2001 Ford Windstar

What is it?
2001 Ford Windstar

What's special about it?
For 2001 the Windstar gets a fresh exterior with a front fascia which makes it reminiscent of the Honda Odyssey. But, as Mom always told you, it's what's inside that matters. Ford knows that the Windstar's appeal is pretty much limited to the soccer set, so they stepped up what is probably the most crucial feature to parents - safety. Thus, Ford introduced the Personal Safety System in the Windstar, which incorporates a passenger weight sensor that automatically disables the passenger airbag if the occupant is less than 45 pounds. Dual-stage front airbags sense the driver's seat position and the severity of the impact to deploy more efficaciously, and side airbags are optional. Active safety is addressed by the AdvanceTrac traction control system. Other features that address life's little annoyances include an open-door warning strobe on the side view mirrors that apprises oncoming traffic that they need to swerve. A low-tire warning lights up if you've run over a nail, but hopefully the self-sealing tires will have taken care of it already. The ingrates in the back can be quelled with the optional entertainment system, and the driver will be enjoying the 200 horsepower and 240 foot-pounds of twist coming forth from the 3.8-liter V6 engine.

Why should you care?
Ford wants to be the vanguard of safety concerns, and the technology in the Windstar will probably be seen in other family-oriented vehicles soon. If you don't see what you want, holler at your nearest manufacturer.