Minivan; Built in Canada |
|
|
Good condition price range: $3,300 – $11,700* |
2005 Ford Freestar
2005 Ford Freestar
2005 Ford Freestar
2004 Ford Freestar
Pros: |
|
Cons: |
|
Neither Freestar nor Monterey can match such rivals as Honda Odyssey or Dodge Caravan for driving enjoyment, or Toyota Sienna for refinement. An aging basic design mars their overall appeal. On the upside, these revamped minivans boast some laudable safety and convenience features, and prices have been competitive.
Overview
Ford revamped its minivan for 2004, giving it new styling and features, and changing its name from Windstar to Freestar. Mercury got an upscale version called the Monterey. Freestars came in a single body length that was similar in size to such rivals as the Toyota Sienna and Dodge Grand Caravan. Ford also competed against Honda’s Odyssey.
Freestar came in S, SE, SES, SEL, and Limited trim levels. All had seven-passenger capacity and included two second-row bucket seats. The third-row bench folded into the floor–a first for a Ford minivan. It could also be flipped for rear-facing “tailgate” seating under the open liftgate. Power operation was available for the sliding side doors.
Ford offered two engine choices. S, SE, and SES models had a 193-horsepower 3.9-liter V6. SEL and Limited versions used a 201-horsepower 4.2-liter V6. A four-speed automatic was the sole transmission. All-wheel drive was not offered, but antiskid control was optional on all but the base S model. Antilock four-wheel disc brakes were standard.
Curtain side airbags that covered all three seating rows were optional; they were designed to deploy in a side impact or when sensors detected an impending rollover. Self-sealing tires were available on all but the base S model. DVD entertainment was optional. Ford added other options later in the model year, including a power liftgate, a rear cargo organizer, and 17-inch alloy wheels vs. standard 16s.
Yearly Updates
2005 Freestar Ford’s minivan was virtually unchanged for 2005. A two-passenger cargo van was available, in addition to the selection of passenger models. |
2006 Freestar Again, little changed for Ford’s minivan, which was selling slower than hoped and faced possible extinction before long. |
2007 Freestar Freestar carries over unchanged during its last year. |