"truck-like" from your expectations; in feel, it's somewhere

in between. The strong engine gives ample performance, so this thing scoots

with traffic and has plenty of power to make that dreaded uphill freeway

merge, even when loaded.

Steering feel is direct, and the whole feeling of going down the highway

is one of immense, sure and relentless stability. Our personal experience

in the Safari includes one day-long run in which it was loaded past the

window sills, we had to make it by sundown and the speedometer spent most

of the time in a range beyond that posted roadside, but it was comfortable

and easy as we simply let the Safari do the work.

Ride-wise, there's a noticeable gap between the Safari and the better

front-drive minivans (some of which approach luxury-car territory). This

is exacerbated due to (in the Safari) sitting up high and nearly over the

front tires. But only the most critical will object and, when you consider

the workhorse aspects of the trade-off, we feel the end result is worth

it.