The 2009 Mountaineer, considered a more stylish twin of the Ford Explorer, is a mid-sized SUV that can tow up to 6,960 pounds, almost double what most crossover SUVs can handle. It sports a 4-wheel independent suspension that performs exceptionally well on the highway and in the city. The Mountaineer stands out visually for its satin-aluminum finishes, distinctive Mercury waterfall grille in front and stylish interior trim. It earned the top rating of "Good" in frontal offset crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It also earned numerous five of five stars for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
