2005 Ford Freestyle SEL AWD Road Test

Since loading my tester and heading to the local ski hill, I am prepared to give Ford their due on that claim. Although the

A 3.0-liter Duratec DOHC V6, capable of spinning out 203 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque powered my tester. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

aging Duratec V6 moans and groans more than a number of better refined V6 engines on the market, it squared-off with the long hill and put the Freestyle on top with complete ease. The CVT kept the Duratec revving in its optimal range for the ascent.

Throughout the climb, with the gearshift in the Drive position, the engine speed soared as high as 4,000 rpm without any discernable shift in gears. Along the way, I never found it necessary to manually 'gear down' or squeeze the throttle hard to initiate a gear reduction, so yes, I buy the 250 effective horsepower claim. Nonetheless, a little more juice for passing purposes would be desirable.

It will be interesting to see if the Continuously Variable Transmission catches on. In addition to making the most of engine output, Ford claims a five-percent increase in fuel economy with the CVT. So will these

The Continuously Variable Transmission keeps the Duratec revving in its optimal range. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

persuasive traits be enough to gain acceptance for the CVT? Only time and sales charts will tell.

What has been popularized over the last few years, though, is all-wheel drive technology, which like the Pacifica is available on the Freestyle. My ski trip provided me with the opportunity to test the Volvo-based, Haldex all-wheel drive system. As in Volvo's XC90, this apparatus is very effective at maintaining traction on snow- and ice-covered surfaces. The system instantly diverts power to the wheels with the best traction. Given the crossover status of this vehicle, it's no surprise that low-range gearing and an off-road tire package are not available.