The Mercury Villager is a minivan that was marketed by Mercury from 1993 to 2002. Taking its name used by Mercury to denote its wood-trimmed station wagons, the Villager was developed in a joint venture between Ford and Nissan; the latter manufacturer marketed the line as the Nissan Quest. The first front-wheel drive van produced by Ford, the Mercury Villager was introduced between the Ford Aerostar and the Ford Windstar, competing against Chrysler minivans and the General Motors APV minivans.
Two generations of the model line were produced, with the Villager undergoing a full redesign for 1999. In a first for the minivan segment, the model line replaced a removable rear seat with a design that was repositionable (dependent on passenger or cargo use). The Villager was the last Mercury developed with the lightbar grille used by the brand.
The Villager was produced alongside the Nissan Quest by Ford at its Ohio Assembly facility (Avon Lake, Ohio) alongside the Ford Econoline/Club Wagon. After 2002, the Ford-Nissan joint venture ended, with both companies developing minivans on their own. Nissan released a new generation of the Quest, while the Villager was replaced entirely; for 2004, Mercury released a revived Monterey as its second minivan (a divisional counterpart of the Ford Freestar).
Background
Nameplate
Within Ford Motor Company, the Villager nameplate saw its first use for 1958, as the Edsel Villager debuted as the mid-range station wagon for its namesake brand. The only station wagon produced for all three model years of the Edsel brand, the Villager was offered with four doors and without exterior wood trim.
Following the demise of Edsel, the nameplate was adopted by Mercury, debuting it for 1962 for its compact Comet series. In what became a tradition for the brand, the Comet Villager was offered with simulated woodgrain trim. From 1962 to 1984, Mercury "Villager" station wagons were the counterpart of the Ford "Squire" trim, denoting wood-trim station wagons (excluding the full-size Mercury Colony Park). Following the 1962–1967 Comet Villager, Mercury used the Villager name for five further models, including the Montego (1970–1976), Bobcat (1975–1980), Cougar (1977 and 1982), Zephyr (1978–1981) and Lynx (1981–1984).
Following the introduction of the 1983 Marquis, Mercury replaced the Villager name for wood-trim station wagons with Brougham (the Mercury Sable that replaced it was never offered with the option).
Development
left|thumb|500x500px|Mercury Villager (red) and Nissan Quest (blue)
At the beginning of 1988, Ford and Nissan entered a joint venture to develop an all-new minivan sold by both automakers. Under the terms of the agreement, the development and engineering of the vehicles was done by Nissan (in the United States); the company also supplied the engine and transmission. Ford would manufacture the vehicles in its own facility, providing components for the vehicle.
| model_years = 1993–1998
| wheelbase =
Launched alongside the Nissan Quest in July 1992 as a 1993 model, the Mercury Villager was introduced at the 1992 Chicago Auto Show. Having forgone the minivan segment since the 1986 introduction of the Ford Aerostar, the 1993 Mercury Villager was the first Mercury since 1960 produced without a Ford (or Lincoln) counterpart. In 1993 and 1994, an independent Austrian importer called Sauber (no relation to the F1 team) brought in a small number of Villagers and sold them under their own name.
Chassis specification
The first-generation Villager uses the front-wheel drive Ford VX54 platform. While using a Ford codename, the platform is an evolution of the 1989-1994 Nissan Maxima (J30 chassis). Using a 112.2-inch wheelbase, the chassis shares nearly an identical wheelbase with a standard-wheelbase 1984-1995 Chrysler minivan (an inch longer than a short-wheelbase Chevrolet Astro).
The Villager uses MacPherson struts for the front suspension and leaf springs for the solid rear axle. The front brakes were vented discs with rear drums (Rear disc brakes were included on models equipped with the trailer towing package); anti-lock brakes were fitted as standard equipment. Ford requested the addition of an oil level sensor and the relocation of the oil filter assembly (for better access).
Body design
At 190 inches long, the first-generation Villager nearly matches the extended-length 1991–1995 Chrysler minivans in length. In contrast to the Aerostar, the Villager was produced solely as a passenger van and in a single body length. All versions were produced with single sliding door.
In line with the Mercury Sable and Mercury Topaz sedans, the Villager was distinguished from its Nissan Quest counterpart by its front lightbar grille.
While the exterior and interior of the vehicle was designed primarily by Nissan, many interior components were sourced from Ford. In line with the Aerostar, the Villager was equipped with optional rear-seat radio controls and air-conditioning vents. For 1996, multiple two-tone color schemes joined the blue/white exterior. Though retuned for a softer ride, the front MacPherson struts and a rear beam axle were also carried over. The front brakes were vented discs with rear drum brakes (4-wheel discs were dropped); the previously-standard anti-lock brakes were made optional.
Powertrain
The second-generation Villager again sourced its powertrain from Nissan, with its V6 enlarged to 3.3L (becoming the VG33E), producing 170hp;
For 2001, the front and rear fascias were revised; the Mercury emblem was centered and enlarged on the grille and liftgate (the foglamps were changed to round lenses). The instrument panel was redesigned (the electronic instrument panel returned as an option).
| 45,315
|-
| 2000
| 30,443
|-
| 2001
| 22,046
|-
| 2002
| 16,442
|}
Chinese production
From 1995 to 2001, the first-generation Mercury Villager was marketed by Chinese auto manufacturers through the use of CKD kits. Guangzhou Yunbao (today part of Dongfeng Fengshen) marketed the Yunbao YB6480; traditionally using CKD vehicles from Nissan, the YB6480 retained its Mercury badging.
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Gaodeng GDK6480 01 China 2016-03-30.jpg|Guangdong Bus Works GDK6480 (Mercury Villager)
File:Gaodeng GDK6480 03 China 2016-03-30.jpg|Guangdong Bus Works GDK6480 (Mercury Villager), rear view
File:Guangdong Bus Works badge.jpg|Guangdong Bus Works GDK6480 badging (below Mercury badging)
</gallery>
Replacement
thumb|2004–2007 Mercury Monterey
In 2000, Ford and Nissan chose to end their joint venture, as both companies had commenced design work separately on their own front-wheel drive minivans. Following a shortened 2002 model year, the Ford-Nissan joint venture was concluded, with the final Mercury Villager assembled on June 27, 2002.
Both Mercury and Nissan skipped the 2003 model year with minivan sales, returning for 2004. Mercury replaced the Villager with the Mercury Monterey, its first Ford-based minivan (derived from the Ford Freestar, as Ford renamed the Windstar for 2004). Taking its name from a line of Mercury sedans produced for nearly 25 years, the Monterey was developed as a direct competitor for the Chrysler Town & Country and Buick Terraza (the renamed Oldsmobile Silhouette).
Coinciding with the declining sales of American-brand minivans, the Mercury Monterey struggled for market share and was discontinued alongside the Freestar after the 2007 model year.