It has almost been a year since Ford has introduced the Freestyle in India. This global product from Ford combines SUV-like design ques, peppy drive and innovative technologies to target the young brigade who aspire to own a SUV-like vehicle in a compact size and a pocket friendly price.

The Freestyle is being produced at Ford India’s Sanand factory in Gujarat, for consumers in India and all around the world, including parts of Europe and Africa. India was the first market where the Ford Freestyle went on sale. On a sultry summer afternoon, we got behind the wheel of the Ford Freestyle Diesel and took it for a spin around the City of Joy. Read on to discover how she fared.

Design and Engineering

The Freestyle uses design elements common to SUVs, albeit in a more compact dimension. The Freestyle grille with three-dimensional mesh gives this car a sportier look. The front bumper has sculpted sections – that add to its SUV-like look and rigidity. While the skid plates on the front and rear, makes the car every bit the off-roader that it claims to be.

With the 190 mm ground clearance, the Freestyle smoothly sailed over all the speed-bumps and undulations on Kolkata roads without the fear of causing any damage to the under-carriage. The 15-inch tyres with stylish alloys wheels add to the masculine look of this cross-hatch.

The Freestyle will be available in six colours, including a new White Gold, Canyon Ridge, Moondust Silver, Oxford White, Smoke Grey and Absolute Black.

Interior and Comfort

Step inside, and the Ford Freestyle will welcome you with its dual tone interiors that looks elegant. The seats are well cushioned and provide good lumbar support. The passenger compartment is spacious with adequate leg room for both front and rear passengers. Like all Fords, the Freestyle has several storage compartments, more than 20 of them, to tuck away everything that you may need on your trips – from water bottles and munchies to your umbrellas and change to pay the toll – there is space for everything.

The Ford Freestyle also features Ford’s in-car infotainment system, SYNC 3 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen which allows drivers to control their entertainment and their connected smartphone with conversational voice commands. SYNC 3 system is also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

The Ford Freestyle comes with a host of convenience features including, a reverse parking camera, keyless entry and a push start / stop. The automatic climate control on the Freestyle is a chiller and capable of bringing cabin temperature down from upwards of 35-degrees to a comfortable 20-degrees, in less than 15-minutes, something that we have experienced in the sweltering April heat in Kolkata.

Performance and Handling

The Freestyle Diesel that we tested was powered by Ford’s tried and tested 1.5L TDCi diesel powertrain that generates 100 PS of peak power and 215 Nm of torque. The diesel engine is quite powerful and pulls well from about 1000 rpm displaying negligible lag. The engine is very responsive and reacts well to throttle inputs. It strikes the right balance between handling and ride quality making it a pleasure to drive. Even at high speeds and while navigating quick corners, the Freestyle remains firmly grounded with very little body roll. Braking is prompt and confidence inspiring.  The suspension set up is well tuned for Indian road conditions and absorbs most undulation with relative ease.

Customers also have a choice to opt for Ford’s all-new, three-cylinder 1.2L TiVCT petrol engine that is small, light, and aims to combine performance with fuel efficiency. The naturally aspirated engine generates 96 PS of peak power and 120 Nm of torque to deliver a spirited drive and is sure to appeal to the young and the young-at-heart.

Both engines will be paired with an all-new, five-speed manual transmission that is slicker and more responsive. Ford claims that this new manual transmission is almost 15 per cent lighter and helps improve fuel economy while reducing NVH. According to the company, the new transmission requires 40 per cent lesser gear oil than its predecessor too.

Safety 

Ford has been championing the cause of safety in their vehicle for some time now and has introduced the Active Rollover Prevention (ARP) with the Freestyle. The system works with Electronic Stability Control and applies brakes on relevant wheels to decrease engine torque and help prevent any potential rollover situations.

The Freestyle also comes equipped with other safety features like TCS, ABS with EBD, hill launch assist and EPAS among others. In addition to this the Freestyle also comes with standard dual airbags across the variant line-up. For those looking for greater safety, Freestyle offers up to six airbags on top Titanium+ trim.

 

Verdict

Over the years, the image of brand Ford has evolved in the Indian market. There is a sense of reliability and peace of ownership that Ford India has been able to successfully instill in the minds of the Indian consumer. Unlike yesteryear, when a first-time car buyer would inevitably opt for either a Maruti Suzuki or Hyundai, today a large number of them are opting for a Ford. The EcoSport is a great success story and a leading flag-bearer for Ford in India. So today, any new product offering from Ford is awaited with great enthusiasm in the Indian market.

The all-new Freestyle has been positioned to appeal to the consumers who aspire to own a compact-SUV at the price of a premium hatch. Its boasts of good ride quality and handling. It comes equipped with technology that help you stay connected. Ford has been championing the cause of safety for many years and ensure that every product that they put on the road are safe to drive. The Freestyle is no different with a host of safety features and some of them first-in-segment. Overall, it is a great product which combines style, practicality, comfort, performance and safety. Ford also offers a reasonably solid service back-up and low cost of ownership (lower than Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai) which would further augment Freestyle’s bid to consolidate its position in the segment.