Amazing things happen when inspiration and empowerment take hold. Outstanding products come out of normal places. 2005 was the year when a breath of fresh air came out of Ford when they introduced FreeStyle crossover as one of six new nameplates during the company’s “Year of the Car”.

It is probably what a station wagon of our childhood years would have naturally evolved into if not for our misguided love affair with the SUV. What makes FreeStyle special is it draws on some of the best segments of Ford’s portfolio.

Its architecture draws its inspiration from Volvo XC90 with its platform is based on the Ford Five Hundred sedan. The results are reflected in the excellent safety ratings for this model. If you are in the market for something slightly smaller than an SUV that has all the versatility of a minivan, then the FreeStyle should fit the bill nicely.

Quality Underneath the Gloss

Under the chassis is the Duratec 30 engine that offers exceptional emissions performance, meeting the much tougher federal Tier II, Bin 5 definition and California LEV II standards for low-emission vehicles. This is great for those who are in to greener vehicles. It also sports an all-new, continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Ford claims, the Duratec 30 does not require a tune-up in its first 100,000 miles of operation and the CVT does not to require maintenance for its first 60,000 miles. A quick review of feedback on popular websites seems to indicate pretty high rating on those fronts. As with any used car, make sure you have the vehicle checked out before handing out the money.

Moving on to the inside, the ergonomics are surprisingly refreshing for a mass market model. Ford seems to have dipped into its luxury bin. And oh yes, the it comes with a whole bag of storage tricks that make minivans so hard to live without. In addition it has the convex “conversation mirror”, a popular feature borrowed from minivan family that lets the driver direct an eye towards rear-seat passengers (great for minding the kids!).

Well Earned Reviews and Ratings

In terms of safety ratings, the 2005 Ford Freestyle earns the highest available rating of “Good” and a “Best Pick” designation in frontal-offset crash-test performance by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It also does pretty well in NCAP Ratings for 2005.

Straight off the lot, the FreeStyle comes with dual-level driver, and front-passenger airbags as a standard feature, with front-seat mounted side-impact airbags as an option. Another safety feature is the adaptive steering column that absorbs energy from a frontal collision whether or not the driver has seat belts on. It is listed among “Parents” magazine’s and AAA’s “Best Cars for Families”.

The S80/XC90 chassis architecture contributes to its overall excellent handling even on snow. The New England Motor Press Association named the 2005 Ford Freestyle their “Official Winter Vehicle”.

A Few Gremlins Under The Hood

Alas! FreeStyle is not without its flaws. There is a recall notice on some vehicles. The straps that secure the fuel tank to the body may break, causing the fuel tank and fuel tank heat shield to drop on the driveshaft (AWD) or exhaust system (FWD). This is a major fire risk! Please check below to make sure the car you are considering has this fixed:

http://www.ford.com/owner-services/vehicle-maintenance/recall-information/

Price-wise a well maintained 2005 FreeStyle Limited edition with 60,000 miles and all options is changing hands in by-owner-from-owner market for around $12,000.

In all, 2005 FreeStyle seems to have a little bit of everything minivan, suv, car – in a rather nice way. And at that price, if you are a parent looking for a “kid mobile” or a senior looking for something for that winter run to Florida – FreeStyle is worth your consideration.