A convenient wide-angle mirror helps the driver keep an eye on what's going on in the rear seats. Another unique option is Ford's Message Center (part of a $485 Electronics Group) which is a small voice recorder attached to the driver's sun visor. It can be used to record notes and other ideas that might come to mind while driving.

The available tire pressure monitoring system is a good idea. The warning light on ours came on and, sure enough, the right rear tire was about 5 pounds low. (It doesn't tell you which tire is low because it wouldn't know whether you've moved wheels around, so you'll have to check all four tires when you get the light.)

The SEL we tested came with a console on the floor between the two front seats. In many ways this is inconvenient, as it makes it difficult for adults to walk between the seats and into the rear of the vehicle. Of course it doesn't upset the kids, who just clamber over it. Fortunately, LX Base and Standard and SE models don't have it, unless it is ordered as a $155 option.

The front seats are flat with little side bolstering. That makes getting in and out easy, but there's no side support for going around corners. We had trouble getting comfortable.

The available power-adjustable pedals are very useful, moving the pedals closer to the seat at the touch of a button. This is particularly beneficial for drivers' with short legs, who can sit further from the steering wheel, not only for better leverage but to avoid possible injury from the airbag.

The center-row seats are buckets in SE, SEL and Limited. We found the center seats are heavy and awkward to move. LX Standard and Deluxe buyers can choose a center-row bench, or buckets for $745 more. The bench seat can be positioned left or right, for your choice of either curbside or street-side access to the third-row seat. (However, once the seat is shifted to the left, say, third-seat access from that side is awkward.) The bench seat reclines and rolls forward and back, for more versatile cargo loading and easy removal.

The third-row seat is a bench on all models, and has seat belts for three people. Like the second-row bench it rides on small rollers that make it slightly easier to remove. It still weighs about 100 pounds, which makes removal a two-person job. Once back in the van, it moves seven inches fore and aft on its track, allowing more rear luggage space, or more rear-seat legroom, depending on the needs of a particular day. However, moving it all the way forward exposes the seat tracks, which are greasy for cargo and not friendly to dogs. The rear bench can also be moved to the second-row seat's attachment points, to provide seating for five and cavernous luggage space. That feature theoretically adds to the versatility of Windstars equipped with second-row buckets.

The seat backs fold down to provide a flat space revealing table space and more cup holders. All models but LX Base have rear climate controls, and SE, SEL and Limited come with rear audio controls as well, allowing kids to play cassettes in the rear while adults listen to the radio up front.

A handy option (especially if you have children) is the AutoVision Entertainment System ($995 on SE, SEL and Limited), which deploys from the overhead console and features an LCD TV screen, VHS tape player and ports for video games. It's a real boon for long trips: You may never hear "Are we there yet?" again. The system includes a pair of headphones so the driver and front-seat passenger do not have to listen to "Land Before Time 32" or whatever else is screening in the rear cabin.