The 1997 Mercury Villager serves as a well-appointed minivan that offers carlike performance at a reasonable price. The company designed it alongside the Nissan Quest, which makes the two vehicles fairly similar. With a large, spacious interior, a large array of standard and optional features, and a smooth ride, the Mercury Villager makes an excellent passenger vehicle. The large interior also allows the Villager to haul more cargo than smaller family vehicles.
The seating is flexible, ranging from four to seven. Five-person seating tends to maximize the room for each passenger while providing a large amount of cargo space, but seven-person seating still feels comfortable. All of the seating options seem good, so buyers can easily pick and choose which works best for their needs.
With comfort, performance, and a reasonable price, the Mercury Villager makes a good choice to consider for any driver buying a family vehicle.
The Range
Body Styles: minivan
Engines: 3.0-liter six-cylinder
Transmissions: four-speed automatic
Models: Mercury Villager GS, Mercury Villager LS, Mercury Villager Nautica
What's New
The 1997 Mercury Villager adds a quad-Captain’s chair option to replace the middle bench, as well as rear-seat controls for the radio and air-conditioner.
Exterior
The Mercury Villager looks like a gracefully curved minivan. Unlike many other Mercury models, the front end looks attractive and does not have any odd design characteristics. Standard features for the 1997 Mercury Villager (except the GS) include power locks, power mirrors, and power windows. Alloy wheels, a camper towing package, and a power antenna comprise the list of optional features.
Interior
The Mercury Villager has a massive interior with three rows of seats. Standard features include a cassette player, steering wheel audio controls, and air-conditioning. Power seats, quad Captain’s chairs, digital readout, dual-zone air-conditioning, leather seating, cruise control, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, automatic climate control, and a CD player remain available as optional features. The 1997 Mercury Villager GS makes air-conditioning into an optional feature and does not offer the normal options list beyond cruise control.
Performance & Handling
Performance marks one of the high points of the 1997 Mercury Villager. Regardless of the model selection, the Villager avoids the major issues many minivans encounter. The three-liter, six-cylinder engine provides solid acceleration. The maneuverability and handling do not seem too far off from a car. The Villager does not perform quite as well as a sedan, but it seems close enough that switching to it from a smaller vehicle does not jar the driver.
Safety
The 1997 Mercury Villager comes equipped with dual front airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, and traction control.
EPA Fuel Economy
Mercury Villager: 16/21 mpg city/highway
You'll Like
- Solid value
- Sedan and wagon options
- Smooth ride
You Won't Like
- Lower price comes from making basic features into options
Sum Up
A solid value of comfort and performance.
If You Like This Vehicle
- Dodge Caravan
- Ford Windstar
- Nissan Quest