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.

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.

· Speed Merchants: No

· Fashion Victims:

· Treehuggers: No

· Mack Daddies:

· Tuner Crowd: No

· Hairdressers: No

· Penny Pinchers: No

· Euro Snobs: No

· Working Stiffs:

· Technogeeks: No

· Poseurs:

· Soccer Moms:

·

·

· Honda Pilot

· Nissan Pathfinder

· Dodge Durango

· 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, , [internal]

Exterior Design: **Sure, it's easy to pick on the Mountaineer, but that doesn't change the fact…