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Mercury Mountaineer.

Been there.

Done that.

The ’97 Mountaineer is a thinly disguised version of the ’96 Ford Explorer.

Ford’s Lincoln-Mercury division complained that without a sport-ute, it probably lost 35,000 sales last year. Consumers on the automotive fashion front were heading, instead, to rivals’ showrooms to drive off with four-wheel-drive sport-utilities without the Mercury logo.

So starting May 23, Lincoln-Mercury officials will get their wish–a luxury sport-ute to call their own, though they simply are changing the Explorer’s name to Mountaineer.

To rush Mountaineer to market, the folks at Lincoln-Mercury performed minimum surgery on Explorer–unique grille, wheels, bodyside moldings, rear bumper and seat logo. No anesthesia needed.

And although the 5-liter V-8, four-speed automatic, luggage rack, leather-wrapped steering wheel, running boards and fog lamps that are optional on Explorer, Mercury made them standard on Mountaineer.

While Mountaineer lacks distinction and individuality and will beg the question “Is that a Ford or a Mercury?” Ford benefits from the heritage in one important respect–Explorer is the best-selling sport-utility in the country.

It whips the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Blazer. If you are going to borrow from the gene pool, might as well reach for the top-shelf.

That means Mountaineer is very enjoyable. It is available in two-wheel and full-time all-wheel-drive. We tested Mountaineer in AWD.

This is a roomy, comfortable, well-equipped vehicle with ample room to store people and their possessions. There’s a coin holder, map holder, dual cupholders and even a tissue holder should you miss the cupholders.

There are dual air bags (one more than Blazer) and four-wheel anti-lock brakes and, with full-time all-wheel-drive, there’s no transfer lever to dial or twist to engage allfour wheels.

The rear hatch lid opens as one piece or you can pop open the window separately to load packages or groceries in back.

And there’s Ford’s powerful 5-liter V-8 under the hood, an engine that ensures you move briskly from the stoplight and can tow whatever load you can’t fit in the cargo hold.

Of course, that’s the same V-8 used in Explorer, which means it has enough power to pass anything on the road except a filling station. The government rates the 5-liter and 4-speed automatic at a most-generous if not-quite-realistic 14 miles per gallon city/18 m.p.g. highway. Despite a 21-gallon tank you’ll spend lots of time at the pump.

Ford’s more technologically advanced and more fuel-efficient 4.6-liter V-8 eventually will be housed in Mountaineer and Explorer, but the haste to rush a V-8 into the Ford SUVs and the fact that the 4.6 is needed for an assortment of Ford vehicles prompted use of the 5-liter.

Mercury has yet to pric e the Mountaineer. In January, when the vehicle was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, then Lincoln-Mercury general manager Keith Magee hinted at a sticker less than $30,000.

The most expensive Explorer 4 x 4 is the Limited, starting at $35,275.It would be difficult to imagine Mountaineer underpricing Explorer without forcing buyers to vacate Ford showrooms for Mercury stores, especially when a handful of Explorer options are standard on Mountaineer.

And, as Ford is wont to do, regardless of base price there will be a host of options for Mountaineer–floor mats, power bucket seats with lumbar support, overhead console, leather seats, cargo cover, power moonroof, compact-disc player, rear seat heater/audio controls, overhead storage console, trailer-towing package, heated mirrors, engine block heater and keyless entry to swell the out-the-door price.

Standard equipment includes power brakes and steering, power door locks and windows (with one-to ch down for the driver’s side), power mirrors, 15-inch all-terrain tires, solar tinted glass, rear window washer/wiper/defroster, air conditioning, accessory power plug under the dash, AM/FM stereo with cassette and digital clock, speed control, visor vanity mirrors, tilt wheel and gas-charged shocks.

A couple of appreciated features include split fold-down rear seats to allow even more cargo inside and a power door-lock button inside the rear hatch so you can lock all vehicle doors after removing groceries without having to walk upfront to push a button. Nice touch.

One gripe (other than fuel economy) is the petite rearview mirror that leaves you with limited rear vision.

Lincoln-Mercury said it cloned Explorer to have an entry in the industry’s hottest sales segment. Only 13 years ago SUVs sold a combined 40,000 units in the U.S. By 1990 SUV sales reached 750,000 units and SUVs accounted for 5 percent of the total vehicle market. In 1995, SUV sales totaled 1.5 million units or 10 percent of all vehicle sales.

Lincoln-Mercury expects to sell about 30,000 to 35,000 Mountaineers.

We last tested Lincoln-Mercury division’s all-wheel-drive version of the Ford Explorer (Cartalk, April 14) in late spring when roads were clear. It was a more welcome sight in the drive after a few inches of snow had fallen.

All-wheel-drive will keep you going when the others around you aren’t?providing you don’t do 85 m.p.h. when those about you are doing 45 m.p.h. because AWD doesn’t defy the laws of physics.

Unlike Explorer, offered in 4×2 or 4×4 versions, Mountaineer (nice name) comes in 4×2 or in full-time all-wheel-drive, which eliminates pushing a button or fiddling with a transfer case to engage all four wheels. With AWD, power is transferred to the slipping wheels to give them needed traction.

Nice system for a nice vehicle that comes with only a 5-liter, 210-h.p. V-8 for maximum power when passing or towing the boat or snowmobiles.

The AWD and V-8 combination also means 14 m.p.g. city/18 m.p.g.highway fuel economy. Of course, if you can afford the $29,240 base price, the stops at the pump shouldn’t sting as much.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Mountaineer keeps the V-8 and Explorer relies on the new 4-liter, single-overhead cam V-6 as its top engine to further separate the cousin sport-utes distinguished from each other by only a grille and name badge.

>> 1997 Mercury Mountaineer Wheelbase: 111.5 inches Length: 188.5 inches Engine: 5-liter, 210-h.p., V-8 Transmission: 4-speed automatic EPA mileage: 14 m.p.g.city/18 m.p.g. highway Base price: Not available; goes on sale May 23 Price as tested: Not available Pluses: A version of Ford Explorer, the industry’s best-selling SUV. Dual air bags and ABS standard, ful l-time all-wheel-drive optional. Holds a load of people and their goodies and, with V-8, can tow behind what doesn’t fit inside. Minuses: A version of the Ford Explorer for what is expected to be more money. If you have any money left after the purchase, you’ll spend it on gas to keep the tank full. >>