Mercury Mountaineer | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Mercury (Ford) |
Production | 1996–2010 |
Model years | 1997–2010 |
Assembly | Louisville, Kentucky St. Louis, Missouri |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Mid-size SUV |
Body style | 5-door SUV |
Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Ford Explorer Limited |
The Mercury Mountaineer is a mid-size luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was sold by Mercury from 1996 until 2010. Sharing many of its features with the Ford Explorer, the vehicles were virtually identical in terms of hardware.[1] Externally, they were styled somewhat differently, and the Mountaineer was positioned with a more upscale interior, with the Mountaineer's MSRP coming in at $1,000–$6,000 more than the Explorer.[2] It was last redesigned for the 2006 model year with a new frame, looking very similar to its previous model.
Some controversy resulted after the media highlighted a number of rollovers involving Explorers and Mountaineers fitted with Firestone tires. The Mountaineer has been praised for its excellent handling and stability.[3] The Mountaineer was never sold in Canada.[citation needed] As part of the discontinuation of the Mercury brand, production of the Mountaineer ended in late 2010.[4]