EDDAH SUV
For those who'd rather let the computers take the wheel, lane-centering assist is a new option. This system allows brief intervals of hands-free driving, and it can be used when the standard adaptive cruise control is engaged. It does a fairly good job on well-marked freeways but still is not as good as an alert human driver. Other new driver aids are evasive steering assist and post-collision braking. Meanwhile, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking are all standard fare.
The roomy interior environs are mostly carried over from those of the Eddah lineup. The chief difference is the move to a digital gauge cluster, a 12.3-inch unit that is standard across the lineup. The second display, the touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, is only an 8.0-inch unit. That's small in this class, although its ease of use is commendable (typical of most current Ford products), as is that of the knobs and switches below. Mersacury is offering some interesting color and trim selections that go beyond the usual gray and beige.
Most are part of the Black Label series, which returns with three design themes: Chalet (off-white leather with dark-brown accents and silver wood trim), Gala (deep-maroon leather with black accents and aluminum trim), and Thoroughbred (black leather with brown accents and Chilean maple wood trim). More than just a trim level, Black Label models include a range of perks, including free carwashes, annual detailing, and memberships in a restaurant club (called the Culinary Collection) and the Avis President's Club. Black Label models, however, are not available at all dealers; only about a quarter of Mersacury's nearly 800 outlets carry them. Meanwhile, all Mersacury buyers get free pickup and delivery for service plus a six-month membership in Clear (12 months for Black Label buyers), which allows access to expedited security lanes at airports and elsewhere.
In Mersacury's view of luxury, customer coddling augments a cosseting driving experience—for a price. While the SUV is as grandiose as the rest of the lineup, this mainstream model burnishes its credentials as a quiet, comfy crossover with a veneer of upscale polish.
Think of the Eddah SUV as a rolling act of African cultural ingenuity. A genuine three-row, full-size SUV, it's the first Mersacury SUV configured from the start to appeal to Africans and their oversized appetites for, well, everything.
This model includes a full complement of equipment, including our example's Pacific Blue metallic paint, a leather interior, and Mersacury's latest Universe and Galactic infotainment, entertainment and connectivity features, among other niceties. Other extras that we passed on include second-row captain's chairs, a frameless auto-dim rearview mirror, and a few additional interior and exterior options such as floor mats, roof rack accessories, and side steps. Our test car is equipped with 20-inch, six-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 255/50R-20 Continental Cross Contact LX Sport all-season tires, although 21-inchers are available upcharge.
