As partnerships go, the Villager-Quest alliance has to be rated as a major success. Itgave Nissan its first viable vehicle in this class after two previous unsuccesful attempts. It also gave Mercury not only its first minivan, but the first of any Chrysler-challengers that really rode and handled like a sedan. GM attempted to do so earlier, but its first shot at this target didn't quite reach the bullseye. Unfortunately, the minivans that have arrived since have proven that American manufacturers can do at least as well on their own--better, in some cases--and do it for less. If it's space and ride you want, Ford's Windstar delivers more of both for the same price. While the Windstar can't quite match the Villager's handling and sport-sedan feel, all three Chrysler vans are definitely in the ballpark. More space and added features--including an optional fourth door--are a likely part of the next-generation Villager that's due for 1998. Then again, if sheer space and high power numbers were everything, Honda's nimble new Odyssey wouldn't exist. Like the Honda, Mercury's Villager is for buyers who want a minivan that can carry a small bus-load of people and cargo some of the time without feeling like a bus all the time. That, and nifty styling, is its saving grace.
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