2001 Mercury Villager vs. 2010 Dodge Nitro
To start off, 2010 Dodge Nitro is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2001 Mercury Villager. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2001 Mercury Villager would be higher. At 4,000 cc (6 cylinders), 2010 Dodge Nitro is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2010 Dodge Nitro (260 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 92 more horse power than 2001 Mercury Villager. (168 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2010 Dodge Nitro should accelerate faster than 2001 Mercury Villager. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2010 Dodge Nitro weights approximately 47 kg more than 2001 Mercury Villager. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 2010 Dodge Nitro is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 2010 Dodge Nitro. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2001 Mercury Villager, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2010 Dodge Nitro (359 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 2001 Mercury Villager. (271 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 2010 Dodge Nitro will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2001 Mercury Villager.
Compare all specifications:
| 2001 Mercury Villager | 2010 Dodge Nitro | |
| Make | Mercury | Dodge |
| Model | Villager | Nitro |
| Year Released | 2001 | 2010 |
| Body Type | Minivan | SUV |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3276 cc | 4000 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 260 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 271 Nm | 359 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1785 kg | 1832 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4544 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1857 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1790 mm | 1775 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2764 mm |
