Constant that is until you open the updated model's door and peer into what has to be one of the sharpest minivan interiors in the biz. The Freestar delivers very high quality materials and a nicely laid out design, regardless of trim level. The Limited model I tested was adorned with all of the luxury items expected in a class-leading luxury car. Wonderfully comfortable heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, plus memory settings and power sliding side doors ensure comfort and convenience for all.

The Freestar delivers very high quality materials and a nicely laid out design, regardless of trim level. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

An optional side curtain airbag, termed "Safety Canopy" by Ford, provides head protection to occupants of all three rows of seats. Safety is further assured with the availability of systems such as AdvanceTrac, paired with Brake Assist and audible reverse sensing.

Rather than getting bogged down in technical yada yada yada, I would prefer to take you on a literary test drive of the Freestar. There has already been much written about the van's tech and spec's, just check the archives of the New Car Review section of this website.

I wasn't disappointed by the Freestar's European'ish interior design and refinement. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

It was a particularly rainy morning when I picked up the Freestar from Ford's head-office located in the farming community of Langley, BC. I had driven there in my aging VW Westfalia (technically a minivan but marketed as an outdoor recreational vehicle... grrrr) making me look forward to the 4.2 liter V6 engine for the trip home - just a bit more grunt when laying into the throttle and a lot more refinement overall.

I wasn't disappointed. After taking in the elegant chrome bezels surrounding the full set of gauges in the European'ish dash design and then setting up the multi-adjustable power seat, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power mirrors and power adjustable pedals for an ultra-comfortable driving position, a twist of the key brought the engine to life. The 4.2 quickly settled to a smooth and relatively quiet idle as I spent a few minutes acquainting myself with the Freestar's features and controls. Everything was in reach and logically laid-out.