I didn't get to drive the all-new 2009 Ford Flex Limited, but during the walk around presentation, I sat in every seat, peeked into every cubby, and tried to push, pull, open, prod, and turn every button, dial, switch, handle, and panel of Ford's latest crossover I could get my hands on. I damn near gave the thing a complete physical and can tell you -- the Flex is very impressive.
It looks like our Scion xB's bigger brother. Much bigger, in fact, as the Flex manages to look long, wide, and low all at the same time. It's not fat or ungainly, though. There are many cool details -- including straked surfaces, the white roof, and brushed-metal finish on the rear hatch. Truck Trend editor Williams and I agreed that it had a bit of the old Woody vibe to it -- like two nine-foot long boards needed to be strapped on top.
Again, let me stress that I didn't drive it. More important, I don't know that I need to to make the following claim: the Flex will be a serious market contender. Blasphemy you say? Surely, such a judgment cannot be made without twirling the tiller or throttling the long pedal? Possibly, but with packaging this thoughtful -- the best seat in the house may not be the driver's.
Let's start there for argument's sake. The hip point is high, like you're sitting in a cushy desk chair. At the same time, you sit low inside the car, due to the high window sill, wide windshield, and expansive hood in front of you. Exec editor Stone mentioned that he felt like he sat in the Flex, rather than on it, and could feel the connection with the Mazda CX-9, upon which the Flex is based. This is not some chop-top box, either. There is tons of headroom for the front two.
 Buttons and dials are Ford familiar, but the arrangement is more logical and cleanly executed than in recent vehicles. There is also a lot less of the garish chrome-y plastic bits, which I've seen in recent King Ranch kitted Ford trucks and SUVs. Technical editor Reynolds and I discussed the merits of the dash layout -- especially the somewhat protruding navigation housing, but agreed that Ford did a fine job marrying various surface textures -- including the nice fake wood inserts and soft-touch perforated seats.
 Kudos also go to the latest version of Sync, the optional Microsoft-based navigation/audio system. FoMoCo's Octavio Navarro gave us a demo of its many features -- including linking to up to six Bluetooth enabled phones (with the push of a button), locating gas stations by cheapest price (updated continuously via credit card transaction tracking, if you can believe that), bringing up all major, and some minor sports updates and even mundane things like playing music (via a USB flash drive or iPod), displaying photos, and simply navigating.
The really cool part about Sync is how easy it is to do that last bit. The hardware features an all-new eight-inch touch screen, but Sync is all about hands-free voice commands. Need to set your destination and plug in an address? Simply hit the "talking mouth" icon on the steering wheel and say, "Destination." The key here is that you don't need to keep hitting the speak button or fiddling with the touchscreen -- the system prompts you all the way through -- asking for city, street, then unit number, until it finds what you're looking for. Trick.
Second-row passengers in this Flex Limited get two softly cushioned seats, heated and covered in classy, perforated leather. The back is rather low, but the headrest is tall and extends high. Between the seats is a combination console for storing items and drinks, with a lid that flips forward to expose a smaller chill chest. It seems odd, but allows the third-row passengers access to drinks or storage. The lid also folds nearly flat and can be used as a tray of sorts. The back of the driver/front passenger console has rear HVAC controls, plus a large storage drawer and power points, including an optional two-prong 110V outlet. Doors have big cut outs for bottles or cans and big picture windows that go down all the way.
Like the front seats, all four rear seats (rows two and three) have a moon roof. The setup is different from the front -- each rear seat gets a small cut out of the glass panel roof. A wide channel runs fore and aft between these skylights, for structural support and HVAC. This roof setup is a premium option; opt for a normal roof and you get a bit more headroom and the ability to run a DVD entertainment system inside -- not possible with these cut outs.
Back to those second row seats: they slide forward and aft about four or five inches, and the backs recline 10 degrees or so. The seating position is comfortable, though six-foot-tall photographer Vance said he found the cushion a bit low. Pull a strap to collapse the back forward and hit a button on the B-pillar, and the seat tumbles forward, allowing access to perhaps the biggest surprise of all -- an exceptionally usable third row.
At the 2008 SUV of the Year competition, I made it a point to sit in the third row of every SUV that we had. If I'm not mistaken, the Flex's third row might best all of the class of '08 -- including the eventual winner CX-9.
Some of this third-row superiority is attributable to a great outward view. The Flex has the definition of stadium seating -- from the front row back, each row is elevated a bit higher -- so even in the back, passengers can see what is going on ahead and feel like they're part of the drive. Because the Flex's boxy shape, all occupants in the six seat configuration get a nice widescreen picture window. In the third row, there is a wide sill separating you from the view, but I can imagine it as a fine place for little kids or even adults to rest a pillow and zonk out.
Third-row seating is comfortable enough to promote zzzzs, too -- the cushion is soft and long enough. It is low on a raised floor, as these seats usually are, but there is a surprising amount of leg room. With Stone in the driver's seat, Vance in row two, and me behind -- there were no complaints about bashed knees, pinched toes, or a "wide stance." Vance did have to slide the seat forward, but could set the seatback in its furthest back position. Photographer Julia hopped in the back and found that even with the second-row seat slid in to the waaay back position, she wasn't uncomfortable.
For those who carry cargo, the third row collapses into an ingenious flat load floor. Pull two straps in series, and the third row lays forward, instead of tumbling back, exposing two large flat, carpeted boards that link up with backs of the second row seats. Handles on these boards allow access to a hidden storage compartment, behind and under the third row seats. Opt for the three-seat second row, and you easily camp out in the Flex.
On the road, as a passenger in the third and then first row, I found the Flex quiet and comfortable. We didn't drive far -- no highways, nothing over 50 mph even -- but the ride was smooth and motion well controlled. I'd say it rode vaguely like the Five Hundred/Taurus, which I think is complimentary for such a large vehicle.
Pricing is said to start at around $29,000 for the base, front-drive, seven-passenger configuration. Figure around $10,000 more for our full loaded, all-wheel drive, six-passenger version with Sync and the fancy roof. Competitive? You bet, and here is why I can say that without driving the damn thing.
Folks, how it drives may be beside the point. With such strong, flexible packaging, such appealing style and utility, it would take exceptionally poor driving dynamics to offset all that the Flex appears to offer. We'll hold off making our final call until we see about the drive, but you heard it hear first -- Ford has something really special with its all new Flex.
Stay tuned.
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