2009 Ford Flex Review - A Stylish and Roomy Crossover
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Brand new for 2009, the Flex is boxy crossover from Ford. It has room for seven people, it has a good amount of cargo room, and it is loaded with comfort and convenience features. The Ford Flex was designed with ease of use in mind, like getting in and out, and handling. At the same time, Ford set out to create crossover with distinctive looks, a vehicle that gets attention going down the road. And they did a pretty good job of that goal. The Ford Flex offers everything you would want for a family vehicle. Fuel economy range for the Flex is estimated at 24 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg through the city. The starting MSRP for the Flex is $28,550 - $36,810. The Flex competes in a class that is growing every year, and competes with models such as the Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Veracruz.
Flex Power
The Flex is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, giving it 262 horsepower and 248 pounds-feet of torque. The V-6 drives with a six-speed automatic transmission, front- and all-wheel-drive models are offered. The Flex uses a capless fueling system designed to reduce emissions from evaporating gas during fill-ups. Towing capacity is rated at 4500 pounds when equipped with the optional Class III Trailer Towing Prep Package.
Driving the 2009 Ford Flex
The Ford Flex is one of those vehicles where things such as passenger comfort and amenities and exterior style take a lead and priority overbdriving experience. Still, the 2009 Flex is a confident and composed vehicle going down the road. It is smooth, even compared to the way a sedan might drive. The Flex’s powertrain fits the vehicle just right and offers it plenty of power. The interior is exceptionally quiet,
this results from a well reinforced body structure that eliminates the usual creaks.The only noise you hear while underway comes from the mirrors, but even this is only slight and at speeds over 65 mph. The newly designed six-speed automatic transmission does its job efficiently and well. The ride feels safe and cornering is level and quiet.
Ford Flex Design
The Ford Flex does its job by drawing looks with its boxy design. The hood is long and flat. So is the roof. The windshield stands tall and 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.
Inside the 2009 Flex
Take a look inside the Flex and you will see a spacious and comfortable looking cabin. Seats, particularly the front seats, are chair height, which means you slide across as opposed to jumping up to sit. 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 can 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 perfect for children, an adult might be cramped. There is a 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. Another feature worth noting is the optional deep-tint Vista Roof. 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 decent and is accessed through a swing-up one-piece tailgate.
2009 Flex Lineup
The Ford Flex comes in three trim levels. 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, 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, 235/60R18 BSW tires, and 18-inch painted alloy wheels.
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.
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.
Safety Features for ‘09
Safety features include 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).
Summary
The all-new Ford Flex is a full-size crossover vehicle designed with bold styling and functionality to compete in the popular crossover segment. Although the focus of the flex rests on the unique design, it is actually a capable crossover. Read an Edmunds.com Ford Flex overview for further research. It is perfect for a family looking for the room of a minivan, but something with a flashy style.
