The 1990 Ford Aerostar was Motor Trend’s “Truck of the Year”. This may seem odd, seeing as the Aerostar is actually a minivan, but it was built on the ever-popular Ford F-150 chassis, rather than on a car chassis like many competing models in the minivan class.
Despite its lack of power under the hood (the entry-level plant was the 2.8 liter, 115-horsepower Cologne V6, and the biggest optional upgrade available was to a 4.0 liter Cologne V6 clocked at 155 horsepower, which was not a lot for its 3400-pound curb weight), the ’90 Ford Aerostar appealed to buyers looking for sturdy transportation.
The Aerostar was actually built on its own dedicated platform, but many engine, suspension, & drivetrain components were shared with the Ranger/Bronco II/Explorer and Mustang, NOT the F-Series. Also, the 3.0L, 145-hp Vulcan V6 from the Taurus/Sable had been the standard engine since 1987 and remained that way until the vehicle’s demise a decade later. The 4.0L Cologne V6 (optional beginning in 1990) had up to 160 hp, but feels A LOT more powerful than that if you REALLY give it the gas and the accelerator gets stuck in the process (I know b/c it happened to me)!
The Aerostar was actually built on its own dedicated platform, but many engine, suspension, & drivetrain components were shared with the Ranger/Bronco II/Explorer and Mustang, NOT the F-Series. Also, the 3.0L, 145-hp Vulcan V6 from the Taurus/Sable had been the standard engine since 1987 and remained that way until the vehicle’s demise a decade later. The 4.0L Cologne V6 (optional beginning in 1990) had up to 160 hp, but feels A LOT more powerful than that if you REALLY give it the gas and the accelerator gets stuck in the process (I know b/c it happened to me)!