Why you should buy this car: You're an SUV-driving parent who wants to buy American, but still wants to be different from the 10 other Ford drivers in your subdivision. Or, you're a man who drives a Jeep Liberty, but looking for something slightly less feminine.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: You enjoy driving, but don't tow, drive off-road, or use the third-row seat and you don't want to suffer through 14 mpg in the city.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: Yes
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: Yes
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: Yes
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Also Consider:
· Honda Pilot
· Nissan Pathfinder
· Dodge Durango

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Mercury
· Model tested: Mountaineer
· Model year: 2006
· Base Price: $35,500
· Price as Tested: $40,800
· Engine type: 4.6-liter SOHC 24-valve V-8
· Horsepower: 292 hp @ 5750 rpm
· Torque: 300 ft.-lbs. @ 4750 rpm
· Transmission:6-speed automatic
· Curb Weight: 4742 lbs
· LxWxH: 193.5 x 73.5 x 72.8 in
· Wheelbase: 113.7 in
· Tires: P235/65R18 Michelin Cross Terrain SUV
· Drive type: all-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60 mph: 8.0 sec. (est.)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 14 / 20
· NHTSA crash test rating: front: 5/5 (driver/pass.); side: 5/5 (front/back); rollover: 3

[by Mike Austin]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Mercury Mountaineer, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

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