CD Article: 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


It may be a big wagon, but the Ford Flex can really handle, says Contributing Editor, Chris Chase.  With three rows of seats, it's roomy and comfortable, he says, but its as-tested price of $51,000 "is a lot of money".  Second opinion by Greg Wilson.
 
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[random006]

A family near my place seems to have leased one or has a visitor with one.  The car seems smaller in person than it appears in photos.

[vdk]

there's a few angles that make it look like a hearse though..

[Honda Owner]

Certainly in a time of economic uncertainty and unstable oil prices, this seems to be the perfect vehicle for the times. Ford will for sure regain profitability on products such as the Flex. And a svelte 4600 lbs, too!

[initial_D]

Too expensive, too ugly.

[Mitlov]

Certainly in a time of economic uncertainty and unstable oil prices, this seems to be the perfect vehicle for the times. Ford will for sure regain profitability on products such as the Flex.

Ford Flex FWD:  17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, 19 mpg combined.
Honda Pilot FWD:  17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, 19 mpg combined.

Ford Flex AWD:  16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, 18 mpg combined.
Honda Pilot AWD:  16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, 18 mpg combined.

Source: http://www.fueleconomy.gov

And a svelte 4600 lbs, too!

Curb weight of a fully-loaded Pilot: 4608 lbs.

Source:  http://automobiles.honda.com/pilot/specifications.aspx?group=dimensions

[Honda Owner]

Curb weight of a fully-loaded Pilot: 4608 lbs

I wouldn't own or drive either. I don't like driving big cars and on the very rare occasion I need one, I rent. But anyone who wants to spend $50k on either one is more than welcome to. It is their money.

[Mitlov]

Too expensive, too ugly.

The exterior you either like or you don't.  I like it, but then again, I think hearses are cool.

As for the interior, I think the design is the best in the segment (though of course aesthetics are subjective):

[initial_D]

  I think the interior is done very nicely. Wouldn't buy the Honda & Saturn based on the interior alone.

[Schmengie]

I wanted to wait until I saw one in person, and today I did. Boy, the Flex sure is ugly, and it's really,really big.  It looks like Ford's designers were 'inspired' by a '66 Jeep Wagoneer, and then somehow things went to hell in a handbasket...

Did I mention it was ugly?

[Thinking Out Loud]

It's true to a point that it is a better choice than the Freestar (or a minivan for some) but admittedly more expensive (and without investing the specific time) yet more value.  Likely, if they sell as many of these as they did of Freestar's in it's dying days - and if the markup on this is SUV equivalent - they should be making a ton of cash even if sells on the Freestar volumes.

The Taurus X gets you 7 passenger seating for less money with some storage capacity loss.

I am a fan of the Edge/Flex look - there is no mistaking them for anything else on the road, other than as a Mini on steroids or as it's Lincoln half-brother. 

I think had the Flex been introduced as a Lincoln (the Mark XXL) - and left Ford with the Taurus X and Edge - the pricing would have made more 'sense'. 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

SEL FWD Automatic 6 Speed $34,999

SEL AWD Automatic 6 Speed $36,999

Limited FWD Automatic 6 Speed $40,999

Limited AWD Automatic 6 Speed $42,999


The well equiped base models make more sense, but its pricing is about par for the category.

Consumer Reports ranks the Flex 3rd, just behind the Highlander and MDX and just ahead of the CX-9.

[stodge]

Certainly in a time of economic uncertainty and unstable oil prices, this seems to be the perfect vehicle for the times. Ford will for sure regain profitability on products such as the Flex.

Ford Flex FWD:  17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, 19 mpg combined.
Honda Pilot FWD:  17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, 19 mpg combined.

Ford Flex AWD:  16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, 18 mpg combined.
Honda Pilot AWD:  16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, 18 mpg combined.

Source: http://www.fueleconomy.gov

And a svelte 4600 lbs, too!

Curb weight of a fully-loaded Pilot: 4608 lbs.

