2008 Mercury Mountaineer Base AWD Automatic Sport Utility

Model Highlights

The 2008 Mercury Mountaineer comes in two models, Mountaineer and Mountaineer Premier. The base Mountaineer comes with a 210-horsepower, 4.0L V6, while the Premier can be specified with either the V6 or a 292-horsepower, 4.6L V8 with variable cam timing. The V6 comes with a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V8 gets a six-speed automatic. Both the base model and Premier can be configured with either a rear-wheel or road-oriented all-wheel-drive system. Maximum towing capacity for the AWD V8 approaches an impressive 6,900. The Mountaineer is mechanically similar to the Ford Explorer, but it has a very different look inside and out, thanks to satin-aluminum finishes, along with the distinctive Mercury waterfall grille in front and more elegant interior trim. The base model comes with two rows of seating, while the Premier has three-row seating standard. A 60/40-split, flat-folding second-row bench seat is standard on the Mountaineer, but the Premier model also has an upgraded version with reclining seatbacks for access to the third row. Second-row bucket seats with a center console are available across the range. And on Premier models, power-folding seatbacks are optional and allow the third row to fold completely flat with the touch of a button. AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, a stability control system 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 bags covering first- and second-row outboard occupants. The base Mountaineer comes quite well equipped, including 17-inch machined aluminum wheels, fog lamps, heated power mirrors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with secondary controls. Standard equipment on Premier models includes 18-inch satin chrome aluminum wheels, leather upholstery, seven-passenger seating, and the SYNC voice-activated phone and media system. Notable options include an audiophile seven-speaker sound system with six-disc changer and subwoofer, a DVD-based navigation system, power-deploying running boards that automatically retract out of view, a heated windshield that helps reduce defrost times, a power moonroof, and Sirius satellite radio.