2002MercuryMountaineerMercury Mountaineer2002 Mercury Mountaineer AWDSport UtilityWagonAWDLouisville, KYMercury has overhauled their Mountaineer for model-year 2002 in an attempt to make it more car-like than ever before. Among the improvements are a 2.5-inch wider stance for improved handling and roominess, a new independent rear suspension that improves ride and handling, while at the same time accommodating a standard third row of seats, larger door openings with a lower step-in height, standard six-way power adjustable driver's seat and optional power adjustable pedals. With this year's redesign, Mercury is trying to further differentiate the Mountaineer from its look-alike cousin the Ford Explorer.Third-row seating, independent rear suspension, powerful engines, nice selection of convenience features, attractive new design inside and out.No Control Trac 4WD option, poor fuel economy with V8, dopey taillight protectors come standard.Mercury's Mountaineer debuted several years ago as an upscale version of the best-selling Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicle. The problem was, Ford's Explorer could be just as luxurious as the Mountaineer and, in some cases, was even more expensive. For 2002, Mercury has attempted to further distinguish their sport-ute from the popular Explorer. The result is a fine SUV, with improved handling characteristics and generous feature content. This near-luxury sport-ute comes with either a 4.0-liter V6 making 210 horsepower or a 4.6-liter V8 pumping out 240 ponies. Both engines come mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The new V8 offers copious and refined power delivery, but unimpressive mileage numbers. Mountaineer has been redesigned inside and out, and the results are pleasing. Now easily distinguishable from the Explorer from the A-pillars forward, its "New Edge" theme makes use of a satin-finish grille and bold headlamps. Meanwhile, the interior gets satin-aluminum trim accents, lending a distinctive, high-tech flavor to this former Explorer clone. Improvements to the Mountaineer are much more than cosmetic, however. An all-new independent rear suspension featuring a unique porthole-in-frame design debuts this year. This setup allows the rear floor to drop 7 inches - thereby making room for a third-row seat - while increasing ground clearance to 9.2 inches. At the same time, ride and handling have been dramatically improved. The Mountaineer now feels more stable on the road and exhibits flatter cornering characteristics. A 2.5-inch wider stance improves handling even more, while increasing interior room. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have also been improved in the 2002 Mountaineer. A 50-percent reduction of air leakage into the truck's cabin and a refined automatic transmission make for a more serene driving environment, although some vibration from the available all-wheel-drive system does intrude through the floor. New convenience features in the Mountaineer include a standard six-way power adjustable driver's seat, along with optional adjustable pedals, heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors. Among the Mountaineer's new safety features are optional side curtain airbags, a stiffer body shell and a lower front bumper for improved crash compatibility with other vehicles. Later in the model year, rollover protection sensors, and a new AdvanceTrac traction/stability control system will also be available. The Mountaineer's strengths lie in its feature content, powerful engine choices and improved rear suspension. There are plenty of SUVs on the market, but if you want an Explorer, yet can't stomach the thought of owning the golden retriever of sport-utility vehicles, the Mountaineer just might float your boat. Chevrolet BlazerDodge DurangoFord ExplorerJeep Cherokee336,000336,000336,0005UnlimitedNANANA64 litersV6210 hp @ 5250 rpm255 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm81 cu.ft.1450 lbs.7000 lbs.190.7 in.72.1 in.71.5 in.4410 lbs.113.7 in.36.7 ft.8.5 in.39.9 in.38.9 in.NANANANA43.9 in.37.2 in.7StandardStandardNot AvailableOptionalNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot Tested22.5 gal.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$28,018$30,6107.35%$600N/A3% of the Total MSRPBASE 2WD (5A): 4L V6 SOHC SMPI 12-valve engine; 5-speed electronic OD automatic transmission; 650-amp battery with rundown protection; 130-amp alternator; rear-wheel drive, 3.55 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; front independent suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, front torsion bar, HD front shocks, rear independent short & long arm suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs, HD rear shocks; rack-and-pinion, power-assisted steering; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes; 22.5 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; liftback rear cargo door; roof rack; front and rear colored bumpers with rear step bumper; colored bodyside cladding; clearcoat lower accent two-tone paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; driver's and passenger's power remote black folding outside mirrors; 16" x 7" machined alloy wheels; P245/70SR16 BSW A/S tires; full-size steel spare wheel; air conditioning, rear heat ducts; premium AM/FMstereo w/clock, seek-scan feature, cassette player, single-disc CD player, 4 speakers, fixed antenna; steering-wheel-mounted cruise control controls; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry, child-safety rear door locks; 2 power accessory outlets, retained accessory power; instrumentation display includes tachometer, oil pressure gauge, water temperature gauge, volt gauge, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, lights on, key in ignition; driver's and passenger's front airbags; ignition disable, panic alarm, security system; deep tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, flip-up rear window, fixed-interval rear wiper, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 7, front sports seats with adjustable headrests, center armrest with storage, driver's seat includes 14-way adjustment (6-way power), lumbar support, front passenger's seatincludes 4-way adjustment, lumbar support; 2nd-row 40/20/40 folding bench seat with adjustable headrests; 3rd-row bench seat; height-adjustable front and rear seatbelts with pretensioners; cloth seats, full cloth headliner, full color-keyed carpet floor covering with carpeted floor mats, deluxe sound insulation, aluminum dashboard insert, aluminum door panel insert; interior lights include dome light with fade, front and rear reading lights, door curb lights, illuminated entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt adjustment; vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, full overhead console with storage, glove box with light, front and rear cupholders, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo cover, cargo tie downs, cargo light, concealed cargo storage; chrome grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding and body-colored door handles.
BASE AWD (5A) (in addition to or instead of BASE 2WD (5A) equipment): Full-time all-wheel drive, 3.55 axle ratio; P245/70SR16 OWL A/S tires.