Ford Freestyle Review: A Ford That Can Play In The Mud

Freestyle is a compact utility vehicle, not an appropriate SUV. Yet, its high ground clearance, large tires and powerful engine ensure you do not end up in slush conditions if, by chance, you encounter them

A crossover is a vehicle that combines the features of 39, a sports vehicle with SUV. those of a sedan or a sedan. It's an interesting and practical body shape. It offers a unique feeling of presence to a customer, usually has a spacious cabin, and can be done to look good, that is, it is suitable for personalization. Too bad we do not have many such vehicles in India. In the "popular" segment, the most popular crossover is Hyundai i20 Active, followed by Toyota Etios Cross and Fiat Urban Cross / Avventura. The last to join the company is Ford Freestyle – what name for a crossover car! We drive it in and around Delhi, then in mud, slush and even in a pond.

This is a CUV
Ford calls the Freestyle a compact utility vehicle, or CUV. It borrows design lines from an SUV and the wife with the practicality of a hatchback. Add to that an innovative technology embedded in the car, powerful engines and fuel efficient, and presentable looks. The Freestyle also enhances Ford's driveability thanks to the all-new 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, which delivers peak power of 96 horsepower and 120 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with, again a new five-speed manual transmission. Unlike other crossover cars that only borrow the design elements of an SUV, the Freestyle actually gets some SUV features, including Active Rollover Prevention and Hill Launch Assist, among others. . Finally, it is equipped with Ford's SYNC 3 connected car technology – with a 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen – and the high-end version has six airbags (two front airbags are standard). In addition to the new gasoline engine, it is available with Ford's reliable 1.5-liter TDCi diesel engine that generates peak power of 100PS and 215Nm of torque.

Unique looks
It does not really look great, but Freestyle will not get lost in the crowd, whether on the road or off-road. Its dominant position is that of some of the more expensive mini-SUVs. The unique grille with a three-dimensional mesh gives it a sporty character. The front bumper has sculpted sections, and the protective plates at the front and rear add to its stiffness similar to that of an SUV. What stands out is its 190-mm ground clearance and 15-inch large tires, which not only help the Freestyle navigate the bad roads, but also to have a better view of the road. compared to hatchback cars. The unique design of the alloy wheel completes its rugged appearance.

Decent Interiors
While the cabin receives a two-color treatment, the quality of plastics is not the best in its clbad. The overall design of the cabin resembles that of ten years ago. But the cabin is functional – there are 20 storage spaces, and the boot with a capacity of 257 liters can easily accommodate two large suitcases and a lot of small bags. The seating space is plentiful – the rear legroom of 871 mm and the free height of 959 mm is among the best in the sedan segment.

On the road
I drove the new petrol variant. This naturally aspirated engine has a lot of power, and in the right ratio, you do not feel that the car is pulled by a three-cylinder engine. Even slight pressure on the accelerator pedal results in good acceleration. Small engines are generally noisy, but in Freestyle, at almost all speeds, the cab is quiet and the noise of the road or tires is minimal

Off the road
Freestyle is a CUV. Yet, its high ground clearance, large tires and powerful engine ensure you do not end up in the mud if, by chance, you meet them. In fact, I took it inside a pond with a depth of about a foot, and the car continued to move as it would on a non-road. Metallic. Mention should be made of technologies such as Active Rollover Prevention – no other crossover has done – that applies brakes on the wheels concerned to decrease engine torque and help prevent any potential situation of rollover. However, because this is not an SUV, it is not suggested to intentionally remove the free style of the road. This simply leads to a cleaning job later

Is this a good buy?
It is available in four versions: Ambiente, Trend, Titanium and Titanium +. Ex-showroom, the prices of the essence variant of India start at Rs 5.09 lakh, ranging up to Rs 6.94 lakh. Diesel is priced at Rs 6.09 lakh to Rs 7.89 lakh. At such prices, Freestyle is an interesting purchase. As a product, it is significantly better in almost every aspect than a hatchback in this price range. And although it's not an SUV, it gets SUV features a segment above. It may not be the best car in its segment – the plastic quality inside the cab should be improved – but when it comes to driving pleasure, no other crossover, or even a mini SUV, does not get closer. And yes, there are six colors to choose from.