2009 Ford Flex Review
The all-new 2009 Ford Flex is a full-size crossover vehicle designed with bold styling and functionality to compete in the popular crossover segment. The front-wheel or all-wheel drive Flex includes a 3.5-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Class leading seven-passenger seating is standard on all trim levels. All Flex vehicles have three rows of seats, with a standard 2-3-2 layout or optional 2-2-2 layout. Three-row seating makes Flex larger and roomier than Escape or Edge. Its passenger-car platform makes it lower and more car-like than Explorer or Expedition. Those choosing Flex do so for a variety of reasons: They need something roomier than Escape or Edge. They don't either want or need the higher seating positions and trailer towing capabilities of Explorer or Expedition. The Flex could be called a station wagon, yet some of its direct competitors are SUVs. Due to an advanced engine management system, sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission and comparatively tall gearing, Flex is more fuel-efficient than its size and mass might suggest. The question then becomes whether you can live with real-world fuel consumption somewhere in the 20-23 mpg range. If yes, Flex represents a stylish, elegant, comfortable and versatile choice.
Trims
The 2009 Ford Flex comes in three trim levels, the SE, the SEL, and the Limited. All come with a 262-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. A choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is available. 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 hub-mount audio and cruise controls, fog lights, power door locks with autolock, power mirrors with manual-folding bezels, remote keyless entry, retained power, and AM/FM/CD six-speaker audio with MP3 compatibility.
Flex
SEL adds bright exterior trim, 18-inch machined alloy wheels, dual-zone A/C, Sony AM/FM/6-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.
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 and Microsoft SYNC system. There are various options and packages available, including some that add AWD.
Safety
Safety features include the federally mandated dual driver/passenger front airbags plus side-impact and safety canopy airbags, dual-stage deployment front 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), Advance Trac electronic traction control, RSC Roll Stability Control, yaw control, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution (EBD). All-wheel drive is available for the SEL and Limited for improved safety in adverse weather. The rearview camera that comes with the Limited navigation system greatly enhances safety for its ability to help the driver spot children and adults behind the vehicle when backing up.
Interior
The 2009 Ford Flex has a large interior. Seats, particularly the front seats, are chair height, which means you slide across as opposed to jumping up or squatting down to sit. Flex front seats are superb, beautifully shaped and wonderfully supportive over long drives. Second-row seats offer generous legroom and basic support good for long trips, and are marginally less supportive and comfortable than those in front. The second-row seats are also adjustable fore and aft to create or reduce third-row legroom. They can also be folded through an electric switch to enable third-row access. Push a button in the C-pillar and the seatback folds forward, then the seat cushion folds up. Third-row seating is a bit small for adults, but reasonable for children. One Flex interior feature are worth mentioning is the multi-function screen display in the center stack of the instrument panel. This is in conjunction with Ford's SYNC Hands-Free and Communications System, and offers everything from airwave audio to satellite audio, climate controls, Sirius Travel Link, navigation, hands-free phone and reversing camera. Push-button or touch-sensitive switches are either adjacent to the screen, on the steering wheel, or within the screen itself. Split-screen readouts are available. The voice recognition function often takes a couple of tries to get it right. Another feature worth noting is the optional deep-tint Vista Roof. From the outside, this appears to be a single moonroof over the front-row seats combined with a huge glass panel over the second and third-row seats. From the inside, the front-row pane is a conventional glass moonroof with normal slide and tilt features. In the second row, glass is visible over the right and left sides, with a solid headliner trim panel up the middle. In the third row, a single glass pane extends across the seat from left to right. Second and third-row overhead glass is fixed, with retractable sliding shades to reduce interior heat and glare. The cargo area behind the third row is about the size of something found in a minivan. It is accessed through a swing-up one-piece tailgate. The load floor is carved into a recessed well, it does keep cargo in, but it also proves difficult for maneuvering large cargo.
Exterior
The Ford Flex looks boxy and draws a lot of attention with its unique shape. The hood is long and flat. So is the roof. The windshield stands tall and proud. Corners are squared-off. Side body panels are vertical; side glass is nearly vertical. The overall look of the vehicle and the details are full of stylish design. People seeing Flex for the first time generally agree it has presence and a variety of upscale cues. Height is an important design element. Flex is taller than most station wagons, but significantly lower than such traditional SUVs as Explorer and Expedition. Unlike traditional SUVs, the Flex roof is about at your eyeline, not above your eyeline. When you look at Flex from up-close, you're looking across to it, not up at it. 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 speed elicit no audible reply from the Hankook 235x19 tires. Four-wheel disc brakes with every conceivable electronic interface are equally quiet and composed. Towing capacity is rated at 4500 pounds when equipped with the optional Class III Trailer Towing Prep Package.
The 2009 Ford Flex may be bursting with style, but it is also a capable crossover that can carry seven passengers, and a decent amount of cargo. The exterior design is distinctive and memorable. The interior is filled with superb details and high class features. For families who need a large vehicle, the Ford Flex offers everything you would want in the way space, comfort, and style. The Ford Flex has an MSRP of $28,550 - $36,810. It comes with a basic warranty of 36 months/36,000 miles, and has an estimated fuel economy range of 24 mpg Hwy and 17 mpg City.