| Category: | $25,000 – $30,000 Front-drive (or AWD) 7 passenger High Wagon |
| Who should buy this car: | Anyone looking for a comfortable, roomy 7 passenger SUV or wagon with all-weather traction capability and car-like ride and handling |
| Comparable models in this class: | Buick Rendezvous , Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Highlander |
Fords Freestyle is a crossover SUV that marries a sedan chassis with a tall body, seating for seven and a flat cargo floor. Thats an attractive proposition that more and more buyers find appealing.
The Freestyle shares its solid chassis platform with the Ford Five Hundred sedan. This chassis is derived from the Volvo XC90, which is one of the benefits of Fords ownership of Volvo. A strong foundation provides good handling, not to mention crashworthiness, and the Freestyles body structure feels tight and solid. Power comes from Fords 3.0-liter, Duratec V-6, and it is mated to a CVT continuously variable transmission.
The test car was an all-wheel-drive Limited.
The Freestyle and Five Hundred are part of a product blitz that also includes the redesigned Mustang, Mercury Montego and Mercury Mariner. The Montego is similar to the Five Hundred, while the Mariner is derived from the Escape.
The Freestyle is looks like a carbon copy of the Explorer in many ways. The body is not quite as tall, and it sits lower to the ground. The 112.9-inch wheelbase enables it to have three rows of seats. Compared to the Explorer, the Freestyle is 10 inches longer, two inches wider and four inches lower. Head and legroom is roughly the same as the Explorer. The cargo space behind the third seat is actually greater than the same space in the Explorer.
When the seats are upright, getting into the third row is easy because the second-row seat tips forward. Legroom in the third row is passable for adults and excellent for children. The third seat is available as a single bench or 50/50 split. The split-folding seat is the most useful configuration.
The Freestyles interior design borrows many design cues from the Explorer, most notably the round air vents on the instrument panel. Soft-touch paint finishes, leatherlike textures and well-shaped seats sweeten the package. The instrument panel has simple, chrome-trimmed gauges. Audio and climate controls adorn the center stack that blends into the console. Buttons are large and easy to use, while the console has two cup holders and the gearshift.
Storage compartments abound. A small lid atop the instrument panel is a great space to keep a map or other small items.
Although the steering wheel tilts, it doesn’t telescope. Even with the adjustable pedals all the way forward, I felt a little far from the wheel when the seat was adjusted to be comfortable for my legs.
The Freestyle uses Fords 3.0-liter, Duratec V-6 coupled to a CVT continuously variable transmission. The CVT uses a steel link belt and two variable-size pulleys for a nearly infinite choice of gear ratios. Because the CVT has no perceptible shifts, the engine rpm doesn’t vary as much as it would in a regular automatic, so it sounds a little different when youre driving. I averaged almost 19 miles per gallon in mostly city driving.
The V-6 produces 203 horsepower. The Freestyle accelerates well, and the engine is fairly smooth. More power would be a welcome addition, especially if you’re hauling seven people.
The Freestyles optional all-wheel drive system is a Haldex unit currently used by Volvo. The beauty of this system is that it only drives the rear wheels when the fronts slip. It would be nice to have a switch to send power to all four wheels continuously in snow, however.
Side-curtain airbags and a rollover sensor are part of the Freestyles safety package. Antilock brakes and traction control are standard.
| Engine Type | Aluminum 3.0 liter DOHC 24-valve V6 Duratec |
| Horsepower | 203 @ 5,750 RPM |
| Torque | 207 ft-lbs. @ 4,500 RPM |
| Fuel Recommended | Regular 87 Octane Unleaded. |
| Transmissions | ZF-Batavia Continuously Variable Automatic or Aisin AW 6-speed Automatic Transmission |
| Drive Type (std) Drive Type (opt) | Front wheel drive All-wheel drive |
| Tires | P215/60R17 (Std. on SE and SEL) P225/55R18 (Std on Limited) |
| Overall Length | 200.7″ |
| Wheelbase | 112.9″ |
| Width | 74.5″ |
| Turning Diameter | 40.0 ft Curb to Curb |
| Curb Weight | 3,643 lb to 3,815 depending on transmission and drive type |
| Fuel Tank | 19.0 Gals. |
| Miles Per Gallon | N/A |
| Base Sticker Price | $22,145 plus $650 Destination Charge |
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