2006 Ford Freestar SEL

Powertrains
Freestar's standard 3.9-liter V-6-quieter, more refined and more efficient than the 3.8-liter it replaced—provides 194 hp and 243 lb.-ft. of torque. The new 4.2-liter V-6 standard on Limited and SEL offers 201 hp and a class-leading 263 lb.-ft. of low-end grunt. Both earn ULEV (Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle) ratings and can deliver 400-plus miles on a 26-gallon tank with 18/24 EPA city/highway fuel economy from the 3.9L and 17/23 from the 4.2L.


The new MacPherson strut front suspension with liquid-filled rear control arm bushings and twist-beam rear axle with Panhard rod and precise power rack-and-pinion steering combine for nimble, responsive handling and surprisingly supple ride. Standard 4-wheel disc brakes (upsized from Windstar's) with ABS and Electronic Brake Force Distribution improve fade resistance, pedal feel, response and, most importantly, stopping distances.

Cargo

An available and highly recommended AdvanceTrac system selectively applies braking and (if necessary) adjusts engine power to stabilize the vehicle if it senses oversteer (rear-wheel skid) or understeer (front-wheel skid). It also includes a panic brake assist feature that applies full braking faster than most drivers can when it detects emergency braking.


Ford sees safety as a Ford minivan tradition, so it packed Freestar with class-leading safety features that earned an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety "Best Pick" frontal crash rating. "When you design a minivan," says Freestar Chief Engineer Max Kapadia, "it's easy to set your priorities: Just ask yourself, 'What kind of vehicle would you like your family to travel in—'" The new Freestar also earned a five-star rating in government frontal crash tests.

Safety
The standard Personal Safety System uses passenger weight-sensing to automatically deactivate the front passenger airbag when the seat is empty or occupied by a small child. New available patented Safety Canopy airbags deploy from the headliner to cover most of the glass area along all three rows of seating. In a rollover, they deploy on both sides and stay inflated longer to help protect occupants from multiple impacts and prevent them from being ejected. Seat-mounted side-impact airbags complement this canopy for front-seat passengers.