2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer?
Several minor changes are in store for the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer. Choosing the mid-level Luxury or top-of-the-line Premier paves the way to option the Mountaineer with bucket seats for your second-row passengers, and a tire pressure monitoring system comes standard. Additionally, a six-disc in-dash CD changer is now standard for Luxury models. The entry-level Convenience model receives a standard CD player and the option of adjustable pedals. AdvanceTrac stability control is now offered for 2WD models. Finally, two new exterior colors and one new interior color debut.

Advantages of the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer:

• Segment leading blend of comfort, utility and luxury
• Available rollover protection system
• Great crash test scores

Objections to the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer:

• Inexpensive bits of interior trim
• No navigation system option
• With seats folded, cargo floor isn’t flat

Editor's Advice:
Essentially a dressed-up version of its twin, the Ford Explorer, the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer is one of the most talented midsize SUVs around. It handles nicely on the road and off, although compared to the Explorer the Mountaineer is geared toward highway driving with its softer suspension tuning and less aggressive all-wheel-drive system. Both of the available engines, the 4.0-liter V6 that produces 210 horsepower and the 4.6-liter V8 responsible for 239 horses (and a tow rating of 6,980 pounds), offer plentiful power and smooth operation. The 2004 Mercury Mountaineer is chock-full of standard and optional accoutrements that contemporary families deem necessary, such as a reverse parking sensor, a rear entertainment system and standard third-row seats. The very real threat of rollover accidents is addressed with an available Safety Canopy system that incorporates side curtain airbags and a rollover protection system, and the Mountaineer received great results in crash tests. No serious SUV shopping trip is complete without a run to your Mercury dealer to check out the 2004 Mountaineer.