Driving Impressions
reviewed by
There are vans with greater getaway acceleration than the Aerostar. GM's Astro/Safari
twins 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
maneuverable as its front-drive rivals, a rear-drive advantage that shows up in a
relatively tidy turning circle.
It also does a good job of keeping up with urban traffic. The standard V6 is adequate
for basic light duty, but not much more. The larger V6, with its extra low-rpm grunt,
is a much better choice for the kind of heavier hauling that is really this van's
strong suit. In this sense, the fact that you get a larger van with the larger engine
makes sense.
On the other hand, more room means more money. The extended Aerostar starts at
$21,120.
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