2009 Ford Flex SEL FWD
The 2009 Ford Flex is the most unusual and most miss-understood vehicle I have reviewed this year. The outside has a boxy body similar to the Scion xB and can have a two-tone roof /body paint scheme. The Flex has a unique profile that allows a family of 6 to travel comfortably any distance on a vacation. The inside of the Flex has second-row seating, an elevated “theater-style” third row. This vehicle has state of the art high tech gadgetry, which includes Sync, a new navigation system with a built-in hard drive and SIRIUS Travel Link.
Under the Hood
The Flex has a 3.5-liter 24-valve Duratec V6 with advanced variable-cam timing. The drive train produces 262 horsepower at 6250 rpm and 248 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm. The SEL FWD is rated at 16/24 mpg (city/hwy) but I averaged 20MPG in a combination of city and highway driving. You can propel the Flex into highway traffic with ease and the pass any traffic with a breeze.
Driving Experience
On the Road the Flex cabin is quiet and the seats are comfortable. The Flex has a firm stance; plenty of power and you feel like you are the captain of the ship. You can navigate through any road condition and the ride was smooth and the steering was effortless.
The beauty of the Flex is it handles and drives like a smaller vehicle and you even forget you are driving a large vehicle. The amount of glass surrounding this vehicle has minimal viewing obstructions so it makes lane changes or backing up a breeze.
The Flex is built on the same platform as the Ford Taurus and Volvo XC90
Safety
Here is a list of the standard safety features found on the Flex: Advancetrac with roll stability control, dual stage airbags, seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, seat belt pretensioners and safety canopy – 2nd & 3rd row
Inside
The Flex interior has some high style touches, which include a center stack finished in satin metal finish, an easy to read instrument panel. The Flex has high tech Sync system.
The SEL edition had many nice upgrades like comfortable heated front leather seating, wood grain trim on the instrument panel and door trim, and a premium Sony audio system with 10 speakers, a six-disc CD changer and SIRIUS satellite radio.
The Flex’s second-row seats are comfortable with adequate headroom for anyone 6” or taller. The second-row holds three big passengers with ease. The second-row seats
Folds over for access to the third row. The 3rd row is slightly elevated so the passengers can view passengers in the front seats or the highway. I think the Flex interior is stellar and Ford’s best cabin design.
The center console that houses a power outlet, USB and auxiliary jacks and ample storage space is easily accessible. My test Drive had the optional Panoramic Vista Roof, which is over the second and third-row of seats plus the normal one touch sunroof in the front of the cabin.
Outside
The 2009 Flex has styling, that you will definitely notice with its box like design The neat lines that run through the door and the optional white-painted roof are two of the many styling cues that make this vehicle stand out from the crowd. Even though this vehicle is close to 17 feet long and 6 feet height it has an elegant look, which has a very low step in height to the cabin.
Summary
The Flex is a great vehicle for hauling any large object you have to move or for taking a family of 6 on a long vacation. With the price of gasoline going up and down you just have to realize it is short on fuel economy. The Flex is an alternative to the van or mini van category and should definitely be considered if you are shopping in this new segment that Ford has created.
Specifications
Exterior Dimensions
Wheelbase [in] 117.9
Length [in] 201.8
Height [in] 68
Width – Excluding Mirrors [in] 75.9
Width – Including Mirrors [in] 88.8
Width – Mirrors Folded [in] 80.1
Front Track [in] 65.4
Rear Track [in] 65.4
Interior Dimensions
Head Room – First Row [in] 41.8
Head Room – Second Row [in] 40.5
Head Room – Third Row [in] 38.7
Leg Room – First Row [in] 40.8
Leg Room – Second Row [in] 44.3
Leg Room – Third Row [in] 33.3
Hip Room – First Row [in] 55.5
Hip Room – Second Row [in] 55
Hip Room – Third Row [in] 41.1
Shoulder Room – First Row [in] 58.4
Shoulder Room – Second Row [in] 58.1
Shoulder Room – Third Row [in] 50.8
Capacities: Passengers, Luggage, Fuel, and Towing
Passenger Volume [cu. ft.] 155.8
Cargo Volume Behind First Row [cu. ft.] 83.2
Cargo Volume Behind Second Row [cu. ft.] 43.2
Cargo Volume Behind Third Row [cu. ft.] 20.0*
Towing capacity (lbs.) when equipped with option Class III Trailer Tow Package 4500
*Including rear seat well
Engine Specifications
Drive type Front-Wheel Drive (std.) Active All-Wheel Drive (opt.)
Engine type 3.5L V6 Duratec 35 Engine
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Final drive ratio 3.16 (Front-Wheel Drive) 3.39 (All-Wheel Drive)
Fuel economy (EPA-estimated) FWD: 17 city/24 highway / AWD: 16 city/22 highway
Horsepower (SAE net @ rpm) 262 @ 6,250
Torque (lb.-ft @ rpm) 248 @ 4,500
Compression ratio 10.3:1
Valve lifters direct acting mechanical bucket
Fuel delivery Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection
Exhaust Single, stainless steel with two catalytic converters
Engine block type Cast aluminum
Cylinder head material Cast aluminum
Chassis Specifications
Front suspension Independent, MacPherson struts with rear-facing lower L-arms
Front shocks Gas-pressurized twin tube
Rear suspension Multi-link, fully independent suspension, fully isolated rear sub frame
Rear shocks Gas-pressurized twin tube
Brakes Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Steering Power Rack-and-Pinion