Source:  http://automobiles.honda.com/pilot/specifications.aspx?group=dimensions

How the hell can this vehicle be perfect for high gas prices and economic uncertainty? Surely something that label should go to something smaller and much, much more economical???   

[Mitlov]

How the hell can this vehicle be perfect for high gas prices and economic uncertainty? Surely something that label should go to something smaller and much, much more economical???   

I never said it's the perfect vehicle for high gas prices and economic uncertainty.  What I my post conveyed, I thought, is that it's very two-faced for a rabid Honda fanboy to attack the Ford for bringing such a vehicle to market when Honda has just unveiled an extremely equivalent vehicle.

And yes, both the Flex and the Pilot are a lot harder on you at the pumps than a compact six-passenger MPV like the Mazda5 (part of the Ford family).  Still, some people want larger vehicles than that, and you're not going to the Flex is near (at?) the top of the fuel economy pile in the traditional-sized-minivan-and-large-crossover market.

[carcrazy]

I guess the Flex is just in-line with the rest of the vehicles in the class in most respects. The exterior design is distinctive (love/hate affair) and it lacks the ground clearance. I too think it has a nicer dash than most, except for Mazda CX-9. I wouldn't buy any of them in this class (way too big for my needs and car preferences), but I think the Flex is very competitive if you like the exterior looks.

[Honda Owner]

The well equiped base models make more sense, but its pricing is about par for the category.

I have always been of the opinion that the base model of practically any car is the way to go. The car companies make big bucks on the upsell to a "higher" model. The Flex is a prime example. Another good example is the huge price difference between a Fit DX and a Fit Sport, something like 50% more for the Sport. There is not $7000 more content in the Sport model. But then again, I am old and have absolutely nobody to impress and dealers need something to make more money on.

As for the Flex, well, I have never seen one on the road. I have seen a couple of 2008 Honda Pilots and I think they are also an abomination. But where I live, a SUV is not a very good choice because we have narrow streets and tight, or no, parking.

On another topic, given today's business climate, if one were to ask a Ford salesman if he would rather have the 2010 Fiesta or a 2009 Flex to sell, I doubt he would choose the Flex.

[Seafoam]

The well equiped base models make more sense, but its pricing is about par for the category.

I have always been of the opinion that the base model of practically any car is the way to go. The car companies make big bucks on the upsell to a "higher" model. The Flex is a prime example. Another good example is the huge price difference between a Fit DX and a Fit Sport, something like 50% more for the Sport. There is not $7000 more content in the Sport model. But then again, I am old and have absolutely nobody to impress and dealers need something to make more money on.

As for the Flex, well, I have never seen one on the road. I have seen a couple of 2008 Honda Pilots and I think they are also an abomination. But where I live, a SUV is not a very good choice because we have narrow streets and tight, or no, parking.

On another topic, given today's business climate, if one were to ask a Ford salesman if he would rather have the 2010 Fiesta or a 2009 Flex to sell, I doubt he would choose the Flex.

 The Fit pricing differences you speak of are true here in Canada but in the US the pricing between the DX and the Sport are much closer. That being said i still bought the Sport because it looked better to me[bigger tires,grd effects,spoiler, better stereo,keyless entry,factory alarm,etc].

[Snowman]

I wanted to wait until I saw one in person, and today I did. Boy, the Flex sure is ugly, and it's really,really big.  It looks like Ford's designers were 'inspired' by a '66 Jeep Wagoneer, and then somehow things went to hell in a handbasket...

Did I mention it was ugly?

  Considering styling is subjective your rants are getting tiresome.  Take a look in the mirror.

[johngenx]

If I really wanted something this kinda big, I'd look for a Tribeca.  Better value and Subaru AWD.  I think both are kinda ugly, so I'd call that part a tie!   

[Schmengie]

  Considering styling is subjective your rants are getting tiresome.  Take a look in the mirror.

Yes it is, and that's my subjective assessment of the Flex's styling. You don't like the looks of my car, fine, I don't care. I will continue to express my opinion as I'm sure you will.