Overview & Reviews

With its Freestar, Ford learned the hard way that in the world of automobiles, there are few segments more cutthroat than the minivan category. Moms have ruthlessly high standards when it comes to their family transportation, and only those haulers with the most compelling mix of refinement, convenience features and luxury amenities survive. The Ford Freestar's sales had been disappointing from the outset, and as a result, 2007 was its last year of production. Crossovers, Ford believes, are the future of family transportation.

Ford's minivan wasn't completely without merit. Safety is an important factor in minivans, and in this area, the Freestar didn't come up short. It earned a perfect five stars in NHTSA frontal crash tests, and mothers and their pint-sized soccer stars were protected with features like standard stability control and optional side curtain airbags. Unfortunately, its success in this area paled in the face of its litany of shortcomings, which included sluggish acceleration, dismal fuel economy, ungainly handling and an unimpressive cabin.

For these reasons, savvy used minivan shoppers will find the Ford Freestar a relatively unsatisfactory proposition. If you're looking for a minivan, you'll no doubt find your needs better served by one of its competitors.

Most Recent Ford Freestar

The Ford Freestar was a seven-passenger minivan. Three trim levels were offered: SE, SEL and Limited. The Freestar could also be had in a cargo van body style, making it ideal for contractors needing a light-duty hauler.

The base SE trim was reasonably well equipped, with air-conditioning, full power accessories, a CD player and keyless entry all standard. The SEL added tri-zone air-conditioning, a power driver seat and second-row captain's chairs. The top-of-the-line Limited included upgrades such as chrome wheels, leather upholstery and automatic climate control.

Two engines were offered. A 3.9-liter V6 for the SE provided 193 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. The SEL and Limited trims got a 4.2-liter V6 that generated 201 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. Neither engine was especially frugal, turning in real-world fuel economy numbers that were among the poorest in the segment.

At first blush, the Freestar's cabin seemed like a winner. But a closer look revealed shortcomings. Materials looked nice but to the touch became apparent as subpar for the segment. The legroom in the second row was cramped. The lack of versatility didn't help either. Those second-row seats were heavy and tough to remove. And though the third-row seat folded flat, it didn't offer a 60/40 split like virtually all others in its class. At 135.7 cubes, cargo capacity fell short relative to others in the segment.

In editorial reviews, the Ford Freestar earned praise for having reasonable around-town power and a forgiving ride. The engines didn't fare as well when pushed, though, as they ran out of breath when quick passing was attempted. Performance was exacerbated by the van's aged four-speed automatic transmission -- most competitors used more advanced five-speed units. Also, the engines had a rougher, noisier power delivery than nearly any other V6 in the minivan segment. In consumer ratings, the Freestar was panned for its poor ride quality and dismal fuel economy.

Past Ford Freestar models

Ford introduced the Freestar back in model-year 2004 to replace the aged Windstar, which was sold from 1995-2003. Although Ford touted it as an all-new vehicle, the Freestar minivan was little more than a rebadged Windstar with minor upgrades, including a freshened interior equipped with a fold-flat third-row seat. A pair of more powerful V6 engines replaced the Windstar's 3.8-liter V6. Unfortunately, Ford's minivan put on weight during the transition, so even with the larger of the V6s, it was no faster than before and slightly less fuel-efficient to boot. This made the Freestar about as appealing as, well, the Windstar. Straight off the bat, it was trampled by the competition, both import and domestic, and Ford did little to rectify the situation.

The Freestar remained pretty much unchanged for its production duration, so buyers shopping for one on the used market will find few differences between the model years.

User Reviews:

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  Slick! - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By Reece - May 5 - 9:17 am

  Owned it for a year....great van!

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  2004 ford freestar wow wow wow - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By patrick 777 - May 4 - 10:00 am

  this 2004 ford freestar is a real winner rides better than a lincoln town car gets almost 600 miles to the 26 gal tank wow wow wow very happy 3.9 liter eng is very powerful excellent on the highway good response and holds the road plenty of pep good on long trips very dependale get one today you wont be sorry also has a powerful stereo system ac is frezing cold no sway on the highway thank you ford for making this great vichele

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  2004 Freestar Limited - 12 mpg. avg. - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Scott Shamblin - May 4 - 4:45 am

  I purchased every option available including full airbag canopy. Theres only one thing that I can not pass and that is a gas station. We have driven this van as easy as possible and the best I ever achieved was 13 mpg. The average is 12 mpg. With gas prices these days, I would say that this spoils any positive things I would have to say except for one. Its safe. Sorry, the 4.2 L is a flop. In one year its lost a bit more than 50% of its purchase price (huge depreciation off the lot!) and its cost us big bucks in original cost and gas. Big thumbs down for depreciation rate and lousy fuel economy. Im very disappointed with out van.

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  love it - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By ny driver - May 1 - 4:04 am

  Love everything about this vehicle. The only con is the plastic interior compared to the upholstered Windstar. Great driving and solid. Wish the DVD player did not block the rear window.

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  Freestar sets you free - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Chip - April 25 - 11:48 pm

  The Freestar is perfect for a VMI conversion for handicapped drivers! The ride is smooth, especially on the highway. The is not much wind noise, either. My conversion adds A LOT of weight and modifies the aerodynamics to the van which hinders fuel economy slightly.

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  Traded a Lexus LS400 - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Peter Leech - April 24 - 9:35 pm

  I have not had the slightest trouble & I cannot believe how well it handles, rides, looks etc. I was a new car dealer myself for a number of years, Ford, Chev-Olds, Mercedes Benz, & a BIG used car operation. Also raced production cars for years. My Freestar starts, stops, handles, is completely rattle free, very good stereo & DVD set up, tows well with factory trailer towing equipment, reasonable price for such a satisfactory vehicle. A Honda dealer friend lent me an Odyssey for a week & I decided that overall I considered the Freestar Limited to be the better vehicle.

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  good minivan - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By dalereid - April 21 - 2:48 am

  I have only had mine for a short time but I feel that, so far, it is a nice van at a decent price. The engine seems to have ample power with reasonable fuel mileage.

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  No Problems after 24000 Km - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Rob R - April 19 - 3:00 am

  Ive driven my 2004 Freestar Sport for nearly a year and have clocked 24,000Km. Its never been back to the dealer for warranty service - probably the best new car Ive ever owned. I owned a Windstar previously. The ride, quality of interior materials, handling, brakes, transmission shifting - all much better than Windstar. Only gas mileage is worse. Overall, a great vehicle at thousands less than the imports!

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  Freestar Perfromance - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Joe - April 12 - 8:32 pm

  Great basic van. Very practical. First minivan purchased. 3.9L engine is weak for the weight but delivers good mileage. Excellent safety record.

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  awesome - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By vicki - April 12 - 7:49 pm

  This vehicle is a 2 year lease and I got it before a huge snow storm. The vehicle just cruised through the snow with little swerving and sliding. The only complaint I have is the aerodynamics if you roll down the back window without the front being down your head will pound really bad otherwise it is good in all conditions and great for carrying things I sell at flea markets and there is plenty of room. Would recommmend for reliability.