Road Test: 2009 Ford Flex SEL FWD

MSRP: $28,555 - $36,810
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2009 Ford Flex SEL Overview

_{By: Jeffrey N. Ross,  Autotropolis Editor}
After reviewing the Ford Flex last year and naming it the Autotropolis 2009 Truck of the Year, we were given the chance to check out a lower trim level of Ford’s newest crossover to see if it matched up against our first impression of the Blue Oval’s big, boxy people mover. When we drove the 2009 Ford Flex Limited in October, it was fully decked out with just about every available option and a price tag that was close to $45,000. Knocking a few options and a trim level off that vehicle, and we were able to see first hand what the almost base Ford Flex SEL had to offer. Starting with a base MSRP of $32,070, the Ford Flex SEL we tested this time around had just a few options which kept the total MSRP at a reasonable $34,455 (including destination). With this pricing, the Flex SEL is right in line with mid level trim packages for the GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot and other full-size crossovers it competes against.

Exterior

The simple two-box design of the Flex is accented by horizontal grooves sculpted into the side door panels and the rear liftgate that mimic the signature three-bar, chrome grille. Visually, the most notable changes to the SEL’s exterior compared to the Limited are the 18-inch, 10-spoke machined aluminum wheels replacing the more stylish 20-inch, nine-spoke bright chrome wheels and a monochromatic paint job on the SEL’s tailgate that replaces the aluminum accent on the Limited models. Thankfully, the SEL we tested came with one of the Flex’s most stylish exterior enhancements - the optional ($395) two-tone roof paint scheme. The Sterling Gray Metallic exterior paint was highlighted by the White Suede roof color and the completely blacked-out greenhouse. The Flex is available with a pair of paint schemes for the roof: either a choice of two contrasting roof colors or painted to match the body color.

Interior

Inside, the Flex SEL is just as comfortable as the Limited but with a little less flare and much fewer tech goodies, while retaining some of the most comfortable seats in the industry. Between the width of the seats and the positioning of the headrests, the Flex is an enjoyable and comfortable vehicle to drive. Ford even ensured that ingress and egress were easier than standard crossovers by incorporating the rocker panels into the doors which narrowed the step-in distance significantly. While the Flex Limited had faux wood trim on the instrument panel, steering wheel, gauge cluster and door panels, the Flex SEL just gets a modest strip of the accenting trim across the upper edge of the instrument panel. One omission we were happy to see on the SEL was the poorly positioned analog clock; instead controls for the three-zone HVAC system took up most of the space on the easy-to-use center stack.

Gone are the GPS Navigation system, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, mini fridge and, our favorite, Ford’s three-panel Vista Roof™, but our test model Flex SEL was equipped with the optional ($395) Microsoft SYNC voice-activated infotainment system and the ($895) lighting package that added Bi-Xenon headlamps and LED taillights in addition to the stylish customizable, multi-colored interior ambient lighting. The switch for the ambient lighting is mounted in the surprisingly shallow center console along with a power outlet, auxiliary jack and a USB port for easy connection to mobile music devices.

One thing we were unable to actually test on the Flex last time we had it was the enormous cargo area. After purchasing a 72x36 desk, the Flex’s second- and third-row seats folded completely flat allowing for easy loading of the huge, solid oak desk. Even the helper we had helping us load the desk into the Flex was skeptical at first and then impressed by the space. For thinner, longer items (such as a ladder or lumber), the passenger seat also folds flat for added cargo capacity.

Performance & Handling

Since the only drivetrain options currently available in the Flex are the 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission, the biggest difference between the Flex Limited and Flex SEL we tested was that the Limited was equipped with all-wheel drive and the SEL came with front-wheel drive. The reduced weight and drivetrain complexity helps improve the Flex’s fuel economy numbers to 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway (versus the Limited AWD’s 16 city/22 highway). Later this year, Ford will also introduce its long-awaited EcoBoost engine in the Flex which should be good from some 355 horsepower without giving up too much (if anything) on fuel economy. Ford’s Easy Fuel Capless Fuel-Filler System is also utilized on all Flex models for improved convenience during fill ups.

Like the Flex Limited, we were equally as impressed with the downgraded SEL’s quietness on the highway. While we would expect improved noise insulation on a car pushing $45,000, it was pleasant to see that the SEL (and probably the base SE) exhibited the same level of refinement as the top-of-the-line model. One might think that pushing a brick-shaped object through the air would create some noisy turbulence, but the Flex was designed to offer a quiet ride. Not only is the noise level refined, but so is the ride. Considering the Flex SEL tips the scales at 4,468 pounds, the fully independent four-wheel suspension gives this bulky crossover remarkable road presence.