- crossover 205,653
- Lone Jack, MO
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- autoshopper.com
2006 ford freestyle review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Crossing over from wagon to suv. introductionthe ford freestyle is what has become known as a crossover vehicle. More than a station wagon, but not quite a sport utility, the freestyle is a successful example of a crossover. The freestyle combines space-conscious and people-friendly packaging with a modern powertrain that delivers performance and efficiency. three rows of seats yield six-passenger, or even seven-passenger capacity. Its 3. 0-liter v6 delivers good performance, while its continuously variable transmission eases engine load and smoothes the drive. All-wheel drive is available for owners who want all-weather capability. The other models use front-wheel drive. critics have said that the freestyle is simply the station wagon version of the new ford five hundred sedan. Technically, they're right. An optional navigation system is now available for the limited model. lineupthe 2006 ford freestyle comes in three trim levels, se, sel and limited. Each is available with all-wheel drive. All have the same 3. 0-liter v6 engine rated at 203 horsepower. All are equipped with a continuously variable transmission, or cvt. the se 25,105) and se awd 26,955) come with features not normally expected in a base model. Some of the se options are available, including the safety and security package 695). the limited 28,530) and limited awd 30,580) add an upgraded sound system with subwoofer, memory settings for driver's seat and outside mirrors, heated front seats, two-way adjustable second row seats, woodgrain dash trim, cargo net and, on the awd model, 18-inch bright aluminum wheels. options other than those available on the se and sel are a programmable, three-frequency remote opener system 115) and adjustable pedals with memory 195). walkaroundthe ford freestyle is built on the same platform as the ford five hundred sedan and share much of the same hardware. Both were launched as all-new models for 2005. styling cues make the freestyle look more like a ford escape, however. From all angles, the styling suggests a sport utility: the upright front end, the tall side glass, the hefty c-pillar, the fender blisters, the rear liftgate, and the big rear bumper cover. the freestyle's similarities to the five hundred become more apparent when the two are parked together. The freestyle is just an inch shorter in overall length than the five hundred and the wheelbase, the distance between the front and rear wheels, is identical. Only in height is there a marked difference. The freestyle is eight inches taller, at 68. 3 inches, than the five hundred, part of which is a result of the freestyle's added ground clearance. It falls between the two in terms of size. The freestyle is two feet longer than a ford escape, and has a 10-inch longer wheelbase. And the escape is only about an inch taller. The freestyle is seven inches longer than the popular ford explorer, though its wheelbase is about the same. The second-row seats tend more toward utilitarian than coddling, with flat seat bottoms and backs. With the second-row bench alternative, the center seat bottom and back cushions are above grade, but there's even less lateral support than what's provided by the bucket seats. ford says the third-row seat was designed to comfortably accommodate a 6-foot, 1-inch male. Indeed, headroom back there is commendable, thanks to a roofline that's several inches higher over the rear seats than at the windshield, a styling feat deftly masked by the angular c-pillar and roof rack. There's a deep well behind the third row of seats, which the seats occupy when collapsed. And there's a sunglasses holder incorporated into the overhead console. That overhead unit also houses the conversation mirror, a. The kid spy glass, although this combo feature gets displaced by the optional moonroof. Second- and third-row seats get reading lights. the dash design is quiet and uncluttered, assembled from few bits and pieces, promising minimal squeaks and rattles as the freestyle ages. Framed by the steering wheel are large, round, easy-to-scan, white-on-black (the limited gets black-on-white) tachometer and speedometer, between which are the fuel and engine water temperature gauges and, on the sel and limited, a digital information display, all beneath a hood shading them from midday glare. At the far ends of the dash are two round air conditioning registers, identical to two atop the center stack. To the left of the steering column are the headlight and dash light controls, and when ordered the rocker switch for the adjustable pedals. The high-beam, turn indicator and windshield/backlight wiper/washer levers sprout from the left and right side of the column, respectively. at finger-tip level in the center stack is the stereo control head, for the most part ergonomic, except for the tuning function, which requires either enduring an interminable scan/seek process or depres. driving impressiondriving a car with a continuously variable transmission, or cvt, takes some getting used to. There are no shifts, no gear changes, up or down. Instead, the driver steps on the gas, the engine speeds up, and a moment later the car begins to move. The engine then maintains about the same, seemingly elevated rpm while the car accelerates to the desired speed, at which point the driver eases off the gas to let the engine slow to where the car keeps moving at that speed.
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