2001FordCrown VictoriaFord Crown Victoria2001 Ford Crown Victoria LXSedanSedanRWDSt. Thomas. Ontario, CanadaPower from the V8 engine is increased. The interior gets minor improvements and an optional adjustable pedal assembly. Safety has been improved via a crash severity sensor, safety belt pretensioners, dual-stage airbags and seat-position sensors.Plenty of interior room, upgraded horsepower for 2001, comfortable ride, excellent crash-test ratings.Large size makes it difficult to park and maneuver, not much rear interior storage space, lack of refinement, roof-mounted bike rack makes car look like police cruiser.If you've been pinching your pennies to buy a new full-size, rear-drive American sedan, we hope you like Fords. The Blue Oval is the only manufacturer building such cars these days. Decades-old technology allows Ford to keep the prices low, and the car is a favorite among fleet buyers for taxi companies, police departments, or just those who need space and don't want a minivan or sport-ute. These days the Ford Crown Victoria and its Mercury Grand Marquis stablemate offer much more value than most compact and midsize cars being peddled at your local auto mall. Think about this: the Crown Vic costs less than 30 grand fully loaded with electric everything and a leather interior. In contrast, a similarly equipped Toyota Avalon runs several thousand dollars more. The five- or six-passenger Crown Vic is available in either base-model trim or upscale LX trim. Both have similar levels of equipment, though optional features like automatic climate control and leather seating are only available on the LX model. Both versions get mild interior updates for 2001. There are new front-door map pockets, a relocated digital clock, new switches for the power mirrors, traction control and headlights, and a new horn system. The best addition is the optional adjustable gas and brake pedals. The pedals can be moved up to 3 inches towards the driver to improve comfort and to keep shorter drivers from sitting too close to the steering wheel-mounted airbag. The Crown Victoria was never a slouch in terms of acceleration (as you would hope, seeing as how so many police departments use it), and this year Ford bumped the output of the 4.6-liter V8 engine to 220 horsepower and 265 foot-pounds of torque. The only transmission offered is a four-speed automatic. In stock trim, the Crown Victoria drives and handles like you would expect a big American sedan to. It's comfortable, but it's all too happy to float around over bumps. The handling and performance package adds a few horsepower (boosting output to 235) and improves the car's stability in the twisties; we recommend it to anyone who enjoys backcountry highways more than mind-numbing interstates for their family vacations. And if you do plan to haul around a family, you can sleep better at night knowing that the Crown Victoria scores well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. Last year's model did very well, so the 2001 safety improvements (a crash severity sensor, safety belt pretensioners, dual stage airbags and seat position sensors) should make the Crown Vic even better. If you're one of the few people unwilling to pay for a sport utility's high insurance premiums and abysmal gas mileage and if you just can't stand the idea of a minivan, we hope that you like the Crown Victoria. It's your only choice for an American, full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan. Buick LeSabreChevrolet ImpalaMercury Grand MarquisToyota Avalon336,000336,0005UnlimitedNANANA84.6 litersV8225 hp @ 4750 rpm270 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm212 in.78.2 in.56.8 in.3946 lbs.114.7 in.39.4 in.38 in.60.8 in.60.3 in.57.1 in.58.7 in.42.5 in.39.6 in.20.6 cu.ft.OptionalStandardNot AvailableNot AvailableNot AvailableOptionalNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedGoodGoodNot TestedNot Tested19 gal.18 mpg / 25 mpg342 mi. / 475 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$22,826$24,1757.35%$680N/A3% of the Total MSRPBASE (4A): 4.6L V8 SOHC SMPI 16-valve engine; 4-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up converter; battery with rundown protection; 130 amp alternator; rear-wheel drive, 2.73 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; front independent suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, gas-pressurized front shocks, rigid rear axle multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs, gas-pressurized rear shocks; recirculating-ball power steering with vehicle-speed-sensing assist; 4-wheel disc brakes; 19 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers with chrome bumper insert; body-colored bodyside molding; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen fully automatic headlamps with delay-off feature; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored folding outside mirrors; 16" x 7" steel wheels with P225/60SR16 BSW A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning, rear heat ducts; AM/FM stereo radio w/clock and seek-scanfeature, auto-reverse cassette player, 4 speakers, window grid antenna; cruise control with steering wheel controls; power door locks, child-safety rear door locks, power remote hatch/trunk release; 1 power accessory outlet, front lighter element, driver's foot rest, smokers' package; instrumentation display includes oil pressure gauge, water temperature gauge, volt gauge, trip odometer; warning indicators include battery, water temperature, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, brake fluid; driver's front airbag, passenger's cancelable front airbag; ignition disable; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 6, 50/50 split-bench front seat with adjustable headrests, driver's and front passenger's armrests, driver's and passenger's front seats include 4-way adjustment; rear bench seat; height-adjustable front seatbelts frontpretensioners; cloth seats, vinyl door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full color-keyed carpet floor covering, deluxe sound insulation, simulated-wood dashboard insert, interior lights include dome light with fade, door curb lights, illuminated entry; steering wheel with tilt adjustment; day/night rearview mirror; locking glove box with light, front cupholder, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; chrome grille, chrome side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and chrome door handles.
LX (4A) (in addition to or instead of BASE (4A) equipment): Power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry, ignition disable, panic alarm; driver's seat includes 8-way power adjustment with 2-way power lumbar support; rear center armrest; premium cloth seats; interior lights include dual illuminated vanity mirrors; 2 seatback storage pockets.