2007 Ford Freestar Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Freestar comes in SE, SEL, and Limited models, all with three-row seating for seven. Second-row seats are either a two-passenger bench or twin buckets. A 3rd-row bench folds into the floor and also flips backward for picnicking beneath the open liftgate. SE has a 193-hp V6, SEL and Limited a 201-hp V6. A 4-speed automatic is the sole transmission. ABS is standard. An antiskid system is optional. Available are curtain side airbags that cover all three seating rows and include rollover deployment. DVD entertainment is optional. Freestar shares its design with the Mercury Monterey.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Long the choice as a family hauler, Minivans are easily the smartest use of space for passengers and cargo. These vehicles offer a fantastic blend of comfort, convenience, and safety features for the modern family.

Our Best Buy is the Honda Odyssey. Our Recommended picks are the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, and Toyota Sienna.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Hyundai Entourage and Nissan Quest.

News

Sources say 2007 is the last year for Freestar. Mercury's Monterey is already out of production. Both minivans have been poor sellers since their 2003 debut. In their place come Ford and Lincoln "people movers" built on the Volvo-based D3 platform of the Five Hundred/Mercury Montego sedans and Ford Freestyle crossover. The likely pattern is the recent Fairlane concept, so look for boxy styling with a lower and wider stance than the minivan norm. Three-row seating should be standard. A 4.4-liter V8 is rumored. The Ford version is tipped to start production in early '08 as a 2009 model aimed at 100,000 yearly sales. Lincoln's people mover will also bow as a 2009 model, but is planned for only some 25,000 yearly sales.

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2007 Ford Freestar Road Test

Pros	Cons

Passenger and cargo room	Fuel economy

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

SEL	Class Average
5	4.8

Only 201-hp versions of Freestar made available for test. This is the only engine available in Monterey. It provides sufficient power for most driving situations. Transmission delivers smooth, prompt shifts.

Fuel Economy

SEL	Class Average
4	4.1

Test models averaged 16.6 mpg in a city/highway driving mix. Ford recommends regular-grade fuel for both V6s.

Ride Quality

SEL	Class Average
5	6

Mostly stable, absorbent, but sharp bumps and ruts can jolt through, and coarse pavement causes minor but unpleasant structural vibration. No opportunity to test with available 17-inch tires.

Steering/Handling/Braking

SEL	Class Average
4	4.7

Freestar and Monterey handling merely competent, but no more, with noticeable body lean in turns. Brakes smooth, progressive, but stopping control unexceptional.

Quietness

SEL	Class Average
5	5.9

V6 in models tested sounded hoarse, strained when cold or at full throttle. Very little wind rustle at highway speeds. Road noise modest in front, much louder in back. Despite upscale positioning, Monterey seems only marginally quieter than Freestar overall.

Controls

SEL	Class Average
6	6.2

Freestar, Monterey share a dashboard design with clear instrumentation and mostly simple, handy switchgear. Climate controls are too low for easy driver access. Mercury version has more bright accents than the Ford and some materials that feel slightly richer, but budget-grade plastic abounds in all models.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

SEL	Class Average
7	6.9

Height-adjustable seats and power-adjustable pedals standard on uplevel models, available on most others to accommodate most any size driver. Still, rearward seat travel not quite enough for six-footers. Exclusive to Monterey are available cooled front seats that work quickly to enhance hot-weather comfort. Outward vision good to all corners. Montereys include front and rear obstacle detection vs. Freestar's available rear-only system.

Room/Comfort (rear)

SEL	Class Average
7	6.9

Seats nicely padded, supportive in both 2nd and 3rd rows. SEL/Limited's 2nd-row buckets slide fore/aft a few inches, but leg room not generous for tall adults. All 2nd-row seats fold and tumble for access to 3rd row, which is best left to kids, though adults can enjoy the seat's "tailgate party" position.

Cargo Room

SEL	Class Average
10	10

Lots of space, even with all seats in place, thanks to deep floorwell that stores easily folded 3rd row. Second-row seats are removable and fold without taking off headrests. Interior storage a bit skimpy for minivans; parking brake lever reduces utility of front center console. Folded 3rd-row seat exposes two metal sidewall brackets that eat into cargo space.

Value within Class

SEL	Class Average
5	6.3

Freestar and the very similar Mercury Monterey are attractively priced and offer laudable safety and convenience features. But an aging basic design and disappointing interior decor dims their overall appeal vs. Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna, which are more pleasant to drive. Note that Ford says 2007 is the final model year for these minivans, which may mean deeper discounts.

