Just as last year, the 2009 Mercury Mountaineer comes in two trims, Mountaineer and Mountaineer Premier. The base Mountaineer comes with a 210-horsepower, 4.0L V6 engine that also makes 254 pound-feet of torque, while the Premier comes with either the 4.0L V6 or a 292-horsepower, 4.6L V8 producing 300 pound-feet of torque. The V6 comes with a 5-speed automatic transmission, while the V8 gets a 6-speed automatic. Both the base model and Premier can be configured with either a standard rear-wheel drive or an optional road-oriented all-wheel-drive system.
The base model comes with two rows of seating, while the Premier has 3-row seating standard. A 50/50-split, flat-folding second row bench seat is standard on the Mountaineer. Second-row bucket seats with a center console are available across the range.
AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, especially oriented toward avoiding a rollover situation in tall vehicles, is standard on all Mountaineers, as are anti-lock brakes, dual front air bags and Mercury's Safety Canopy system of side-curtain airbags, which cover front-seat side airbags and first- and second-row side curtain airbags.
The base Mountaineer comes standard 17-inch machined aluminum wheels, keyless remote entry, privacy glass, driver's information system, tire pressure monitor, 6-way power driver's seat, cruise control, full power accessories, fog lamps, heated power mirrors and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with secondary controls. Options include the Comfort Package, with leather upholstery, heated front seats, 10-way power driver seat, 6-way power passenger seat and dual-zone climate control.
Standard equipment on the Premier includes 18-inch satin chrome aluminum wheels, leather upholstery, 7-passenger seating, running boards, aluminum side mirror caps, dual-zone air-conditioning, reclining second-row seats, third-row seats, Sirius satellite radio and the SYNC voice-activated phone and media system.
Notable options include an Audiophile 7-speaker sound system with 6-disc changer and subwoofer, a DVD-based navigation system and auxiliary audio jack for iPods. Other available options include power-deploying running boards, heated windshield, power moonroof, capless fuel filler, 20-inch-wheels, reverse parking sensors, rear-seat entertainment system and power adjustable pedals with memory.
The Voga Package for the Premier is available with chrome wheels and exterior trim, cashmere leather seats and unique cabin accents. Also available on the Premier is the Third-Row Seat Elite Package, which includes a power-folding feature for the third row and auxiliary rear climate control.
Smooth Ride With Great Towing Capacity
5-star Safety Ratings
Spacious And Functional Interior
On-road Comfort
Notable Combination Of Style And Power
For 2009, the Mercury Mountaineer has changed little from 2008. Both the base trim with a V6 engine and the Premier trim are available. This year, side curtain airbags are new. The independent rear suspension sports improvements that increase handling and maneuverability.
The 2009 Mountaineer, considered a more stylish twin of the Ford Explorer, is a mid-sized SUV that can tow up to 6,960 pounds, almost double what most crossover SUVs can handle. It sports a 4-wheel independent suspension that performs exceptionally well on the highway and in the city. The Mountaineer stands out visually for its satin-aluminum finishes, distinctive Mercury waterfall grille in front and stylish interior trim. It earned the top rating of "Good" in frontal offset crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It also earned numerous five of five stars for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
