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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The Best keeps getting Better - 2004 Ford Freestar
By Lenny722 - February 11 - 10:00 amThis is the second Ford minivan I have purchused and I feel safe on the highway and around the city. Confort is outstanding for a minivan along with a quite tight ride better then any other minivan. The look of the 2004 Freestar stands apart from the sameold bullet looking style of other minivans, It looks in a class of its own with stylish body sculpturing, headlighting all in a hermeticly attractive look. I feel proud driving the Ford Freestar and take advantage of any chance to show it off, But that is something that Freestar does well by itself.
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Nice Van - 2004 Ford Freestar
By boa49 - July 7 - 10:00 amI just bought this vehicle, but I love it! Fuel economy could be better, but otherwise it is perfect for my needs and I got it for much less than the competition due to the included rebates and my companys Ford Partner X-plan.
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comparing 2000 windstar/ 2004 freestat - 2004 Ford Freestar
By miro kubala - June 1 - 10:00 amOur new 2004 freestar is much quieter and the 4.2 liter power plant is much more reponsive than the 3.8 engine of our2000 windstar.The instrument cluster is much nicer in the freestar and the fold down rear seats will eliminate many hernia operations
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Nice van - 2004 Ford Freestar
By otoniel - February 4 - 10:00 amThis van is what people need. its had a nice interior.
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just dont like it - 2004 Ford Freestar
By tbogg - July 31 - 10:00 amwish I would have gotten a different mini van. Am very disappointed in the freestar. What a waste of money
