2007 Mercury Mountaineer Safety Review [ 2008 ]
Mercury Mountaineer Safety Review
Safety - 8.5 (Very Good)
The Mountaineer earned a top score of 5 stars out of 5 for both front and side crash tests from the government, and a top rating of "good" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in frontal offset crash tests.
The 2007 Mercury Mountaineer has "an impressive array of safety features," as Kelley Blue Book and others discover, especially considering the addition of safety canopy side curtain airbags as a standard feature on all models this year.
Accident Avoidance
Standard on all 2007 Mercury Mountaineers are power assisted, four-wheel disc, anti-lock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system and automatic headlamps that light up when the sun goes down. This year, the Mountaineer also includes a heated windshield to improve visibility, but Kelley Blue Book unfortunately learns that this optional feature cannot be ordered if you opt for a navigation system.
Although the heated windshield is a step forward in visibility, a number of reviewers still have issues with rear visibility. The Detroit News is disappointed that "rear headrests can really block your view when backing up, making it difficult to back out of a driveway or a crowded parking lot," and Forbes notes that the visibility is "exacerbated by tinted windows and third-row seats."
Crash Protection
NHTSA gives the Mountaineer a perfect score for its front and side crash tests, and determines the SUV has a 23 percent chance of rollover in an accident, resulting in a three out of five star rollover rating. Meanwhile, in private tests conducted by the IIHS, the Mountaineer receives a "good" rating for frontal offset crash tests. Side crash tests were not administered.
These scores were achieved thanks to the 2007 Mercury Mountaineer's front and side airbags, including the oft-mentioned safety canopy airbags that "offer great protection to the vehicle's occupants in the event of a rollover," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram predicts. Three-point seatbelts and the LATCH system help secure passengers in their seats.
Advanced Safety Systems
The Mountaineer also has a handful of advanced safety systems designed to provide further protection and assurance, such as reverse parking sensors for the Premier trims. However, auto writers frequently allude to the AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control, which became a standard feature on all Mountaineers this year. This system uses a gyro sensor for calculating the SUV's roll speed and angle, then applies braking and engine controls as necessary to help the driver regain control. Edmunds finds this system a bit overzealous, and complains that "it seems to come on prematurely, and there's no way to shut it down."
