Ford Freestyle Interior
The interior features a brown black theme, unlike beige which is an Indian favourite. We also feel the dark theme suits the Freestyle better. However, the shade of brown used can be an acquired taste and we are certainly not fans of it. An all black dash is more to our liking. The overall dash layout is similar to the Figo, but the centre console has been redesigned to accommodate the new 6.5 inch touch screen for the SYNC3 infotainment system that comes here from the Ecosport facelift. The system features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard but misses out on navigation. A special mention about the SYNC3 system which is absolutely brilliant and better than what we’ve seen in cars from a higher segment. The graphics are crisp, not loud, touch response is quick and there is absolutely no lag whatsoever. Fonts are large and easy to read too. We love it. The instrument cluster has been carried over from the Figo. It does look dated but gets a revised MID. Also the tachometer should been a little larger. The MID is operated via a trip button on the right stalk. The engine start/stop button is located to the left of the instrument cluster. Pressing the button without the clutch will put the car into ignition ‘on’ mode. Depress the clutch and push the button to start the car. The three spoke steering, although nice to hold feels a size larger. The left spoke features audio and phone controls while the right spoke is blank. Two USB ports and a 12V charger are located at the bottom of the centre console. Other features include automatic climate control, auto headlamps, rain sensing wipers and new upholstery for the seats. The gear knob is quite chunky and has a great feel. The knobs for the audio and climate control have a premium finish and are of quality. There are a few plastics in the cabin that could have been better though. The ORVMS can be adjusted electrically and have the auto fold function.
The front seats are comfortable though people with larger frames will find them narrow. Lumbar support is adequate. The seats have new fabric and design pattern and also feature contrast stitching. The rear seats feature a good recline angle and legroom is good too thanks to the scooped front seat backs. Headroom is premium for taller passengers and the fixed headrests could can get uncomfortable as well. The rear seat cannot be folded down in a split manner either. Standard boot space is 257 litres and the boot has good depth as well. The Freestyle comes with a space saver tyre, that has a 175/65 profile mounted onto a 14 inch wheel. Ford should have offered a full size spare wheel in our opinion.
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