Only debuting in 1994, the third installment of the Ford Windstar proves to be an effective adversary of the other large minivans in the market today. Last year the Ford Windstar was the cream of the crop and it seems that it would reclaim that spot this year. In terms of its ride, handling and performance, the 1996 Ford Windstar is holding on its own. Its been regarded as an oversized Taurus and that’s all good. it is smooth, supple, quiet and corners well, with far less body lean than drivers of most vans will encounter. The steering is light, but transmits plenty of road feel.

 

Transitioning from sedan to van is easy here, though the larger turning circle takes some getting used to. Base (GL) and commercial Windstars use a quiet but somewhat anemic 3.0-liter V6 engine. Driven gently it is acceptable, but a fully-laden vehicle taxes it almost beyond its ability. The alternative is a 3.8-liter unit, a standard in the upmarket LX, reworked this year to deliver 200 hp, which gives the Windstar one indisputable bragging right, the most powerful minivan available. That's enough to provide fine performance with no perceptible loss of economy, though this engine, like every other Ford 3.8 we've tested, isn't as smooth as some and feels slightly strained at high rpm. Both engines are teamed with an excellent 4-speed automatic transmission, and both are sure to give years of trouble-free service.