2009 Ford Flex

I had the pleasure of being able to drive a Ford Flex for a few days and I must say, I am loving it. This crossover vehicle falls somewhere between a wagon and a SUV, the product of which is a vehicle that sort of looks like a chopped mini-van. I wasn't so keen on its looks, though I like that it stands out a bit. The price is higher than I like and the following review is based on a new model to Fords line. There may be issues that arise once these cars start really putting on the miles; the one I was driving was still under 2000 miles. The interior of this vehicle is very nice. The seats are a little uncomfortable for me but there is something in the style buckets Ford uses, I always have slight discomfort with them. The back seats are comfy though and there was a nice amount of legroom for even an adult. Also, I like that they are split and fold seating for all the options that I could think of. We easily fit 5 people (one in a car seat) and there was definitely room to fit in two more. I'm not sure how well the plastic parts will wear as they seem a little on the cheap side. That being said I like the layout of the dash and am in love with the audio system. The 6 cd (1 in SE) and MP3 come standard! I also like the center console, which has lots of storage including a drawer in back for those sitting in the second row. The trunk area has a ton of space and even has hooks that my wife used to hang her canvas bags filled with groceries from (though I’m not sure what they are supposed to be for). There is plenty of interior lighting in all 3 rows. The Ford Flex drove very smoothly and handled the snow we where in much as an Explorer would. The ride was not as quiet as my Freestar but nothing at all to complain about. Gas mileage seems good. I have driven around for several days (a lot of driving in town) and haven't even hit half a tank. The brochure says it will get 17-24 MPG and to tell you the truth I think I may be getting a slight bit better than that. I talked to one of the dealer mechanics and according to him parts should only run up to $25, and for them to do the work it would cost another $50. Checking under the hood for myself I didn't see anything that would make doing your own general maintenance too difficult. The sticker price on the Flex is a little daunting in this economy. The one at our dealer is over $38K before any rebates or deal making.