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Walkaround
Mercury Mountaineer's expressive design is refreshing in a sea of comparatively faceless SUVs. If a seven-passenger sport utility can be pretty or even beautiful, this is the one.The Mercury Mountaineer grew larger last year (model-year 2002), to accommodate both the third seat and the new independent rear suspension system. It is a brawny beast, its size tempered by its waterfall grille design, multi-element headlamps, and lots of matte aluminum exterior trim, including horizontal cages around the taillamp assemblies. Our test vehicle was painted in a Mineral Grey clearcoat metallic, with a light gray lower accent panel and a matte black roof rack, very pleasing to our eye, and enhancing its postmodern industrial design. The exterior graphics are all straightforward, businesslike block letters. That the Mountaineer is attractive is a good thing because it is expected to represent the design direction Mercury is taking with its future products. We especially liked the big over-or-under door handles than can be operated easily with gloved hands. Many manufacturers use small lever-style handles that sometimes snap away from your fingers when you're in a hurry. Optional running boards are convenient for passengers of small stature trying to enter and exit gracefully.
Interior Features
Mountaineer uses trendy matte-aluminum trim on the door panels, steering wheel, instrument panel and dashboard and it looks terrific. The aluminum trim extends to the main gauges, the tachometer and speedometer, which are done in black-on-white graphics that turn orange-and-white when the lights are on. The thick steering wheel makes you feel like you're in full command of the ship.Ford is one of the best companies in the world at interior ergonomics, and the Mercury Mountaineer features switches, buttons and levers that are large, well marked and easy to use. It takes only a couple of rides to be able to find everything quickly and easily. The center console is enormous, with lots of space for your stuff, and houses ventilation and storage for second-row passengers as well as an extra 12-volt socket for whatever you need to power. The front bucket seats are very good: long, thick and comfortable. Optional seat heaters warm the seats quickly, but the buttons are mounted on the side of the seat and can be difficult to find, as they are grouped with the seatback recliner handle, the power seat switch for fore/aft and the lumbar pump switch. Third-row seats are a bit cramped for 6-foot, 4-inch testers, but the second row is accommodating. The second and third row seats are very easy to stow. Folding them away reveals a huge 81 cubic-foot cargo bay. The seats are easy to restore to their upright and locked positions.
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