A sophisticated all-wheel-drive system is available with either engine and differentiates the Mountaineer with the Ford Explorer. All-wheel drive contributes to the Mountaineer's handling characteristics because it sends torque to the front and rear tires during normal operation. The Mountaineer's system biases torque 35 percent to the front and 65 percent to the rear to minimize understeer. (Understeer is when the front tires slip before the rear tires, causing the vehicle to push toward the outside of a turn.) It relies on an open differential with a viscous coupling. A clutch pack distributes power between the front and rear wheels based on traction needs. There are no switches or levers the driver needs to operate. There's no low range for serious off-road driving, but the Mountaineer's system easily handles snow, rain, mud, wet leaves, ice, and gravel.
Mountaineer's rigid frame lets its fully independent suspension soak up bumps, potholes and tar strips. As a bonus, the independent rear suspension makes room for a bigger, flatter load floor and the third seat.
Body roll, or lean, is controlled well in fast corners. The all-wheel-drive system lets you hammer the throttle whenever you want without wheelspin, even in the middle of a turn. It's very stable and inspires confidence. Mountaineer's rack-and-pinion steering minimizes wandering on the highway.
Next Page