Comparing the Windstar, Sienna, Town & Country and Montana turned out to be as ironic as you could imagine. In simple terms, some staff members liked the Chrysler and Pontiac considerably more than the Ford and Toyota. Yet, the two latter vans finished ahead of the two former ones. Why is that, you ask? It's because our scoring and evaluation system is effective at removing subjectivity (though not all of it) to provide a truly clear picture, one at which even we are often surprised.

That said, subjectively, nobody really liked the Windstar that much. In fact, compared to the Chrysler, some could hardly stand this outdated oldster from Dearborn. For starters it evokes no passion or emotion whatsoever, other than indifference, boredom and, on occasion, even annoyance.

To see what we're getting at, let's take a gander at the Ford's evaluation sheets. When asked to comment on steering performance, one editor said, "There is a significant dead-spot on center. Constant adjustments are required when driving on the freeway. When asked to rate Windstar's fun-to-drive level on a scale from 1 to 10, the same editor gave it a lowly 3, and said it's "certainly not."

Other aspects of the Windstar didn't escape criticism, either, including the dash layout, the engine and the interior materials. "There's no cruise-control light, and the overall design is too busy and not pleasant to look at. The memory seating switches are poorly placed and there's an overall cheap plastic feel," said one driver. As for the 200-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 that pulled the Ford to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds, "It's rather loud and unrefined in the higher rpm range," said another driver. The 205-horsepower 4.0-liter SOHC V6 from the Explorer would do wonders for overall drivetrain refinement in this van.

Another driver summed up the Ford's overall disheveled look succinctly. "There is nothing cohesive about its design, inside or out. It looks like an amalgamation of tacked-on trim pieces and divergent styling cues. Our chrome and fake wood bedecked Limited test van simply serves to exacerbate this impression -- lower line Windstars look infinitely cleaner in terms of design."

The same editor had an overall list of gripes that clearly show the Windstar could stand to be redesigned. He wrote that "the third-row seat isn't split, is extremely heavy and requires two people just to release it from the floor. The power side doors fight manual operation, unlike those on the Honda and Pontiac, which will slide closed with a simple yank on the exterior handle."

So, it's relatively clear that we're not really that nuts about the Windstar, yet it finished in the upper half of the group. Go figure, you say? Here's why: This van is loaded with features that simply make it a wise choice.

Right off the bat, there are numerous items on the Windstar that are innovative and thoughtful, and once you get used to them, they quickly become indispensable. For example, only in the Ford can you fold down two sun visors (one up front and one to the side) to keep the sun from hitting your eyes. In the other vans, you have to flip the visor back and forth constantly while driving northwest into a setting sun. Annoying, at best. Infuriating, at worst. As far as we're concerned, every new vehicle on the road should be so equipped. It's a cheap but effective convenience feature that could quickly turn into a critical safety feature, too.

The Windstar also comes with a parabolic mirror that allows the driver to view all the van's seating positions without having to turn around. This convex interior rearview mirror functions like the ones used in school buses and is the perfect way to keep an eye on small children without having to divert your attention from the road. Another safety feature, maybe?

Getting to the real safety features, the Windstar is the clear winner in this category. Do you want the safest minivan on the road, period? Look no further. With all due respect to the Honda Odyssey, which matches the Ford in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash testing with quadruple five-star ratings (even though the Honda does it without side airbags), if you really want to split hairs, the Windstar is safer for the smaller-statured driver. Why? Two words, dear reader: adjustable pedals. The Windstar's adjustable accelerator and brake pedals allow the driver to sit farther away from the steering-wheel airbag, meaning that when it deploys, there's less of a chance of the bag causing injury. For any driver, shorter than, say, 5-foot 3-inches, the Windstar is the clear choice if safety is your main consideration. And while the Honda makes the NHTSA grade without side airbags, it's still nice to know they're available (and standard on the Limited) if you opt for the Ford. In both our safety features scoring and our "must-have" features list, the Windstar took top marks.

Furthermore, Ford's AdvanceTrac stability control system should be turning up as an available option sometime after May 2001. As it was, the Toyota Sienna was the only van in this test with stability control.

It's not as if the Windstar is simply a safety champ, with the rest to be considered a total penalty box. There are other reasons to own one, despite the fact that it's nearing the end of its shelf life. One editor who spent the entire evaluation trip with three full-sized adult camera-crew people and a slew of video gear on board had these kind words for the Ford's suspension, even though some drivers found it wallowy and it finished last in suspension category rankings during our driving evaluations: "Mechanically, the Windstar's suspension, when loaded with people and gear, provides a soft ride and rarely bottoms out. Empty, the van feels taut and sporty."

