1993-1998 Mercury Villager: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
1998 Mercury Villager
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1993-1998 Mercury Villager ▼
- Price Range: $700 - $2,300
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1993-1998 Mercury Villager and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Steering/handling
- Passenger room (front)
Cons
- Wind noise
- Control layout
Vehicle Highlights
In 1993 Mercury joined the ever-growing minivan market with an all-new front-drive model called Villager. Nearly identical to the also-new Nissan Quest, Villager was similar in wheelbase to the popular Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Available in GS and LS trim, the Villager was propelled by a 151-horsepower, 3.0-liter Nissan V6, coupled to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel antilock brakes were standard.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Mercury Villager LS Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 6 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 8 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 48 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1993-1998 Mercury Villager. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1993-1998 Mercury Villager.
Year to Year Changes
1994 Mercury Villager:
For its sophomore season, the Villager gets a new driver-side airbag and the luxurious Nautica Special Edition. It gets a distinctive blue-and-white 2-tone paint scheme, yellow pinstripe, white alloy wheels, four captain's chairs with blue leather upholstery and white inserts, plus "Nautica" badging.
1995 Mercury Villager:
The Villager enters 1995 with no significant changes.
1996 Mercury Villager:
A revised dashboard held a passenger-side bag, and motorized shoulder belts are eliminated. The Villager also received a complete facelift, with new front and rear bumper fascias, side moldings, taillights and headlamps, plus a new chrome grille. The new dash and instrument panel feature easier access to all major controls and new audio systems that have larger buttons.
1997 Mercury Villager:
Previously optional on the LS model and standard on premium Nautica models, captain's chairs become an available option for the base GS model for 1997.
1998 Mercury Villager:
No changes were made to Villager as Mercury readied an all-new model for '99.
Our road test for the 1993-1998 Mercury Villager includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1993-1998 Mercury Villager and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1993-1998 Mercury Villager is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Although the 3.0-liter Nissan engine is adequate, it can't quite match the muscle provided by the larger V6s in the front-drive minivans from Ford, GM, and Chrysler. While engine and road noise are within a reasonable range, when the Villager reaches highway speeds the wind noise can become quite pronounced. A wide turning circle makes the Villager harder to maneuver in tight spots than most cars, but in most other situations the Villager feels remarkably carlike. When compared with other minivans, body lean is quite modest. The suspension is firm enough to minimize bouncing on wavy roads, and it absorbs most bumps without breaking a sweat. Front head room and leg room are both quite good, but only adequate for the middle- and rear-seat passengers. With all seats in their normal positions, the rear cargo area is quite small. Trying to improve the Villager's hauling capacity requires removing the truly cumbersome center seats. Stereo and climate controls are a stretch for the driver, and too small to operate easily.
Value for the Money
Compared with other minivans, the Villager has less interior room. It also lacks many of the standard features found on its rivals. Nevertheless it's a good choice if you need more than a midsize station wagon but don't require the interior space provided in one of the larger minivans.
Compared with other minivans, the Villager has less interior room. It also lacks many of the standard features found on its rivals. Nevertheless it's a good choice if you need more than a midsize station wagon but don't require the interior space provided in one of the larger minivans.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Mercury Villager LS Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 5 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 4 | |
| Interior Room | 6 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 8 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 48 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Mercury Villager includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Mercury Villager .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Blower motor:
Squeaking or chirping blower motors are the result of defective brush holders. (1993-94)
Crankshaft:
The crankshaft breaks behind the front pulley if the belts are overtightened. (1993-96)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $345 |
| Alternator | $420 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $555 |
| Brakes | $270 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $615 |
| Exhaust System | $265 |
| Radiator | $505 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $544 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $185 |
Our price chart for this generation Mercury Villager details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1998 | |||
| Villager | $2,400-3,200 | $1,700-2,300 | $500-600 |
| 1997 | |||
| Villager | $2,100-2,800 | $1,500-2,000 | $400-500 |
| 1996 | |||
| Villager | $1,800-2,400 | $1,200-1,600 | $300-400 |
| 1995 | |||
| Villager | $1,600-2,200 | $1,100-1,500 | $200-300 |
| 1994 | |||
| Villager | $1,400-2,000 | $900-1,300 | $200 |
| 1993 | |||
| Villager | $1,200-1,700 | $700-1,000 | $100-200 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Mercury Villager include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 3-door van | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 112.2 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 189.9 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.4 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 66.0 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3815 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 126.4 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 20.0 | |
| Seating Capacity | 7 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 39.4 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 39.9 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 39.7 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 34.8 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
A Nissan-supplied 3.0-liter V6 with a 4-speed automatic transmission serves as the only powertrain choice. It provides 151 horsepower at 4800 rpm and 174 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohc V6 | 3.0 / 181 | 151 | 174 | 4-speed automatic: 17/23 | 4-speed automatic: 19.7 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: USA
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Mercury Villager include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1998 Villager |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 4 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 3 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1993-1998 Mercury Villager directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1993:
Brake master cylinder on some vans was improperly assembled or could have been damaged during assembly, which can result in loss of braking at two wheels, causing increased pedal travel, higher pedal effort, and increased stopping distance.
1993:
Fuel-filler hoses may have been cut prior to installation by knife used to open shipping box; fuel leakage could result, leading to fire if exposed to ignition source.
1993:
Leaves and other foreign matter can enter through cowl-panel air intake during operation of front heater and/or air conditioner, resulting in buildup in the plenum that can lead to noise, odors, or even a vehicle fire.
1993:
One or both bolts securing automatic seatbelt-restraint system tracks to B-pillars were not adequately tightened on some vans, increasing risk of injury in the event of a collision or sudden maneuver.
1995 w/sliding third-row bench seats:
Cable that connects seat-adjustment level to latch might be pinched in roller assembly, preventing latch on left side from fully engaging seat rail.
1995:
Rear lamp will not illuminate if the metal socket moves or separates from the plastic socket housing. This can result in failure of the stop or rear running lamps.
1996:
Power windows can be closed after ignition key is turned to "off" position and right front door is opened.
1997:
Fuel-line hoses could crack or split, resulting in leakage.
1997-98 w/battery supplied by GNB Technologies:
Defective negative battery post can cause acid leakage and related corrosion damage; could lead to engine fire or battery explosion.
1998:
Cracks have developed in the vent hose, allowing a fuel leak.
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