2009 Ford Flex Review

Specifications

Apparently, the minivan is dead - at least according to Ford and GeneralMotors. That means two of the big three have dropped their sliding door people haulers, leaving the slack to be picked up by one ailing Chrysler Group and the Japanese and Korean foray. But just because minivan sales have been facing cliff-like sales declines doesn’t mean that consumers have less of a demand for six, seven and eight passenger vehicles. Despite their usual inability to carry three rows of passengers and cargo at the same time, consumers are buying into three-row SUVs at an alarming rate, but the quickest growing segment of all are car-like crossovers.

With the Ford Flex, introduced at the New York International Auto Show this week, Ford now has three vehicles to compete in the crossover segment. There’s the 7-seat Taurus X, a.k.a. Freestyle (which really ought to be considered a tall station wagon despite having one of the most accommodating third rows in the business), the striking 5-seat Edge, and now another full-size crossover that can comfortably seat seven and carry plenty of luggage. It’s a true people mover, without theassociated stodgy image.

From most angles, the Flex looks as large as its “large crossover” class category suggests it is, and that is not only due to its actual footprint, being 2.5 inches longer, 4.9 inches wider, 2.7 inches taller, and with a 5.0-inch longer wheelbase than the current full-size Freestyle, but also has to do with its proportions. Wanting to escape the tall narrow look of most crossovers and SUVs, the Flex has shallow glass, blacked out pillars and the strong horizontal strakes that work to reduce the visible height of the crossover, making it look long and lean. It might be the conceptual replacement for the minivan, but there’s nothing van-ish at all about the way the Flex looks. And there’s no way that this will be mistaken for anything other than a Ford, with its complex yet sophisticatedly angled headlamps and large, three-bar grille all covered in chrome. The dark copper prototype, with a two-toned “White Suede” colored roof that Ford displayed at New York is sure totrigger memories of the late ’80s LTD Country Squire with its big, chrome door handles and other chrome accents. The Flex Limited model (seen here), also has a bright silver tailgate appliqué, which in some ways could be interpreted as a sort of modern “Woody”.

Like the Country Squire that sported the latest 8-track audio equipment of its day, the new Flex is packed with all the newest toys sure to make short journeys easier and road trips enjoyable. It will feature the Ford and Microsoft-developed Sync system for handsfree communication, plus there’s even a rear-seat refrigerator available as an option with a proper compressor designed to chill things, not just keep cold objects cold. There’s also the option of the multi-panel Vista Roof, which features one small skylight above the driver and the front passenger, two individual small skylights over the second row, and one large one that covers the surface area for the third row, so no one’s left out. The Flex also debuts Ford’s second-generation navigation system, which not only features a cleaner,classier design, but integrates the nav, climate control and stereo all into one unit. As with a growing number of cars, the Flex’s system also features a built-in hard drive that can copy 150 hours worth of music creating a personal, in-car jukebox.

Rapidly approaching a state of ubiquity, the Flex is powered by the new Duratec 35 V6 engine, which makes 260 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque in this iteration. The engine pulls well in smaller applications such as the Taurus X and the Edge, but as this is the biggest vehicle it’s been employed in, we’re curious to see how the 3.5-liter works under a full load. The V6 is mated to a six-speed automatic and can drive either the front or all four wheels. Needless to say, even if the Flex is slower than the Edge, the nearly 60 horsepower gain in power over the Freestar minivan will make life easier for the driver in just about every capacity.The Flex is also available with an all-wheel drive system that can shift up to 100-percent of power to either the font or rear axle. Technically, while it’s not powertrain related, the Flex also features a new capless fuel filler, one of the technologies that rated most highly with consumers in internal surveys. Like a race car, the system features a tight seal, but no pesky cap which saves time, prevents dirty hands and reduces emissions.

From what we’ve seen so far of the interior, the Flex looks great. With the production model, many of the little touches found on its precursor, the Fairlane Concept remain present here, such as the front seats which are not only perforated with a diamond pattern, but also have no distinct bolsters and horizontal ribbing. One of the all-encompassing principles for the Flex was to create an upscale and luxurious vehicle in a class that doesn’t always pamper its occupants, and that’s particularly evident on higher-end models. Besides the soft-touch materials and contrast stitching, theFlex gains wood trim on the steering wheel and dashboard; its highly-polished, burled look provides a backdrop to the metal-look gauges. Ford says that the interior is a critical point on which consumers hinge their purchase. It’s interior design like this that changes perceptions about overall quality and inevitably will open people’s eyes, giving them a new reason to purchase Ford products.

It may be true that fit and finish, features and design are key points making up any good car, but as the successor to a minivan the Flex needs to have practicality at the heart of its design. Thankfully, it doesn’t come up short, featuring best in class legroom for the second row, adjustable and removable second-row ottomans and a flat-folding front passenger’s seat for those extra long items, plus second and third rows. Ford hasn’t yet released how much cargo volume the Flex has, but judging by the photosit’ll be able to carry a lot. Access to the third row might not be as good as standard sliding-door minivans, especially in tight parking spots where those side-sliders really come in handy, but with a one-touch fold and tumble second row it’ll be as painless as these systems get. And when it comes to shifting precious cargo, the Flex features all the usual standard safety features including side curtain airbags that cover all three rows, and a rigid structure that includes boron steel.

Ford hopes that with the Flex it will be able to redefine what the crossover segment is today in the same way that it defined what the sport utility vehicle was during the 1990s with its Explorer and Expedition models. By trimming back on the excess, bumping up content and quality and giving consumers another vehicle that they really need, and then combining in the stylish new Edge and redesigned Taurus X, Ford’s crossover lineup looks to be one of the strongest in the industry. The Flex will be built alongside its crossover siblings, the Edge and Lincoln MKX at the Oakville assembly facility in Canada, and will go on sale next summer as a 2009 model year product.