1996 Mercury Villager Review

The Mercury Villager comes as close in feel to a large car or station wagon as a minivan can get, thanks to its short wheelbase and user-friendly front-wheel-drive design.

But the 112.2-inch-wheelbase Villager, which is no larger than a big sedan, easily seats up to seven.

However, as with all short-wheelbase minivans, the Villager isn't big enough to simultaneously carry a large load with all seats upright and in place. And legroom is modest in the second and third seat areas.

There are no such problems with, for example, the 120.7-inch-wheelbase Ford Windstar minivan--although the Windstar isn't as nimble.

The Villager is nearly identical to the Nissan Quest and is made in the same Ohio plant. It comes as three models, with base prices ranging from $19,940 for the base GS to $26,390 for the top-line Nautica.

A real luxury job, the Nautica features four leather ``captain's chairs,'' a leather third seat, unique paint and grille, white alloy wheels and even a duffle bag.

Those who don't want to break the $20,000 barrier should be happy to know that the base GS is well equipped. Standard are anti-lock brakes, power steering, tilt steering column, reclining front bucket seats, AM/FM/cassette, tachometer, dual outside mirrors and a rear wiper/washer.

The mid-range, $24,300 Villager LS, which I recently tested, adds items such as front air conditioning and power windows, mirrors and locks.

Seats for five are standard in the GS, while seats for seven are standard for the LS and Nautica--and optional for the GS.

The Villager is low, so it is easy to get in and out. A sliding passenger side door facilitates entry in crowded parking lots and the big rear liftgate makes for easy cargo loading.

It's a struggle to remove the middle bucket seats, but once they're gone one can slide the rear seat forward on tracks all the way to the back of the driver's seat to make lots of room for cargo.

New for 1996 Villagers are dual air bags and new height-adjustable manual front seatbelts, which replace last year's annoying motorized shoulder belts.

The Villager also gets revised front/rear styling, with a regular chrome grille that replaces the traditional Mercury light-bar grille--and a handsome new dashboard that features a wraparound instrument panel.

The cosmetic revisions don't detract from the Villager's avant-garde styling, which makes it one of the prettiest minivans on the road.

The audio systems have larger controls--a good thing because the old controls were so tiny you practically needed tweezers to use them. A pair of child seats integrated into the middle bench seat is a new ($240) option. But the remote fuel filler door release has been deleted.

A 151-horsepower V-6, which is a variant of Nissan's Maxima sedan engine, is the only motor offered. The smooth, 3-liter engine is small for a minivan and calls for lots of revs to generate decent performance.

The Villager, which isn't meant for heavy-duty labor, performs well when lightly loaded during most conditions. But a driver will wish for a larger engine when the Villager contains a lot of people or cargo. One doesn't expect a minivan to be a hot rod, but the 0-to-60-m.p.h. time is a lazy 11.8 seconds, and the important 65-to-75-m.p.h. passing time is just so-so.

On the other hand, the quiet, refined, rigidly constructed Villager is a thoroughly relaxed highway cruiser, with only moderate wind and road noise.

Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 23 m.p.g. on the highway and 17 m.p.g. in the city with the standard, smooth-shifting four-speed automatic transmission.

Steering is responsive and communicative, but a wide turning circle can result in hard maneuvering in tight spots. The Villager's sharp handling makes it fun to drive even in the city, and an absorbent suspension results in an especially comfortable ride.

If a car or wagon won't do, and a bigger minivan is too bulky for you, the Villager should make an awful lot of sense.