31.   Roadhandling is almost sporty, thanks to the four-wheel independent suspension with four-link rear suspension.

32.   Sixteen-inch wheels became standard, second-generation air bags were added, and the car got a new rear suspension.

33.   The car corners remarkably well, thanks to a MacPherson strut front end and a Quadralink rear suspension engineered to minimize rear skids.

34.   The Explorer has a new independent rear suspension for improved ride and lower step-in height.

35.   The Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer will share a larger platform, offer three rows of seats and independent rear suspension.

36.   The front suspension uses MacPherson struts while the rear suspension uses multilink connectors.

37.   The front suspension is largely unchanged, but the rear suspension is a new multilink design that reduces the intrusion into the cargo area.

38.   The MD-X will share its platform with the Honda Odyssey minivan and have an independent rear suspension.

39.   The Mountaineer now uses an independent rear suspension, still fairly unusual on trucks and truck-based SUVs, which creates a flat floor in the cargo bay.

40.   The Rendezvous also has an independent rear suspension that takes up some ground clearance but provides a smoother ride and less sway in turns.