Ford Windstar reviews

1995 Ford Windstar Interior Features

Besides being easy to get into and out of, the Windstar provides excellent comfort when you settle in - comfort of the all-day variety. Ford's seating program is among the best in the business, and there's lots of legroom to go with it, particularly up front.

There's also plenty of room overhead, as well as from side to side. Both Windstar trim levels - the standard GL and the ritzier LX - feature standard seating for seven passengers.

The sweeping lines of the Windstar's instrument panel blend well with its aero exterior, flowing smoothly into the door panels for an integrated appearance that's unusually sophisticated in a minivan. Secondary controls - sound system, climate controls - are angled toward the driver, enhancing operation. And the high-mounted climate controls feature rotary knobs that are easy to set, even when you're wearing gloves.

Our LX test van also featured digital electronic instrumentation, plus a trip computer that helps keep track of useful info such as fuel economy, average speed and distance to empty. And of course there was a very nice AM/FM/cassette sound system, with headphone jacks for middle-seat passengers. The plus here is if your kids are into rap, you don't necessarily have to listen in.

The biggest part of the Windstar's inside story is its versatility as a cargo hauler. At the small end of the spectrum, it offers a locking glove box, a storage bin under the front passenger seat, seven cupholders - some of them adapted to accommodate both cups and juice boxes - plus an optional center console with a storage well and a power point for a cellular phone.

For bigger stuff, there's a good-sized space behind the third seat that can be expanded by sliding the seat forward up to 7 in. Both the second- and third-row seatbacks fold forward, something that can't be said for the Chrysler Grands. And if the load is really big, both the second- and third-row seats can be removed, yielding 144 cu. ft. of cargo cavern, a bit bigger than in the Chrysler minivans.

About the only criticism we can offer here is that seat removal is still a two-person job. GM's APV family - the Chevrolet Lumina, Pontiac Trans Sport and Oldsmobile Silhouette - still leads the pack on this point.