It's been said that, if a vehicle has polarizing styling, even to the point where 80% say they hate it and 20% love it, it will translate to sales success. Considering the general malaise that has beset the auto industry recently, the past few months are probably not an accurate barometer of sales success for any model, car or truck.
But once the economy recovers, credit loosens up, and the good times start rolling once again, we'll have a more accurate picture of the winners and losers for the 2009 model year. It seems the latest "love it or hate it" vehicle is the 2009 Ford Flex. It has been likened to everything from a streched and supersize first-gen Scion xB to a modern reinterpretation of the station wagon. Most critics have been less than blown away by its driving dynamics, but aside from the hardest-core enthusiasts, that's probably not the highest consideration for a family vehicle.
Even a co-worker who was previously indifferent on the Flex came around to saying she liked it after seeing several custom variants at the SEMA show this year.
Personally, I kind of liked the styling from the beginning, but like most true gearheads, the first question I asked was what's under the hood. The 263-hp 3.5L V-6 is probably fine for suburban shuttle duty, but I'm still holding out for the EcoBoost. Even with the promised 340+ hp, we're still talking about a vehicle approaching or surpassing 5000 lb fully loaded, so if you're looking for a family hauler that doubles as a weekend track car, this ain't it.
Performance aside, what's your overall take on the Flex? Would you consider buying one? And even if it isn't your particular cup of Earl Grey, what do you think of its styling and packaging?