Sporty Handling and Super-Sized Cargo Capacity
As automakers bend over backwards to meet the needs of niche markets, occasionally they strike a chord with the majority of consumers. Case in point is the new crossover category, a segment that mixes the spaciousness and tall seating position of an SUV with the drivability of a station wagon.
Ford's upcoming Freestyle is the latest in a long line of competitors that includes the Buick Rendezvous, Chrysler Pacifica, Nissan Murano, Pontiac Aztek, Toyota Highlander, and the list goes on with plenty more in the luxury market.
The Freestyle was designed to be a crossover vehicle with the exterior look of an SUV, but with the flexibility to carry people and cargo too, said Amy Marentic, Freestyle marketing manager. It has three rows of seats and can carry seven adults. And, while having a trunk that is more spacious than the Chrysler Pacifica, when the third row seat is folded flat, it has 4,361 L (154 cubic feet) of storage space, and an additional 1,416 L (50 cubic feet) when the second row is folded flat too. Lastly, the front passenger seat also folds flat to provide even more room to haul long items.
"I'm married with three children--a daughter who's 10 and sons who are nine and seven--and all that I've learned has gone into this vehicle," Marentic said. "The vehicle to us really is about balance and we do believe that we bridge the gap between a sedan and an SUV."
The vehicle offers theater-style seating, where the second row sits higher than the first and the third row sits higher than the second, allowing rear passengers to also have a good view of the road. There is also a bow in the roof to provide good headroom to passengers in the third row seats.
As automakers bend over backwards to meet the needs of niche markets, occasionally they strike a chord with the majority of consumers. Case in point is the new crossover category, a segment that mixes the spaciousness and tall seating position of an SUV with the drivability of a station wagon.
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| The Freestyle was designed to be a crossover vehicle, mixing the looks of an SUV with the functionality of a minivan. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
The Freestyle was designed to be a crossover vehicle with the exterior look of an SUV, but with the flexibility to carry people and cargo too, said Amy Marentic, Freestyle marketing manager. It has three rows of seats and can carry seven adults. And, while having a trunk that is more spacious than the Chrysler Pacifica, when the third row seat is folded flat, it has 4,361 L (154 cubic feet) of storage space, and an additional 1,416 L (50 cubic feet) when the second row is folded flat too. Lastly, the front passenger seat also folds flat to provide even more room to haul long items.
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| "The vehicle to us really is about balance and we do believe that we bridge the gap between a sedan and an SUV," said Amy Marentic, Freestyle marketing manager. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
The vehicle offers theater-style seating, where the second row sits higher than the first and the third row sits higher than the second, allowing rear passengers to also have a good view of the road. There is also a bow in the roof to provide good headroom to passengers in the third row seats.