Summing up, the Windstar is a van that most might not enjoy much for all those intangible reasons that people like or don't like any given car, truck or minivan. But we'd humbly submit that the fact that a vehicle has the greatest potential to save the life of yourself or a loved one could be the most compelling reason of all to actually buy one.

Second Opinions

Road Test Editor Ed Hellwig says:
Having never driven a Windstar previously, I was a little disappointed in the entry from Ford. The nondescript styling certainly didn't offend and on paper it seemed like it should compete favorably, but out on the road, its raucous engine and gummy suspension did little to earn favor with this editor.

Although blessed with a stout 240 foot-pounds of torque, the Windstar still gasped for air when asked to perform basic passing maneuvers, and don't even think about taking turns at anything more that the posted limit. The suspension is not dangerously soft, but it sure doesn't inspire much confidence in the accident-avoidance department. Steering was acceptably light, but there was little in the feedback department. Transmission shifts were firm, but nowhere near as precise as the Town & Country's or Montana's units.

Inside, the interior design was simple and upscale-looking, although like the MPV, the use of fake wood accents looked out of place in a vehicle intended for carpool duty. The steering wheel was large and thick for a good grip, and the adjustable pedals are something that every minivan should incorporate. The climate controls were well marked and uncluttered for easy operation and the in-dash CD changer was a welcome surprise.

Despite the clean design and helpful interior features, the Windstar's lethargic road manners make it less appealing by the mile. Granted, minivans are rarely known for their impressive driving dynamics, but after driving well-behaved vehicles like the MPV and Town & Country, the Windstar's lack of road feel and unremarkable acceleration leave it in third place in this test.

Road Test Editor John DiPietro says:
Let's be honest, minivan buyers aren't as interested in ultimate handling as much as useful features that make toting around the kids easier and more enjoyable. And our top-of-the-line Windstar Limited was chock full of gadgets that should appeal to stressed-out parents everywhere. A sonar parking assist helps nervous drivers parallel park the Windstar in a space-efficient (and bumper-saving) manner and also alerts them to the presence of anything else behind the minivan, such as a small child, while they are backing up. A built-in voice message recorder helps remind the harried parent that Jimmy's practice is getting over late today or that Julie's orthodontist appointment is Friday at 2:00. And a convex mirror that flips down from the headliner allows parents to check on the status of the kids in back when things seem too quiet back there.

Although some of my cohorts don't agree, I find the Ford to be one of the best-looking minivans. Its tasteful use of chrome accents make it more stylish than the Odyssey without being gaudy. And a cursory glance at the Limited's cabin may have you thinking "Lincoln," as the plush seats, lavish amounts of (fake) wood trim and a real wood and leather steering wheel mimic the interior of a luxury car. And front-seat comfort was among the best, especially in the area of lumbar support. But a discordant element in the otherwise pleasant interior was the exposed power seat motor and wires under the driver seat that should've been covered by either a vinyl or carpeted panel.

Where the Ford loses ground is in the areas of engine refinement (the V6 makes good power but sounds coarse when pressed) and suspension tuning (it could be tightened up a bit to get rid of the sloppy handling when driven through twisty sections). But chances are, most folks would appreciate the Windstar's many thoughtful features and wouldn't notice the engine's gruffness or the suspension's somewhat flaccid nature.

Senior Editor Brent Romans says:
On paper, I like the Windstar quite a bit. I'm impressed by the extensive feature content, especially those related to safety. The adjustable pedals are a neat feature for people of shorter stature, allowing them to sit farther away from the airbag-equipped steering wheel. The Windstar is the only minivan to offer this. The same goes for the nifty conversation mirror. Later in 2001, Ford will offer a stability control system (called AdvanceTrac) that will help limit the chance of dangerous skids and spins. There's also optional side airbags for the front passengers and a parking aid sensor to help avoid backing up into light poles in the local supermarket parking lot. But wait, there's more! There's also an in-dash six-disc CD changer and an entertainment system with a high-quality LCD monitor. Crashworthiness is excellent, with the Windstar earning a five-star rating in front and side impacts for NHTSA crash test results and a "good" rating for the IIHS offset crash test. This is all very impressive, but the Windstar belly flops when it comes to the driving experience. The engine provides good torque but it's loud. The steering requires constant adjustment when driving on the freeway, and the suspension is overly isolating. Are these concerns important to you? If not, then the Windstar is a good minivan to consider. But for myself, I'll pass and take an Odyssey or a Town & Country instead.

Stereo Evaluation - 2001 Ford Windstar

Video Evaluation - 2001 Ford Windstar