1998 Mercury Villager Review
1998 Mercury Villager Review
View more photos
Used Villager for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Attractive and car-like, the Mercury Villager has the benefit of being built on the same assembly line as the Nissan Quest.
Cons
- Underpowered. New model is due out next year with a driver's side sliding door.
What’s new
No changes to the 1998 Villager as Mercury readies a replacement.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1998 Mercury Villager Nautica 3dr Minivan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Kansas.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Kansas
$214/mo for Villager Nautica
Villager Nautica
vs
$164/mo
Avg. Compact Minivan
Vehicle overview
Mercury entered the minivan market in 1993 as part of a joint venture with Nissan. Designed in California and built at the same factory in Ohio, Mercury Villagers and Nissan Quests share plenty of sleek styling touches and on-the-road traits. Four Villager models grace showrooms: GS and LS wagons, a glitzy Nautica edition (attractively trimmed to remind occupants of the sea - or overpriced clothing, depending on your orientation), plus a lower-cost cargo van.
Car-like characteristics were a priority when the Villager and Quest were created, and the result is impressive. Even though you're sitting taller than in a passenger car, behind a rather high steering wheel, it's easy enough to forget that this is a minivan. The driver's seat is supportive and comfortable, and there's plenty of space up front. Standard gauges are small but easy to read (optional digital instruments are not). You get fairly nimble handling, plus a smooth, quiet ride from the absorbent suspension. Only one powertrain is available--Nissan's 151-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 hooked to a four-speed automatic transmission--but that's a smoothie, too.
Four-wheel antilock braking is standard on the LS and Nautica models; optional on the GS. Villagers offer ample space for five, and many are fitted to seat seven, in a flexible interior configuration. The far rear seat on seven-passenger models slides forward and back on a set of tracks, and center seats lift out. Be warned, though: those "removable" seats aren't lightweights. A full load of storage bins and cubbyholes augment the Villager's practical appeal.
Villager blends comfort and convenience into one tidy package, and while we have been cheerleaders for this van in the past, it doesn't look like a smart buy when compared to what next year's Villager promises to be. If a driver's side sliding door and more refinement are on your list, you should definitely wait.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1998 Mercury Villager.
5 star(57%)
4 star(37%)
3 star(1%)
2 star(1%)
1 star(4%)
54 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.63 out of 5 stars
Good Roomy Van
Leo, 03/17/2010
1998 Mercury Villager GS 3dr Minivan
I've owned this van for about 3 months. No problems so far except the door locks only seem to work when they want to. It has 105,000 miles and all I've heard is good things on this site. The later models 2000 and above seemed to be getting dogged by consumer reports. What's up with that? I wonder what they changed.
4.75 out of 5 stars
Use and Abuse
salserourbano, 10/12/2011
1998 Mercury Villager Nautica 3dr Minivan
Wow, this is a real awesome minivan. my ex-girlfriend 2 years ago put water in to the oil, and she filled totally the engine until the measure stick did pop out due to the immense pressure. By that time it has 140,000 miles. After 8 oil changes and a complete labor to remove the water, the van stills running with no problems. Today it just pass the 180,000 miles, still have the original … rear brakes, and the air conditioning that freezes anyone. It seems that the power locks are definitively one common issue in this vehicle, mine are sometimes crazy, the car locks without touching it. This was a unavoidable gift from a friend that left the country, and it was definitively a bless.
4.75 out of 5 stars
Over 315,000 km...and still going!
ashalicious, 09/13/2012
1998 Mercury Villager GS 3dr Minivan
The body is starting to rust away so I imagine the body will be gone before the engine gives out.
My parents bought this van used and then gave it to me in 2009 and it has been a huge help with commuting to work/school and moving furniture etc. I honestly cannot believe that it's still running! Just recently the freaky power lock problem started, but it's just a little quirk of an … overall great vehicle!
4.25 out of 5 stars
Mercury minivan
Familyguy, 02/27/2010
1998 Mercury Villager LS 3dr Minivan
I got this van in 99' with about 10,000 miles, 11 years later and 180,000 more miles still runs and drives like a champ. Only major issue was steering arm which warranty covered. This has been the best minivan Ive ever owned. By the way I still drive it everyday.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1998 Mercury Villager, so we've included reviews for other years of the Villager since its last redesign.
1998 Villager Highlights
Nautica
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $214/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 10.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalMarginal
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
Consider these recommendations
Related Used 1998 Mercury Villager info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Volvo V60 2017
- Used Audi TTS 2018
- Used Aston Martin DB7 2010
- Used Mazda MX-5 Miata 2011
- Used Volkswagen Jetta 2013
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2024
- 2024 Porsche 911
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- V90 Cross Country Wagon
- 2024 Hyundai Sonata
- Audi A6 2023
- 2023 BMW 3 Series
- Solterra Subaru
- 2023 Volkswagen GLI
- Jaguar I Pace
Other models
- New Mitsubishi Mirage-G4 for Sale in Brevard, NC
- Used Bentley Continental-Flying-Spur in Camarillo, CA
- Used Toyota Crown in Covington, KY
- Used Mercedes-Benz Slk-Class in League City, TX
- Used GMC Yukon-Hybrid in Miamisburg, OH
- Used Lexus Is-300 in Union, NJ
- Used Ford Focus-St in West Roxbury, MA
- Used Pontiac Vibe in Rosenberg, TX
- Used Cadillac CT4 in Duluth, GA
- New Mazda CX-90 for Sale in Berlin, CT