2009 Ford Flex Review

PROS  Plenty of passenger and cargo room, Lots of available features

CONS  Middling acceleration, Mediocre fuel economy

Little did anyone know, but the Fairlane concept that made the auto show rounds in 2003 was a precursor to Ford's minivan of the future. It's strikingly angular lines, broad proportions, and upscale interior suggested a modern interpretation of the traditional family cruiser. During a four-year gestation period, Ford turned the Fairlane concept into the Flex crossover SUV.

Though the Flex's exterior suggests otherwise, it's a fairly traditional seven-passenger, four-door wagon that's available with either front- or all-wheel drive. With two rows of split-folding seats and a one-piece rear hatch, the Flex is a perfect replacement for Ford's utilitarian Freestar minivan. On paper, it's also a solid competitor to midsize crossover SUVs like the Chevy Traverse, Dodge Journey, GMC Acadia, Hyundai Veracruz, Mazda CX-9, Saturn Outlook, and Toyota Highlander.

Flex is available in three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited. All get a 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. While SE is offered only with front-wheel drive, SEL and Limited are available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Maximum towing capacity when properly equipped is 4500 pounds.

Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability control with rollover sensors, traction control, tire-pressure monitor, rear-obstacle-detection system, wiper-activated headlights, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. A rear-view camera is part of the navigation package that is offered on the SEL and Limited.

SE models list for $28,295 and include air conditioning, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, six-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, fold-flat passenger seat, center console, second-row split-folding seat, third-row stowable split seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, keypad entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, automatic day/night rearview mirror, illuminated visor mirrors, rear defogger, rear wiper/washer, floormats, theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, fog lights, 235/60R18 tires, and alloy wheels.

SEL starts at $32,070 and includes dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, ten-way power driver seat, six-way power passenger seat, heated power mirrors, universal garage door opener, Sony AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, and Sirius satellite radio.

The line-topping Limited has a starting price of $34,705 and includes wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, memory system for the driver seat, mirrors, and pedals, iPod adapter, Bluetooth cell-phone link, voice recognition, 110-volt outlet, power liftgate, HID headlights, and 235/55R19 tires.

Available features include navigation system with voice recognition and real-time traffic information, two different rear-seat DVD entertainment systems, Ford's Sync multimedia command system, power sunroof with rear-seat fixed glass panels, second-row bucket seats and console, refrigerated center console, remote engine start, cap-less fuel filler, and two-tone roof. All wheel drive is an $1850 option.

Get Up and Go  Though Flex utilizes Ford's most-powerful V6 engine, it's no fireball. That's due in part to Flex's 4400-plus pound curb weight. Foot-to-the-floor acceleration will yield a zero to sixty mph time of about 9.5 seconds in front-drive models. That's a little off the pace in class but acceptable for most situations, but uninspired passing response in the 30-50 mph range can be somewhat distressing.

The six-speed automatic upshifts smoothly enough and downshifts promptly when called upon. The shifter has only Drive and Low ranges, which will likely upset anyone who might want to tow or who lives in hilly areas. Most competitors offer separate shift gates that allow manual selection of all forward gears.

Flex's all-wheel drive system is not intended for severe off-road use and does not have a low range. In the snow or rain, the all-wheel-drive system works as advertised to help drivers build speed. Front-drive models have traction control, which also does a decent job of limiting wheel spin in snow or rain.

The front-drive Flex is EPA rated at 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. As bland as those numbers sound, they are on par with other seven- and eight-passenger crossover SUVs. Routine urban driving is likely to yield about 17 mpg overall. Given a light throttle foot, a light passenger load, and lots of highway driving, owners might see 21 mpg overall. Thankfully, Ford says the Flex will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.

On the Road  Flex has a solid chassis, absorbent suspension, and a very long 117-inch wheelbase. Combined they produce an extremely smooth ride that free from bouncing and bobbing that's a common trait of many midsize crossover SUVs. Overall, Flex rides more like a big car than a sport utility.

Obviously, Flex is a large vehicle and it isn't going to maneuver like a sports sedan or even a traditional midsize car. That said, the steering is accurate, if a bit light, body lean is well controlled, and the brakes have good stopping power--albeit accompanied with too much nose dive. Flex's size gets in the way when navigating twisting expressway on ramps and sharp corners. That's probably a good thing as Flex really isn't intended to spend its life in the fast lane.

Flex is reasonably quiet on the highway, though there's a bit more road and wind noise than class leaders like the GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander. When accelerating, the gruff engine compromises overall refinement. Thankfully it quiets down when cruising.

Behind the Wheel  Though Flex's exterior is striking, Ford designers weren't nearly artistic as when they sketched the interior. That's probably a good thing, because functional is the operative word for people-mover buyers. Materials are both pleasing and sturdy.

Drivers face wide-set speedo and tachometer with smaller fuel and temperature gauges in between. Audio and climate controls are thoughtfully arranged in the center stack, but many of the buttons are poorly marked, making operation difficult for those unfamiliar with the layout. Ancillary controls are well placed and back lit at night.

Ford's available SYNC system works to integrate cell phones and navigation and audio systems. It takes some getting used to, but does reduce driver distraction. Before you buy, check to make sure your phone or MP3 player is compatible, otherwise you might be disappointed.

Even extra-large adults will find ample head and leg room on Flex's oversized and supportive front bucket seats. Drivers have an excellent view of the road thanks to thin roof pillars and oversized outside mirrors. Getting comfortable behind the wheel might be a problem if you are extra tall (or short) as the steering wheel doesn't telescope.

Second-row seats are full-size and comfortable and offer adult-size head and leg room. Sitting three across is complicated because of an awkward center hump on the floor. Third-row passengers will find reasonably comfortable seats and adequate room for short trips.

With more than 80 cubic feet of available cargo space, Flex has plenty of room for stashing large items. More impressive than overall capacity is the 20 cubic feet behind deployed third-row seats, that's easily enough for a week's worth of groceries and more. In cabin storage is lacking compared to some rivals. Up front there's only single open bin and center-console box. Things do get better for rear-seat riders as there's an available cooler box and the doors feature large drink bins and map pockets.

Bottom Line  Stylish on the outside and functional in the inside Flex is a much better effort from Ford than either the outgoing Freestar or the existing Taurus X. As people movers go, Flex straddles the middle of the road, balancing exceptional passenger and cargo space, a comfortable ride, and wide range of available features with middling performance and average fuel economy.

Yes, Flex falls short when it comes to acceleration and overall refinement. Two things Ford has the opportunity to correct when the company begins offering its new EcoBoost engine next fall. In the meantime, Flex has enough going for it to merit consideration among midsize SUV shoppers.