This is an easy vehicle to operate and live with. It takes only a couple of rides to find all the controls quickly and easily. Switches, buttons and levers are large, well marked and easy to use. The center console is generous, with lots of storage space, and houses ventilation and storage for second-row passengers as well as an extra 12-volt socket for whatever you need to power.
The front bucket seats are good, long, thick and comfortable, but relatively flat, with no side bolstering. That makes them easier to slide into, but less supportive in corners. The eight-way adjustable power driver's seat is optional. The seat heaters that come on Luxury and Premier models warm the seats quickly, but the buttons are mounted on the side of the seat and can be difficult to find and distinguish from the seat-adjustment switches; fortunately, an indicator on the dash shows when the seat heaters are on.
Third-row seats are cramped for adults, but the second row is accommodating. On 2005 Mountaineers, the outboard seats on the 40/20/40 split second row recline, addressing comfort issues for taller back-seat passengers. Second-row bucket seats are available on Luxury and Premier.
The second- and third-row seats are easy to fold away, which creates an 81.4 cubic-foot cargo bay. We found the seats to be easy to restore to their upright and locked positions.
The optional rear-seat entertainment system includes an overhead DVD player with a pull-down seven-inch color screen; the system comes with two wireless headphones, remote control and a universal jack.
