There are vans with greater getaway acceleration than the Aerostar. GM's Astro/Safaritwins have distinctly more punch, as well as higher towing capabilities, though they
still suffer from cramped front footwells.
On the other side of the ledger, the newest front-drive minivans provide a smoother,
more car-like driving experience. The Aerostar, after all, is essentially a truck at
the chassis level.
But even so, we liked the way this van performed on long trips. The ride quality might
be a trifle firmer than, say, the Windstar, but it's non-intrusive on the open road
and the high seating position delivers a commanding view. And we found that the
standard 3.0-liter engine had plenty of get-up-and-go in passing situations, an
activity that was enhanced by the overdrive on-off switch, handily set into the end of
the steering column-mounted shift lever. Switch the overdrive off for a little extra
go, switch it back on to resume cruising.
The Aerostar is equally comfortable around town. For all its size, it's just as