Driving Impressions

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.

Final Word

Originally conceived as an answer to the first Chrysler minivans, the Aerostar is an old school rear-drive van that's at its best when it's harnessed for hard work. It can haul--and tow--heavier loads than the front-drive crowd, and gets the job done with a fair degree of comfort and style. If car-like driving is high on your list of priorities, you'll probably be happier in one of the many excellent front-drive minivans. But rear-wheel drive and rugged construction still have a place in this arena. And, in the Aerostar's case, the price is attractive.