2003 Ford Crown Vic May Be America's Best Sedan Value

You do not have to be a policeman or codger to enjoy driving the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. Having a family of teenagers and a fast growing aversion to most minivans and SUVs will also do the trick.

We put the vehicle police love to hate through a grueling two thousand mile trip this summer, and I came away from the experience happy that Ford remains in my portfolio. I have driven the Crown Vic and its twin in the past and appreciated the room, but something always seemed missing. The car’s performance was and remains strong – powerful acceleration, decent turning radius and a smooth ride, but the comforts Ford added, as well as the new frame, combine to make this my favorite domestic sedan.

Performance

Get up and go is never a problem with the V-8 easily hurtling two tons of car with 220 horses and darn fine torque. The Crown Vic is the heaviest car in its class, but blows away the Buick LeSabre and Chevrolet Impala in virtually every category. I have not driven a LeSabre in some time, but the Impala is a weak cousin to this monster.

New shocks and steering designs make the car easy to maneuver. Running 212 inches long, this is truly a boat, but the turning circle is actually smaller than the LeSabre and even slightly better than Impala when the extra foot in length is considered. A foot longer and six to eight inches wider than its competition, this tank is often criticized as bulky and hard to maneuver. Nearly half our miles were through mountains, and I had no problems. While parking underground at your local mall may not be as easy as whipping an old MGB into a spot, putting the Crown Vic in tight places is no more than difficult than moving a full size SUV around.

I will always take smooth ride, great acceleration and roominess over maneuverability. After all, that is why you learned how to make a three point turn in Driver’s Ed. The only major nit I have is a small blind spot along the right front. I tried moving my seat and stretching every which way, but never seemed to be able to find those few degrees of vision.

Given the size, you would expect that this is a safe vehicle, and crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Highway Loss Data Institute support that notion. NHTSA gave the Ford its overall highest ratings, while HLDI, always a bit more detailed found some areas marginal. Still, at 4,700 pounds and with its length and width, the driver and passengers are well protected. That size drinks gas – ignore Ford’s published estimates – your mileage will vary. Mine was in the mid teens.

One other safety feature that I love in newer vehicles is the auto-dimming NightVision system on the rear view mirror. Trucks and sporty little vehicles with those bright lights won't bother you with this safety feature on board.

Comfort

The back seat comfortably seats three large adults. A third adult can also ride in front, with seat belts for all. The front seats also provide adjustable lumbar support and can be contorted to suit even the pickiest drivers.

The front of the interior offers steering wheel controls for the air conditioning system, cruise control and stereo. Drivers can easily operate the controls using a thumb while keeping their hands firmly on the wheel. I have heard several folks say they hate the steering controls and consider them cluttered, but I found them comfortable and easy to use.

The stereo was decent, your standard Ford mid range package, but that characteristic dominates this car. There are no heated leather seats, no moonroofs, no GPS (well, I guess you can get GPS installed, but you know what I mean). Like the rest of the vehicle, the Crown Victoria’s comforts are basic, built with the average Joe or Jane in mind and priced right.

Little touches like the fully loaded key fob that opens the trunk, sounds the horn and unlocks the vehicle help combat the notion that you are driving a stripped down vehicle.

And the trunk space? As Robert DeNiro said in Analyze That, you can easily fit a couple of bodies in the trunk. Not to mention enough suitcases and assorted stuff to keep a family of five happy on a long vacation through multiple climates.

The Bottom Line

Roomier than my friend’s Jaguar, which he loves to swoon over, and more comfortable than a Deville I recently spent time in, the Crown Victoria has none of those vehicles’ flourishes. Quite simply, this is a car for the modern American family that wants to forget the fact that SUVs ever existed. Its Grand Marquis twin adds a few of those bells and whistles, and I enjoyed my recent rental in one of those, but the Crown Victoria price and quality combination is hard to beat.

Five Things To Remember From This Review

1. Maybe the best American sedan value on the market today.
2. More acceleration than you could possibly want for regular driving.
3. Drinks more gas than you might like, but reasonable given the engine and weight
4. Comfortable and roomy inside
5. Excellent crash-test ratings from two organizations

Joubert’s FunLink

“…any color as long as it’s black.” So said Henry Ford, automotive and manufacturing pioneer, about consumer choice. The company bearing his name is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and a great timeline can be found at the URL below:

http://www.ford.com/en/heritage/centennial/default.htm

© 2003 Joubert