 2013 Ford Flex Limited AWD EcoBoost. Click image to enlarge |
When Ford introduced MyFord Touch, they told us the design and functionality of the touchscreen interface was influenced by focus group research. That explains why the first generation generally met with negative feedback among Ford buyers, leading the company to rework how it looks and behaves. The basic design is the same, with the touchscreen split into four quadrants, for climate, navigation, entertainment and phone. The update in appearance is minor, with the focus on how it works. The verdict is that it does seem to be more responsive, but still annoys more than it enhances the driving experience, by couching too many common controls in button sequences, rather than simply giving you a single button to push (or touch, in this case) for whatever it is you want to turn on or off.
Beyond the addition of MyFord Touch and the new centre stack, the Flex’s interior is familiar. The materials still look and feel like decent quality, but as I said about a Chevrolet Traverse I reviewed last year, what looks and feels good in a $30,000 crossover doesn’t necessarily fit in a $50,000-plus one, considering that for fifty grand, you might start thinking about sacrificing some interior space and seating capacity for a crossover with a luxury nameplate on it. A Mercedes-Benz R-Class starts around $57,000 (with a gasoline engine, not the BlueTec diesel), and a Volkswagen Touareg with its fuel-sippy TDI diesel can be bought for less than $54,000. Just sayin’.
    2013 Ford Flex Limited AWD EcoBoost. Click image to enlarge |
When matched up with other mid-priced crossovers, though, the Flex continues to be, in my opinion, the best-driving vehicle you can spend your money on. Nothing much in its price range – at least, not for less than about $40,000 – can match how it goes down the road, with perfect throttle response, nice brakes, and surprisingly communicative steering. Where the standard 3.5L engine has enough power to move an AWD Flex’s 2,100 kg (about 4,600 lbs) curb weight, the turbocharged motor turns this truck into a rocket, at least where mid-sized crossovers are concerned. Full-throttle acceleration generates a pleasant soundtrack. This is V8 power in a V6 package, and makes the Flex unique in its competitive set, where you don’t usually get a choice of engine.
Towing capacity maxes out at 2,041 kg (4,500 lbs) regardless of engine choice. I suspect that if the chassis were up to the task, the EcoBoost motor could capably haul more than that.
Natural Resources Canada rates the EcoBoost Flex’s fuel consumption at 13.4/8.9 L/100 km, city/highway, (or the U.S. EPA’s more realistic figures of 14.7/10.2); my tester averaged 12.6 L/100 km in a mix of (mostly) gentle city and highway driving.
The Flex offers a spacious interior for people, but where it tends to disappoint is in its cargo capacity, which is limited by the relatively low roofline. You just can’t pile quite as much stuff into this car as many of its competitors can handle.
Limiting the availability of the EcoBoost engine to the Limited model is a decision most likely based on Ford’s sales projections; typically, buyers who choose an uprated engine tend to also be more interested in a generous feature load. Unfortunately, that leaves potential buyers who want lots of power – say, for towing – but in a more basic model out in the cold. With any luck, if the public warms to turbocharging as a mainstream power adder (that does seem to be the way things are going), Ford will at least offer the EcoBoost as an option in the mid-level SEL trim.
In any event, even as the Flex enters its fourth model year, it remains one of the most distinctive and impressive mainstream vehicles on the market. Choosing the Limited model for the EcoBoost model alone is an expensive way to get more power, but at least the engine is a good fit for the nearly $50,000 price tag.
Pricing: 2013 Ford Flex Limited AWD
Base price: $44,399
Options: $9,050 (EcoBoost engine package, $6,800; Titanium Appearance package, $950; heated second-row seats, $650; second-row console with refrigerator, $650)
A/C tax: $100
Freight: $1,500
Price as tested: $55,049
Competitors
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
Dodge Journey
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Infiniti JX
Lincoln MKT
Mazda CX-9
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
