2007 Mercury Mountaineer Premier AWD V8 Test Drive and Review

On the heels of Ford's recent announcement that margins have squeezed by intense competition and shifting consumer tastes away from profitable SUVs, I recently drove the 2007 Mercury Mountaineer Premier AWD V8.

I wanted to fall in love -- I really did want to fall in love. I couldn't.

I've always been fairly offended by rebadging -- manufacturers changing the name of a car model and little else and trying to pass it off as a unique vehicle. It has always struck me as lazy, though I know it must have a very good business basis. I'll never forget how outraged I was when I realized that the Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro were basically the same vehicle. I felt betrayed, my loyalty to Chevy turned against me somehow. I never fully recovered.

Now I come up against Mountaineer -- a blatant attempt to pacify Lincoln Mercury dealers. I know that my sense of outrage is misplaced, but I had a hard time giving Mountaineer a fair shake.

What do you think? Does rebadging offend your delicate sensibilities like it does mine? Click on "comments" below and share your thoughts.

Photo © Jason Fogelson