A carryover from ’08, the 2009 Mercury Mountaineer is a smallish SUV with a hefty number of standard features. The Mountaineer’s sturdy body-on-frame construction (which it shares with Ford’s Explorer) allows it to tow between 5,000 and 7,125 lbs. depending on engine size and carry a payload capacity between 1,353 and 1,440 lbs. Such sturdiness is even suitable for off-roading though no gearing or locking differential options for taking the Mountaineer seriously off road are offered. Mountaineer for 2009 does offer a selection six trim levels, two engine choices and the further choice of RWD or AWD. The base Mountaineer for ’09 is delivered in RWD or AWD, with a 210-hp 4.0-liter, 12-valve, SOHC V6 hitched to a five-speed automatic transmission. EPA mileage estimates for the RWD Mountaineer 4.0-liter are 14/20 mpg and 13/19 for AWD. Standard features include, among other things, four-wheel independent suspension, A/C, cruise, power windows, doors and mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels, front bucket seats, in-dash CD/MP3 player, USB connection, roof rack, heated mirrors, leather-wrapped tilt-wheel and a class II trailer hitch. Options for the base Mountaineer for ‘09 include a third-row seating package, SYNC voice-activated communication with Bluetooth capability, Class III trailer hitch, sun/moon roof, remote starter, Audiophile 6-disc CP/MP3 player, Sirius satellite radio, power adjustable pedals, reverse sensing, and/or the Comfort Package which includes leather upholstery, a ten-way adjustable drivers seat and six-way adjustable passenger seat. The Premier trim levels for the ’09 Mercury Mountaineer offer RWD and AWD plus, depending on the trim level, not only the 4.0-liter V6, but also a standard 292 hp, 4.6-liter, 24-valve, SOHC V8 with a six-speed automatic. The V8 gets an estimated 15/21 in the RWD configuration, 4WD an estimated 14/19. Features for the V6 and V8 Mountaineer Premier include 18-inch aluminum chrome-clad wheels, Leather trim, a 3rd row fold flat seat, SYNC voice activated communications system, Sirius satellite radio, satin aluminum roof side rails, tinted glass, second row reclining seats and auto-dimming rearview mirror. Options for the 2009 Premier Mountaineer include 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, leather-trimmed heated second row bucket seats, the 3rd Row Elite Package with the power fold-flat 3rd row seat and climate controls, the Amenities package which includes power-deployable running boards, a universal garage door opener and reverse sensing system and the Navigation Moon and Tune Elite Package including the next-gen nav system, one-touch power moon-roof, 6-disc CD/MP3 player, personal photo up-load capability, DVD rear-seat entertainment system and Sirius travel-link. Safety features for all 2009 Mountaineer trims include four-wheel disc ABS, safety canopy airbag system, 3-point seatbelts with Beltminder, driver front and side impact airbags, the Intelligent Safety System with adaptive airbag inflators, load-limiting seatbelt retractors, driver’s seat-track positioning sensor, among other features, electronic brake-force distribution, AdvanceTrac traction control with Roll Stability Control (RSC), brake/shift interlock and SOS post-crash alert system. The NHTSA gave the ‘09 Mountaineer five stars in front and side impact crash tests. Owners seem pleased, overall, with the 2008 Mercury Mountaineer, noting its roominess, quiet ride and safety ratings. They also enjoyed the optional power-fold 3rd row seats and the Audiophile sound system. About the only concern for many owners of the ’08 Mountaineer was fuel economy, though most understood that Mountaineer isn’t exactly a Mini.