system designed for vehicles owned by multiple drivers.

production	April 1996–2001
model years	1997–2001
engine	4.0 L Cologne V6 5.0 L Windsor V8
transmission	4-speed automatic (V8 models) 5-speed automatic (V6 models)
wheelbase	1997: 111.5 in 1998–2001: 111.6 in
width	70.2 in
length	1997: 188.5 in 1998–1999: 190.1 in 2000–2001: 190.7 in
height	1997 2WD: 66.8 in 1997 4WD: 66.7 in 1998–2001 2WD: 70.5 in 1998–2001 4WD: 70.3 in
related	Ford Explorer Ford Ranger Mazda B-Series Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Mercury Mountaineer

Background

First generation (1997–2001)

Body

Chassis

Trim

Second generation (2002–2005)

Third generation (2006–2010)

Discontinuation

Firestone tire controversy

Awards

Sales

External links

References