Ford Flex - News
Ford Flex: Retro Styled, Family Sized
From the people who brought you
the Escape, the Edge and the Freestyle/Taurus X comes the Ford Flex, which
either will prove that there's always room for one more sport utility vehicle in
a Ford showroom - or not.
Although crossovers are the only SUVs still selling well in the face of
$4-plus-a-gallon gas, one might wonder why Ford would feel the need for a fourth
in its showrooms - in addition to the traditional Explorer SUV.
Ford never really explains it, except to note that the Flex dances to a
different drummer visually than its stablemates or competitors. There are retro
styling cues, including horizontal fluting in the doors, aluminum cladding on
the tailgate, optional two-tone paint and a sharply boxy shape - the last
reminding some people of the Mini Cooper. The vehicle's chief designer was said
to have been inspired by appliances of the 1950s, including his personal
collection of antique canister vacuum cleaners.
On sale since last month, the Flex might be polarizing for its exterior styling
but its interior is mainstream, and with 262 hp. and more room than an Edge or
Escape and seating for up to seven, the Flex seems to have what it takes to meet
the needs of the big family that might once have bought a minivan. In fact, with
the Freestar discontinued, this and the closely sized Taurus X are the closest
things to a minivan that Ford has to offer.
The Flex suspension and steering clearly are tuned for the comfort of
passengers, not the enjoyment of the driver - in the tradition of another Ford
whose memory is evoked by the Flex: the Country Squire wagon. The Flex
transmission is a six-speed automatic.
Acceleration is more than adequate, especially considering the 4,600-plus-pound
weight of the all-wheel drive tester. Fuel economy is in the upper teens on
regular gas, by EPA estimate and according to the tester's driving computer.
The third row will accommodate average size adults in reasonable comfort, but
there's not much room for luggage when the third row is occupied. Other
complaints: Neither the second nor third row is removable without tools,
effectively reducing by about a quarter the considerable potential cargo volume
in this vehicle.
I also was disappointed not to find a telescoping steering wheel in a
$40,000-plus vehicle but the wheel does tilt, and the tester's pedals adjusted
fore and aft. Flexes begin at $28,995 with front-wheel drive.
And while the dashboard controls are logically arranged and clearly labeled,
some are too small and fussy to operate in a moving vehicle.
No safety ratings have been published yet for the Flex by either the federal
government or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Nor is there any
information publicly available about quality. Fords generally are deemed average
to better-than-average by Consumer Reports, based on its reader feedback. Ford's
performance is mixed in J.D. Power and Associates' owner surveys, but the
carmaker was deemed above average in the most recent one.
2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD
Vehicle tested:
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6, 262 hp.
Fuel: regular
Transmission: six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Safety: Dual front, side and curtain-type air bags; 4- wheel disc brakes
w/anti-lock, stability control and brake assist; reverse video camera; rear
proximity warning; fog lamps.
Place of assembly: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Cargo room: min./max. cubic feet: 20/83.2
EPA fuel economy estimates: 16 mpg, city; 22 highway
Price as driven: $43,250 including freight
-
Tom Incantalupo, Newsday, Friday, July 4, 2008
This page was last updated on
07/04/08
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