Sure, the '97 Mercury Mountaineer is a gussied-up Ford Explorer, but it's still capable of scoring one-upsmanship points on those baby boomer neighbors with garden-variety family-hauling/commuting sport-utilities in their drives.
With base prices of $27,240 for the two-wheel-drive model and $29,240 for the all-wheel-drive version, the Mountaineer is not for the budget-minded. The striking red test vehicle totaled $32,720, meaning it would have qualified for a smidgen of luxury tax were it not for the exemption granted trucks.And the four-door Mountaineer is classified as a truck, because - like its sibling Ford Explorer - it's built on Ford's Ranger pickup platform (the new, full- size Ford Expedition sport-utility is based on the F-150 pickup platform). That means the Mountaineer has a chassis that's tough and tested.
Ditto for the only engine offered, the proven 5.0-liter V-8 that makes 210 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and a whopping 280 pounds-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. It's not easy on fuel - EPA figures are 14 miles per gallon in the city and 18 on the highway - but the 5.0 has a towing potential in the 6,500-pound range and respectable acceleration.
Visually, the Mountaineer benefits from a Mercury grille, running boards and upper-body blackout trim. Its gray lower- body cladding might be more striking in black, but that's a personal opinion, as is the aesthetic/-utility value of the black, aerodynamic roof rack.
But get inside the Mountaineer - a move facilitated by the running boards and big door openings - and it's easy to relish its standard features, many of which are optional on the Explorer. Comfortable front bucket seats and split fold-down rear seats make five-passenger travel realistic and four-person outings ideal.
Full white-on-black analog instrumentation that turns a pleasant off-green at night, nicely placed major controls and large, easily worked stereo/AC switches add to driveability. Sound/AC switches on the rear of the center console are an easily appreciated bonus.
Headroom and legroom are generous, and the 42.6 cubic feet of cargo room can be doubled by folding the rear seats. Interior space is enhanced by the underbody spare-tire mounting, but removing it and finding the tools to make a change is a major operation.
The ride, both on and off pavement, is good, with negligible body roll and a suspension that absorbs bumps. The all-wheel-drive system doesn't have the low range that the Explorer offers, and its ground clearance (6.7 inches) is between that of most cars and serious sport-utilities, so it doesn't encourage off-roading.
For other use, however, the Mountaineer easily goes where most Explorers and other family-oriented sport-utilities travel - and it also ventures into envy-instilling territory.
Test vehicle: 1997 Mercury Mountaineer four-door, all-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle
Price as tested: $32,720 (includes discounts not always available)
Safety features: dual air bags, power anti-lock disc brakes, side-guard beams, height-adjustable front shoulder belts
Drivetrain: 5.0 liter V-8 engine (210 horsepower), four-speed automatic overdrive transmission with overdrive lockout