2005 Ford Freestyle SEL: In the Autoblog Garage Day 5

With Ford set to pull the Freestyle from their line-up after MY 2007, many have questioned the importance of this series of reviews. While Ford is planning to move the Freestyle name to a smaller crossover, the basic model will be moved into the Mercury line. We applaud this decision, but at the same time we're worried about losing the value that the current Freestyle represents.

The Freestyle has been a quiet and comfortable companion. The wagon utility and spacious interior are hard to match, especially at this price. As equipped, our front-wheel drive Freestyle came to about $29,765.00. That is retail. The Ford Family plan should bring the total price down by about $3000, making the Freestyle a bargain. For the household that needs to transport people and even material in comfort, there are few better options. Especially for those who are not attracted to minivans or more traditional SUVs.

We had mentioned earlier about the straight-line performance of the Freestyle. While we did comment that the car feels a little slow off the line, the CVT is able to manage enough engine power when needed to get the Freestyle moving. For those stop light drags, remember you should notch the transmission into L(ow) for brisk off the line acceleration. The whole package also provides excellent fuel economy. Our tester delivered an impressive 21 mpg.

So, who would we recommend this vehicle to? Well, families would obviously benefit from a vehicle like this. Individuals or families that often frequently transport other people would also find this vehicle to be a wise purchase. Personally, this is the perfect car to drive your grandmother around in. It is quiet, smooth, safe, and comfortable. Put simply, the Freestyle does not offend.

The current Freestyle represents a compelling value. It is a high quality vehicle with a spacious interior. We could see this vehicle being sold in Europe as well, perhaps with a diesel. The Freestyle may not continue on in its current form after 2007, but it is a compelling buy now.