There was every reason for manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has taken a great deal of stick in recent weeks, to be quietly pleased with the performance.
The gum-chewing United boss watched his side extend their unbeaten run at Villa Park to 10 games, as they confidently closed the gap on Premiership leaders Chelsea to just six points.
The difference between the two teams was apparent as early as the opening five minutes as United turned on the style to destroy Villa's weak defence, which badly missed the services of skipper Olof Mellberg.
Ji-Sung Park delighted the travelling United fans in the first attack of the match when he collected a throughball from Wayne Rooney and before Villa could take evasive action, the little Korean flashed an angled shot against the post.
It was a warning shot across the bows so far as United were concerned. They operated with mature confidence as they assumed control and Villa were left fighting an uphill battle.
An upset was never on the cards as United later coasted their way home with bouts of flamboyant skill.
There was never any real need to operate at full speed as they had Villa in their pockets after Ruud van Nistelrooy put them ahead in the 10th minute.
It was one of the Dutchman's easiest goals of the season as he latched onto a ball from Darren Fletcher and adroitly slipped his low shot past the advancing Thomas Sorensen, who appeared resigned to the fatal execution before the United striker had even pulled the trigger.
Van Nistelrooy very nearly took further advantage of Villa's central weakness with an almost nonchalant overhead kick which Sorensen had to desperately flick over the bar.
The lurking danger of Wayne Rooney was always apparent, but the England striker was strangely subdued in the first half as he was twice way off target with his shooting.
Villa, in contrast to United's slick approach, were pedestrian in much of their play and even the industry of Steve Davis could make no impact against the imposing United defence, which was never really under any threat.
Paul Scholes quietly controlled the midfield for the visitors whereas Gavin McCann generally appeared off the pace in Villa's slow build up in attack.
This meant an easy game for United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar as he was never tested, despite Villa enjoying more of the game in the second half.
But the damage had already been done by that time as United steamed into a two-goal lead six minutes after the interval.
Villa sent on their most expensive player, Juan Pablo Angel, at half-time, but to little avail as the Midlands club were effectively sunk when Rooney pounced for his tenth goal of the season.
Van Nistelrooy won the ball in the air and nodded it forward to Park who in turn put Rooney in possession to score with a shot which went in off the post.
Ryan Giggs, who normally shines at Villa Park, had one of his quieter performances but the Welshman should have increased United's lead only minutes after Rooney's strike, but casually hammered his shot on the run over the bar.
Giggs was shortly afterwards replaced by Cristiano Ronaldo to demonstrate the kind of quality which exists in United's squad.
Villa moved into the familiar territory of trying to chase the game and there was some encouragement provided by acting captain Gareth Barry, when he turned and shot only just wide.
There was a definite improvement in Villa's general tempo but United were seemingly content to sit on their two-goal advantage.
Encouraged by the opportunity to take the game to United, the home side began to carve out some reasonable chances.
In the 64th minute Davis set-up Angel. The out of form Colombia striker produced a short cross which Milan Baros hit first time against the top of the crossbar.
United survived this tenacious pressure to demonstrate their growing confidence and determination to mount a concerted challenge on Chelsea's seeming domination of the Premiership.
Man of the match: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman was a threat throughout and his exciting partnership with Wayne Rooney produced the goals that made the difference.