Vehicle Type: 5-passenger mid-size sport utility vehicle

Base Price: $32,075

Engine: 5.0 litre , 8-cylinder, overhead-cam, 211 horsepower V-8

Transmission: 4-speed Automatic

Safety Features: dual air bags, four-wheel antilock brakes , fog lamps, large rear reflectors and available all-wheel drive (AWD).

Fuel Economy: 15 m.p.g. overall.

The 1997 Mercury Mountaineer represents Ford's Lincoln Mercury division's entree into the booming luxury Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) market. The Mountaineer is targeted to individuals who want the confidence and versatility of an SUV with the comfort and sophistication of a well-appointed sedan. Since its introduction in May 1996, the Mountaineer has demonstrated a strong appeal to women.

The Mountaineer is, in reality, a Ford Explorer. The Explorer is the best selling SUV in the U.S. market. The main difference is in the trim package and is distinguished by its Mercury grille, badging, running boards, standard two-tone paint scheme and color-keyed bodyside molding.

Even with all the interior comforts of a sedan, the Mountaineer is without question a truck. It is as big as a truck, rides like a truck and handles like a truck. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it is, in fact, a truck -- unlike GM's Oldsmobile Bravada, which is a truck that behaves like a passenger sedan. The Mountaineer's 4-wheel Antilock disc brakes are extremely good, the steering is responsive and it has an exceptional turning radius for a truck. The worse road conditions get, the better the Mountaineer handles.

Our Mountaineer was powered by Ford's 5.0 litre, V-8 engine which delivers 211 horsepower at 4600 rpms and a 4-speed automatic transmission. The truck accelerates well for a vehicle its size. The full-time all wheel drive system provides high- traction under all road conditions without the driver needing to switch into this mode. Under normal driving conditions, the transfer case delivers 65 percent of the engine's power to the rear axle and 35 percent to the front. When needed, the transfer case increases torque to either the front or rear axle for added traction. The system behaves like a traction control system , sending more power to the front wheels when it detects rear wheel slippage.

The Mountaineer's interior is quite comfortable. The dashboard features large, easy-to-read gauges. The buttons for the audio system and other controls are large enough to be operated by a gloved hand. The front captain's chairs were large and had leather surfaces. They were comfortable and provided good support. The driver's seat has a 6-way adjustable power seat. The rear split bench was short for an adult. Our passenger complained a bit, but it is no less comfortable than those found in most of Mountaineer's competition.

Visibility from the front seat was very good, but the view from the back was impaired by the tall and wide front captain's chairs. Raising the rear bench slightly would improve passenger visibility. Our Mountaineer was equipped with a premium stereo with good sound and a much appreciated, 6-disc CD changer. The only drawback was that there were no instructions for the changer in the owners manual leaving several features un-utilized. Rear passengers have there own controls for climate and the stereo. The cargo area is spacious.

The Mountaineer handles like a truck on the highway. But when you take it off-road, as we did, you can see why the Explorer and the Mountaineer are so popular. We drove the Mountaineer extensively at the Hungry Valley State Recreational Vehicle Park in Gorman, California. The truck had no trouble climbing any hill, crossing riverbeds or plowing through dunes. It felt stable at all times and provided all the power needed to meet the challenges we gave it. The Mountaineer navigated trails designed for much smaller SUVs and motorcycles nimbly. The Mountaineer could easily tow a sizable trailer to a campground for a weekend of off-roading, providing a fun family outing at any time.

If you want an SUV, with the luxury of sedan without compromising off-road performance, then the Mercury Mountaineer is a good choice. It will carry anything you can fit in it and tow what won't fit inside.