Freestyle Sets Benchmark for Crashworthiness

It looks like Ford actually taking to heart the leesons learned from Volvo. After a string of dissapointing crash results thoughout the Ford domenstic line the Freestyle crossover earned the highest available crash test ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Freestyle previously earned the Insurance Institute's “best pick” designation in frontal offset crash test performance. Following its 40-m.p.h. offset frontal barrier crash test, IIHS noted that Freestyle’s occupant compartment experienced minimal intrusion by maintaining its integrity very well – an essential factor in helping to protect vehicle occupants in a frontal crash.

Ford stated the frontal impact performance was designed to meet the new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, which requires the restraints system to automatically adjust to the size of the front-seat passenger. The air bag controller uses front passenger classification sensing to determine if the seat is occupied, and if so, whether the passenger is an adult, a child or a child in a child safety seat.

Auto_expert - 9/14/2006 4:21:17 PM

-1 Boost

Uhh...Ok. Thanks.

aznstuart - 9/14/2006 5:32:31 PM

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WOW, Ford finally passes a crash test! How significant. Toyota and Honda have been doing that on all their models for the past decade.

Ryan - 9/14/2006 8:33:28 PM

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"Toyota and Honda have been doing that on all their models for the past decade."

Don't think so.......

Take a look at the brand new 2007 Honda Civic 2 door, only 3 stars for side impact, and thats with the side curtain air bags! Freestyle gets 5 stars without any side airbags.

And the 2007 Accord, only 4 gets stars.

And the 2006 Camry and Prius recieved POOR ratings in the IIHS side impact tests.

The 2007 Camry recoevd Marginal in rear impact, the Highlander, and Sienna received POOR in rear impact as did the Accord.

caguy518 - 9/15/2006 12:16:29 AM

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Not that Volvo passes every test with flying colors, but being based off of a Volvo chassis is obviously why it did so well....

bigslick83 - 9/15/2006 10:55:44 AM

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the 06 pacifica w/ side airbags has 5* front and side impact crash test ratings. they look better, have the ocs, have better options, more hp, better towing, more room, cost more but have higher residual value, and the freestyle is still trying to catch up.

bigslick83 - 9/15/2006 10:56:58 AM

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shoot im sorry ryan, i meant to boost ur comment but i hit the wrong button, can someone else do it for me?

Ryan - 9/15/2006 5:12:11 PM

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Unfortunately, the Pacifica only gets a POOR rating in rear impact.

The Freestyle gets the highest rating in ALL categories, front, side and rear.

mobiustech - 9/15/2006 7:54:29 PM

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I think what is missing is not that the Freestyle passed the test, but passed with the HIGHEST STANDINGS. What is it that so are not getting?

mobiustech - 9/15/2006 7:55:15 PM

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I think what is missing is not that the Freestyle passed the test, but passed with the HIGHEST STANDINGS. What is it that some are not getting?

bigslick83 - 9/18/2006 11:14:59 AM

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ummm no i think what your missing is a way to compare the actual test results. goto edmunds or another leading car site or the safercar.gov site itself. they have the exact same scoring only in 06 freestyle was not tested in offsett and bumperbash, and in 07 in bumper bash and rollover. other than that they got the same score. and the poor rating for the rear was like a 5mph fenderbender that did more than x dollars amount of damage. g that ought to save a thousand lives...NOT!