Front-seat occupants will think they're in a passenger car. The look of the dashboard and controls, and the seating positions owe more to sedans than vans, and are the better for it. It's a high-style environment made up of top-quality plastics and fabrics.
Ford's leadership in interior design is especially evident here. The dashboard has a
complete array of gauges (speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, coolant temp., oil
pressure and voltmeter), plus large soft-touch rotary knobs for lighting and climate
control. Window switches are mounted in the door panel armrests; these also have
soft-touch surfaces and are large enough to use without fumbling.
The rest of the interior is excellent as well. Amenity content is high: Cupholders are
supplied in abundance (two in front, one for the left-side passenger in the center
seat, and two in back); there are storage pockets everywhere; and center-seat
passengers can have their own controls and headphone jacks for the audio system. The center seats are almost as comfortable as the front buckets, and that's saying a lot. The third seat is tolerable for long distances as well. Second and third seats are removable--by two people, and with some effort--to create a large load space.
That load space is not quite as large as that of a Chrysler minivan, however, even
though the latter has slightly smaller exterior dimensions. While the difference will
be important mainly to those who need to carry loose ping-pong balls or equally odd cargo, it's an area where the Chrysler designers clearly did a better job.
Windstar is offered in three versions: The basic model is a commercial window van,
shorn of all amenities aft of the front seats and rather limited in options.
Next up is the GL, a nicely equipped passenger van that needs only air conditioning to make it suitable for most use. It can be dressed up with numerous options.
Many GL options--including air conditioning--are standard on the luxurious Windstar LX. Aluminum wheels, power mirrors, locks and windows (including powered swing-out rear quarter glass), tilt steering wheel, speed control and an adjustable track for the rearmost seat are only a few of its premium features.
A large variety of options can be added to both GL and LX. Keyless entry, all-speed
traction control, leather seats, privacy glass and a rear seat that can fold into a
bed are among the individual offerings. Package options include a trailer-towing group that increases towing capacity from 2000 to 3500 lbs. (though rear-wheel drive is a better bet for heavy towing chores), and a digital instrument group that includes gauge cluster, automatic on/off headlights and a self-dimming photochromic mirror.
Another option worth a serious look in hot climates is Ford's high-capacity air
conditioning system. With overhead ducts blowing into the rear of the van, as well as the standard dashboard ducting, this unit can take the interior temperature from 100 degrees down to 70 almost as quick as you can say, "Boy, it's really hot out there today."
In ride, handling and performance terms, the Windstar is best described as an
oversized Taurus with a slightly higher seating position. That's all to the good; it
is smooth, supple, quiet and corners well, with far less body lean than drivers of
most vans will encounter. The steering is light, but transmits plenty of road feel.
Transitioning from sedan to van is easy here, though the larger turning circle takes
some getting used to.
Regardless of model, all Windstars come with antilock braking. In this regard, the
trailer-tow package--which includes coolers for the engine, power steering and
transmission oil--is worth investigating even if you never plan to hitch up, as it
replaces the standard rear drum brakes with discs.
Base (GL) and commercial Windstars use a quiet but somewhat anemic 3.0-liter V6
engine. Driven gently it is acceptable, but a fully-laden vehicle taxes it almost
beyond its ability.
The alternative is a 3.8-liter unit (standard in the upmarket LX), reworked this year
to deliver 200 hp, which gives the Windstar one indisputable bragging right--the most powerful minivan available. That's enough to provide fine performance with no perceptible loss of economy, though this engine, like every other Ford 3.8 we've
tested, isn't as smooth as some and feels slightly strained at high rpm. Both engines are teamed with an excellent 4-speed automatic transmission, and both are sure to give years of trouble-free service.