Total Score

SEL	Class Average
58	61.8

Scores for all Minivans

Low Score		56
Average Score		61
High Score		71

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2007 Ford Freestar Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 11/21/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

SE 4-door van	$23,705	$21,904	$780

SEL 4-door van	$26,665	$24,569	$780

Limited 4-door van	$29,575	$27,177	$780

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

3.9-liter V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, tire-pressure monitor.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Front air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, 7-passenger seating, front bucket seats, cupholders, 2nd-row bench seat, 3rd-row stowable bench seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, intermittent wipers, map lights, visor mirrors, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, roof rails, 225/60R16 tires, wheel covers.

SEL adds to SES:

Powertrain

4.2-liter V6 engine.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Rear air conditioning, tri-zone manual climate controls (including rear controls), leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, 6-way power driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, 2nd-row captain chairs, keypad entry, illuminated visor mirrors, compass, outside-temperature indicator, conversation mirror, automatic headlights, cornering lights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

235/60R16 tires, alloy wheels.

Limited adds to SEL:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Leather upholstery, wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate controls (including rear controls), heated power mirrors w/turn signals, power sliding rear doors, rear radio controls, trip computer, analog clock.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Chrome alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Premium Pkg.
Limited	$375	$326
Automatic day/night rearview mirror, universal garage door opener, roof rack, alarm.

AdvanceTrac
SE	$730	$635
Traction control, brake assist, antiskid system.

AdvanceTrac w/park assist
Limited, SE, SEL	$975	$848
AdvanceTrac plus rear-obstacle-detection system.

Appearance Pkg.
SE	$695	$605
Bodyside cladding, unique exterior trim, 235/60R16 tires, alloy wheels.

Class II Trailer-Towing Pkg.
Limited, SE, SEL	$335	$291
Trailer-tow wiring, heavy-duty cooling and battery, 235/60R16 tires.

Safety
Curtain side airbags w/rollover sensor
Limited, SE, SEL	$695	$605
Includes front side airbags. SE requires rear air conditioning.

Rear-obstacle-detection system
Limited, SE, SEL	$295	$257


Comfort and Convenience Features
Rear air conditioning w/tri-zone manual controls
SE	$675	$587


DVD entertainment system
Limited, SE, SEL	$1,395	$1,214


Floor console
Limited, SE, SEL	$150	$131


Leather upholstery
SEL	$890	$775


Heated front seats
Limited	$245	$213


Power driver seat
SE	$325	$283


Power passenger seat
SEL, Limited	$305	$265
SEL requires leather upholstery.

2nd-row captain chairs
SE	$795	$692


2nd-row 2-passenger bench seat
SEL, Limited	$0	$0


Power-adjustable pedals
Limited, SE, SEL	$150	$131
Limited requires Memory Pkg.

Memory Pkg.
Limited	$425	$370
Memory system (driver seat, mirrors, pedals). Requires AdvanceTrac w/park assist, curtain side airbags, power-adjustable pedals.

AM/FM/cassette/CD player
Limited, SE, SEL	$105	$91


AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer
SEL, Limited	$255	$222


Power sliding rear doors
SEL	$900	$783


Power liftgate
SEL, Limited	$400	$348
SEL requires power sliding rear doors.

Cargo-management system
Limited, SE, SEL	$125	$109


Cargo net
SE	$25	$22


3rd-row floormat
SE, SEL	$25	$22


Smoker's Pkg.
Limited, SE, SEL	$30	$26
Lighter, ash tray.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear spoiler
SE	$290	$253


Self-sealing tires
Limited, SE, SEL	$280	$243


17-inch alloy wheels
SE, SEL	$245	$213
Includes 235/55R17 tires.

Polished 17-inch alloy wheels
Limited	$425	$370
Includes 235/55R17 tires.

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2007 Ford Freestar Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Ford Freestar 4-door van

Wheelbase, in.	120.8

Overall Length, in.	201.0

Overall Width, in.	76.4

Overall Height, in.	70.8

Curb Weight, lbs.	4295

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	135.7

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	26.0

Seating Capacity	7

Front Head Room, in.	38.9

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	40.7

Rear Head Room, in.	40.1

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	38.0

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	ohv V6	ohv V6

Size, liters/cu. in.	3.9 /232	4.2 /256

Horsepower @ rpm.	193 @ 4500	201 @ 4250

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	240 @ 3750	263 @ 3650

Availability	Standard	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

4-speed automatic	18/24	17/23

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Ford Freestar 4-door van

Front Impact, Driver	5

Front Impact, Passenger	5

Rollover Resistance	4

Side Impact, Driver	4

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	5/60,000	5/100,000 on Ford Focus only. 8/100,000 on Escape Hybrid components.

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/Unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	5/60,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Canada

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2007 Ford Freestar Photos

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Also in the 2007 Ford Freestar Review:

Ford Freestar

Ford Freestar Road Test

Ford Freestar Prices & Equipment

Ford Freestar Specs & Safety

Ford Freestar Photos

Ford Freestar Full Review