Go for a Spin

Conversation Piece

The Ford Flex minivan/SUV crossover has many good talking points

Parked in the loading zone of the local grocery store while my companion loads the chips and veggies into the new Ford Flex, I spot a woman driving up in a late-model station wagon. Her eyes get big as she pulls in and makes a beeline for the Flex. A 15-minute show-and-tell ensues.

As an automobile writer, I get to drive a lot of exotic cars. But few command the attention that the Ford Flex got in the five days I drove it. I could only have the minivan/SUV crossover for that long because there’s a hefty list of automotive writers clamoring to drive one. It seems Ford may have a hit on its hands, as well as a conversation piece.

Why? Let’s start with the styling. Ford could have gone the conservative route and styled its new crossover in downsized-SUV fashion, as its competitors have. Instead, it has come out with what many think looks like a grande BMW Mini. The slide-rule-straight styling not only looks cool in this instance, it also gives the Flex room for six passengers and lots of cargo space. Fold down the second-row (an optionally automated process) and third-row seats and you have 83.2 cubic feet available, thanks to the Flex’s 201.8-inch length. That’s 8.4 inches longer than Ford’s Explorer SUV and the same length as Buick’s Enclave competitor. The Enclave edges the Flex in total cargo volume, but the Flex’s low roof height (68 inches) translates to lower step-in height than either the Enclave or Explorer, an important distinction.

The woman who stopped to admire the Flex liked the lower step-in/load-in height for two reasons: loading her father (and his wheelchair) into the vehicle would be easier, as would outfitting the rear compartment as a mobile office. That practicality comes through in the Flex’s performance and handling, as well. And the lower center of gravity gives it superior driving dynamics. It drives more like a car than like a tippy SUV.

So there’s space, car-like handling, and a funky look. How did Ford do inside? Commendably I’d say. The Flex Limited I drove was swathed in what looked like high-quality leather, with nice stitching detail. Front seats are veritable captain’s chairs, with plenty of cushion height. The second row has ample leg room and good comfort as well. The third row is mainly for children, and they’ll do OK back there. (In my parents’ Ford wagon that area was known as the “way back.”) The dash is handsome and soft to the touch. There’s a generous center tunnel box up front and one between the back seats, where Ford will plop an optional refrigerator. Flex product and communications manager Jay Ward says the fridge option is so popular with buyers that the supplier has reached production capacity. Likewise, the white roof is an option that could become standard, since everybody wants it.

The navigation/entertainment/climate control video interface is intuitive, with redundant buttons for good measure. The vehicle has four power points and a 110-volt power inverter, and the Microsoft Sync voice-activated communications system functions with most MP3 players and Bluetooth-enabled phones. Other options include the Vista roof, with its three overhead tinted panes — look up and you’ll be squinting as the sunlight pours through. All-wheel drive is optional as well (front-wheel drive is standard). To be honest, I could do without the all-wheel drive and several other options and knock close to $5,600 off the sticker price. But few buyers go that route. “Customers are actually ordering the car with those options, which we were quite surprised by,” Ward says. Buyers like their Flexes flexible, including everything up to the optional tow hitch (the vehicle will tow 4,500 pounds).

Minor complaints include tight-quarters maneuvering, where the Flex’s length and width can be a bit difficult. My press vehicle had just 650 miles on it when delivered but had already developed a front-end issue, likely brake related. And it could use a bit more power. Ford plans to fix that by mid-2009 with a new 345 hp EcoBoost (twin turbo) V-6. The Flex is a good piece, and the new engine will make it more fuel-efficient and add another talking point.