2013 Ford Flex SEL: Unconventional Crossover Is A Resounding Success

One of the best things about the crossover segment is the freedom that it gives to vehicle designers.  With no 'traditions' to follow or taboos to worry about breaking, as long as an automobile meets its passenger and cargo-carrying goals, it can present prospective buyers with any shape that its stylists can dream up.

Enter the 2013 Ford Flex, a seven-passenger full-size crossover that boasts the most unique sheet metal in its class.  This slab-sided, long-roofed, squared-off people mover has been given a light refresh for the current model year, rounding a few of its corners to offer even more polish for fans of its blocky appearance.  I count myself amongst those who have been enamoured of the Flex's retro-surf-wagon design since it first went on sale in 2008, and after spending a significant amount of time behind the wheel of the current model, I can safely say that the crossover is far more than just another pretty face.

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'Flex' Is A Synonym For 'Cavernous'

I could go on for pages and pages about how enticing I find the 2013 Ford Flex's styling, but it's probably more instructive to examine what its rectangular proportions bring to the table from a practicality standpoint.  There are very few automotive designs out there that are better suited for transporting large quantities of cargo - or people - than a box, and in this respect the flat roof and upright sides of the Flex certainly deliver.

With the second and third rows stowed, the crossover offers 2,355 litres of storage space, with more than 20 percent of that available behind the rearmost seatback.  The Flex can be had with either a bench or a set of captain's chairs for the second and third positions. and my test vehicle came with the latter, which provided excellent leg and shoulder room as well as space for the vehicle's optional console.

Getting to the rearmost seats (which fold flat when not needed) is a bit of a hike but not an unreasonable one for most adults.  Those taller than I - which is to say, anyone over 1.70 metres - will want to avoid being stuffed in the very back of the Flex, but children and teenagers will have no complaints even on longer trips.  The inclusion of not one, not two, but four sunroofs, split 1-2-1 over each respective set of accommodations, helps to keep the crossover from feeling claustrophobic even when hauling a full complement of human beings.  The Flex mixes pleasant fabrics and plastics on its door panels and dash, although the farther back you go in the cabin, the harder the materials your arms and elbows will encounter (a somewhat necessary evil when asking a passenger compartment to double as a cargo storage area).

Ford has given the crossover its next-generation MyFord Touch system, with a more responsive center-mounted touchscreen providing easy access to most entertainment features, communications options, and of course the navigation system.  I still have a bit of trouble when fiddling with the steering wheel-mounted buttons that interact with the two smaller LCD screens mounted in front of the driver, and I would like real buttons rather than touch surfaces for the climate and stereo controls.  That being said, the new MyFord Touch upgrades are a welcome improvement.

Deceptively Easy To Drive And Park

The impressively linear dimensions of the 2013 Ford Flex suggest to some crossover shoppers that the full-size vehicle is a pain in the neck to try to park.  I'm happy to report that this is far from the case.  I had less issue hustling the Flex into parallel spots that I did with comparably-sized SUVs such as the Nissan Pathfinder, and the model that I drove's rear-view camera and parking sonar were quite useful in keeping me abreast of where all-points-Flex were located at any given time.

Out on the road, the Ford Flex was equally docile while wrangling its way through urban traffic.  A tall seating position gave me a commanding view of the road ahead, while responsive steering and a complete lack of torque steer (thanks in part to the vehicle's optional all-wheel drive) had me emerging from longer stints behind the wheel feeling refreshed.  All-wheel drive also contributes Ford's 'Curve Control' system, new for 2013, which lightly brakes the inside wheel to keep the vehicle stable during sharp cornering.  The Flex's revised suspension system is firm enough to counter body roll but still capable of softening up the hard-as-nails Montreal potholes that littered its stomping grounds during my week with the vehicle.

My tester was outfitted with a 3.5-liter V-6 good for 285 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque, which represents an improvement of 25 horses over the year before (thanks to tweaks made to the engine's variable valve timing system).  This is more than adequate for daily driving, but a bit wheezy when pulling out to pass.  The Flex definitely doesn't feel underpowered, and its six-speed automatic transmission is well-matched to the six-cylinder engine, but if one is concerned about performance then a 355 horsepower, twin-turbo EcoBoost version of this engine is available as an option.

Personality Goes A Long Way

I opened this review by mentioning how crossover designers are given relatively free-reign to construct a practical and comfortable family vehicle.  Sadly, fewer and fewer automakers are embracing the potential to stand out of the SUV crowd and deliver something other than cookie cutter looks rendered semi-anonymous by the demands of modern aerodynamics.

The 2013 Ford Flex is a crossover that defies convention in a segment where even the term 'convention' should be tossed out the window at the earliest convenience in favour of breaking new styling ground and providing intriguing alternatives to the formless minivans and bland SUVs that plague the family segment.  The Flex's styling is in many ways a 'love-it-or-hate-it' proposition, but there's no denying that this large crossover is one of the best-driving, and most usable all-weather family vehicles in its segment.