lineup in 2011, after having sold the brand successfully for more than 70 years. One of their last vehicles, produced in 2010, was the Mercury Mountaineer, a higher-end version of the Ford Explorer.

Having aged nearly 10 years, and lacking the features of modern SUVs and crossovers, is the Mercury Mountaineer worth purchasing?

Mercury Mountaineer fans should opt for the V8

Anyone looking to purchase the Mercury Mountaineer shouldn’t have fuel economy at the top of their list.

MotorTrend

explains that The Mountaineer offers two engine options: A V6 and a V8, both of which offer 19 mpg on the highway. Between the two, opt for the pulling power and higher horsepower of the V8—this means more bang for your buck, while you also are able to do more with your SUV.

Some of the V8 Mercury Mountaineer’s standout specifications include 292 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque, and a 7,040 lb towing capacity. It can also comfortably seat 7 passengers while still having 85.8 cubic-feet of cargo space. The Mountaineer also comes with standard roll stability control and trailer sway control systems.

Along with the V8 trim option, Mercury Mountaineer fans should hunt for the AWD option, adding on more to their vehicle’s resale value and increasing its usability. Those who enjoy the Sync system offered in other Ford models will miss out—Sync was never received by any Mercury models before the brand’s discontinuation in 2011.

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Is it worth buying a used Mercury Mountaineer?

MORE: 4 of the Best Mercury Car Models

At a time when gas prices are hitting all-new highs while used and new vehicles are continuing to experience inflation as well, good deals are few and far between. If fuel economy is a major concern, then no, the Mercury Mountaineer will not be a good choice. But those who want a moderately luxurious, AWD V8 vehicle with decent mileage may find a model that fits their budget and lifestyle.

As a final deciding factor, MotorTrend also described the 2010 Mountaineer as the “Joan Rivers of SUVs”—but we’ll let you decipher exactly what they mean by that. Despite the hard knocks that the Mercury Mountaineer receives, this aging SUV does offer an impressive towing capacity, and a stocky, pickup truck–style suspension that, while unforgiving on passengers, offers a road-climbing ability that lives up to the SUV’s lofty name.

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MORE: 4 Car Models That Made Consumers Avoid Mercury

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