2011 Ford Flex Des Moines

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The 2011 Ford Flex is a large, stylish and unique crossover vehicle that can carry six or seven passengers and a fair amount of cargo in luxury and comfort. New for 2011, the Ford Flex gets the new high-end Titanium trim level that offers cosmetic changes such as blacked-out taillights, 20-inch wheels and styling accents. HD radio is added to the navigation package. Consumers love the Flex because it is easy to access, easy to use, easy to drive over short and long distances, and comfortable for everyone. The exterior design is distinctive. Step inside the Flex and you will find thoughtful details and features that are meant to make your life easier. For families who need a large vehicle, the Ford Flex offers everything you would want in the way of a satisfying and rewarding vehicle to own and drive. The 2011 Ford Flex is a full-size family vehicle that features three-rows of seating, bold styling and is functional for everyday driving. The Flex competes directly in the popular crossover segment. The Flex on the inside looks full, complete, spacious, roomy and luxurious.

New Ford Flex Power and Drive

The 2011 Flex comes with the standard 3.5-liter V-6 paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 gets an estimated 17/24 mpg city/highway. The Flex can also be equipped with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. The EcoBoost gets approximately 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving but makes significantly more power than the regular V-6. The Flex uses a capless fueling system designed to reduce emissions from evaporating gas during fill-ups. Ride quality is controlled to the point of neither being noticeable nor a real factor in the driving experience. Cornering is level and quiet. Turns taken at enthusiastic speeds elicit no audible reply from the tires. Four-wheel disc brakes with every conceivable electronic interface are equally quiet and composed, and provide peace of mind. The prevailing feeling on the road is less of power and speed than overall safety and solidity. Noise control is exceptional. This results from a well reinforced body structure that eliminates the usual creaks and groans. The only noise you hear while underway comes from the mirrors, but even this is only slight and at speeds over 65 mph. The Flex a very composed and quiet car.

2011 Ford Flex Design

While many crossovers and SUV are moving towards a more curvy design, the Flex's styling embraces the box. The Flex is taller than most station wagons but significantly lower than such traditional SUVs as the Explorer and Expedition. Unlike traditional SUVs, the Flex roof is about level with your eyes, not above them, so when you look at the Flex from up-close, you're looking across it, not up at it. In design, the 2011 Ford Flex looks boxy, in an attention-getting and stylish sort of way, but boxy nonetheless. The hood and roof are long and flat, the windshield stands tall and proud, corners are squared-off, side body panels are vertical, side glass is nearly vertical, and the tailgate could be plotted with a T-square. Buyers can choose a white or silver roof if they don't want a body-colored one. The Titanium trim level gives the car an edge by putting various parts in black. The grille, roof, side mirrors and liftgate are finished in either black chrome or black paint.

Inside the '11 Flex

The impression of comfort and luxury is reinforced by large door openings and excellent entry and egress for all three seat rows. Seats are chair height, which means you slide across as opposed to jumping up or squatting down to sit, making it easy for all. The two front seats, separated by a stylish multi-function console, are more comfortable and accommodating than the second-row seats, which in turn are more comfortable and accommodating than the third-row seats. All interior materials, including the vinyls, have a look and feel that communicate quality and durability.Depending on whether the Flex has a second-row bench or captain's chairs, it can seat seven or six, respectively. The SE has tweed fabric seats, while the Limited gets leather-trimmed seats. Footrests are available for the second row, which folds and tumbles to make room to get into the third row. There's a well behind the third row that gives the Flex more cargo room. The third-row seat folds backward into the well when it isn't in use, revealing a flat load floor.

Ford Flex Lineup 2011

Ford Flex SE comes standard with cloth seating surfaces, single-zone air conditioning, seven-passenger capacity (2-3-2 seating), six-way power driver seat, manual tilt steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, fog lights, power door locks with autolock, power mirrors with manual-folding bezels, remote keyless entry, retained power, AM/FM/CD six-speaker audio with MP3 compatibility, center-stack screen display (for audio, compass, temperature), message center with trip computer, front-row center console, 10 cup holders/bottle holders, power windows, carpeted floor mats, rear privacy glass, three 12-volt power outlets, 235/60R17 BSW tires, and alloy wheels.

Flex SEL adds bright exterior trim, 18-inch machined alloy wheels, dual-zone A/C, Sony AM/FM/six-CD/MP3/satellite radio, leather seating surfaces, heated first-row seats, 10-way power driver seat, six-way power passenger seat, universal garage door opener and interior woodgrain trim. The Flex SEL AWD adds all-wheel drive.

Flex Limited adds HID headlamps, power multi-function door mirrors with puddle illumination, power-opening liftgate, P235/55R19 BSW tires, 19-inch polished alloy wheels, 110-volt power outlet, power-adjustable pedals with memory, ambient lighting, second-row footrests, perforated leather seating surfaces (for first and second rows), first-row memory seats, Microsoft SYNC system, and navigation. The Flex Limited AWD adds all-wheel drive. The Limited AWD with the EcoBoost engine adds, along with the twin-turbocharged engine, dual exhaust, SelectShift automatic transmission with paddle-shifting, and electronic power steering.

Conclusions

The Flex is the latest entry in the growing three-row crossover SUV segment, which includes models like the Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Veracruz. The Ford Flex comes standard with MyKey, which allows owners to limit top speed, add extra seat belt warnings and limit the volume of the car stereo for drivers using a specific key. Safety features include driver and front-passenger dual-stage airbags, side-impact and safety canopy airbags, front passenger airbag sensing system, rear door child-safety locks, perimeter alarm, seatbelt pre-tensioners, reverse sensing, passive anti-theft system and tire pressure monitoring system. Active safety features include anti-lock brakes (ABS), AdvanceTrac electronic traction control, RSC Roll Stability Control, brake assist, and electronic brake force distribution (EBD). Adjustable pedals come on the Limited model. All-wheel drive is available for the SEL and Limited. Visit the official Ford Flex website for more details on this model.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com