With fashion–forward styling, one of the best multimedia and navigation systems on the market, and enough sunroofs to get a full–body tan on its three rows of fold–flat seats, the Ford Flex is poised to become one of the trendiest crossover sport utility vehicles on the market. The Flex is Ford’s newest seven–seater SUV that’s designed to suit a range of lifestyles. Packed full with features to provide the perfect backdrop for a road trip or simply make life on the go easier to maneuver, the Flex provides a respite from the hectic world outside its acoustic laminated windows. When people describe the Flex, you hear a lot of car combinations like: it’s a cross between a Mini and a Scion xB. Or it’s a cross between a Mini and a minivan, minus the sliding door. But what words fail to describe is the Flex’s vibe (and when was the last time a Ford had a vibe?). It’s more than just a people mover. It’s a party in a box. “Groovy” might fit the bill, but it implies bad 60s' fashion connotations, none of which the Ford Flex has. The Flex is a trendy SUV without being contrived, though years of research, design, and a bit of soul–searching went into Ford’s nicely packaged flagship vehicle for 2010. What you’ll find when you open this box will really surprise you. The exterior: The first thing you notice is the shape of the Flex. Ford engineers will tell you that it’s a two–box design based on the Taurus X platform that’s been stretched by five inches. If it were a three–box shape, it would be a sedan. So what’s that mean to the driver? Its two–box design is what gives the Flex its unique breadbox shape, and the extra five inches mean that there’s more space in the second row and it’ll deliver an improved ride.Its extended wheelbase, with minimal overhang and wheels pushed out to the corners, gives the Flex a surefooted, sturdy look without being heavy or stout.		Get AutoUSA Internet Prices on this Ford

At 201.8 inches (16 feet 10 inches), the Ford Flex is by most accounts a big vehicle. To put it in perspective, it’s 27 inches longer than the Ford Escape.

The Ford Flex SE standard features include keyless entry, which is practically hidden in the B–pillar for a streamlined look, and tinted windows in the rear. Horizontal lines (Ford calls them “grooves”) on the door panels give the Flex a lot of its character and keep the eyes moving round the vehicle. Its greenhouse with blacked–out pillars (the area above the beltline and below the roof) and optional contrast–color roof, informally referred to as its “lid,” adds to its distinctive look.

The SEL and Limited models add chrome detailing on door handles, beltline and grill, and around tail lamps. The brushed aluminum rear appliqué on the tailgate ties the chrome details nicely together.

Side–view mirrors extend a good bit to help you see around the car’s long body. And luckily for drivers who misjudge the car’s width while going through the drive–through, they fold.

Safety:
Safety is heavily integrated into the Flex, and includes dual front and side air bags in the front row and a roll–over Safety Canopy air bag covering the second and third–row seats. The Flex also features antilock breaks, AdvanceTrac (traction control) with Roll Stability Control, reverse sensors and a tire–pressure monitoring system.

The interior:
Though the exterior of the Flex may be bold, the interior is restrained but decidedly contemporary. The illuminated instrument panel takes it styling cues from classic watch faces, while the chrome analog clock in the Volvo–esque center stack gives it a vintage twist. Keeping the vehicle young, the Flex has changeable LED mood lighting mounted on the front console and footwells, and around the two front cup holders.

Featured prominently in the center stack is the available next–gen Navigation System in an 8–inch screen with an optional reverse back–up camera. More than just a map and directions to get you from point A to B, the Navigation System is like the command center of the Flex. In addition to offering more than 140 SIRIUS satellite radio stations, iPOD integration, and a 10–gig Jukebox, Ford is the only carmaker at this time offering SIRIUS’ Travel Link.

The optional Travel Link service delivers real–time traffic flow and accident information, weather forecasts, ski reports, sports scores and schedules, movie timings and, best of all, a gas station listing with gas prices. The gas price listings alone make the $20 monthly bill for SIRIUS with Travel Link worth the price. Nearby gas stations can be sorted by price or distance, and you’re able to limit results to gas stations along your route. Along with a time–stamped price, Travel Link will let you know if the station is in service.

Making it easier to use, Ford has visually integrated its optional voice–activated SYNC communication system with the Navigation System. The touch–sensitive, drill–down menus expose more of SYNC’s functionality to the user. In fact, in the Flex you can use voice commands to control the cabin temperature. Whether or not that makes life easier is for the user to decide.

The Navigation System also integrates with the optional rear entertainment system. The Sony–branded stereo system available in the SEL model features an 8–inch subwoofer, and a center channel embedded in the dash puts your home entertainment system to shame.

Opening up the Flex is the optional multipanel Vista Roof. In addition to the power retractable moonroof in the front row, the Flex features a large pane of glass in the roof of the SUV with two fixed openings over the second row and a single fixed opening over the third. If all the exposure is a bit too much, retractable sunscreens help cut the glare.

The Ford Flex can be configured as a six or seven–seater SUV. The second row is available with either a three–seat bench or two sliding bucket captain’s seats that recline 27 degrees. It’s also where the party’s at. The six–seater version has the added bonus of an optional compressor–driven refrigerator ($760) mounted between the captain’s seats in the second row. The refrigerator can store up to seven 12–ounce cans and cool or freeze contents from –5 to 41 degrees. It’ll also cool while the car is off, but it’s smart enough to turn itself off before the battery is drained.

Not only do you have four 12V power outlets throughout the vehicle, the Limited model features a 110V outlet in the second row to power most small electronics without an adapter.

The third row offers a respectable 33.3 inches of legroom. To help third–row passengers squeeze in the back, the Flex has optional Powerfold second–row seats that automatically tumble forward at the push of a button. The 50/50–split third–row bench folds into the floor to reveal 20 cubic feet of storage. For more cargo capacity, fold the second–row seats flat and open up 43 cubic feet of cargo space. And if you’re toting longer items, you can fold the front passenger seat almost flat to accommodate a ladder up to 10 feet long and create 83.2 cubic feet of storage.

The ride:
The Ford Flex delivers 262 horsepower from a 3.5L V–6 engine paired with a six–speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly and includes a hill mode that locks out sixth gear and changes the shift points on the other gears to assist with hill climbs. The Flex is available with either front–wheel drive or intelligent all–wheel drive and can tow up to 4,500 pounds.

Though it’s a boxy car, it’s more aerodynamic than it looks, achieving 17/24 miles per gallon in the front–wheel drive Flex and 16/22 mpg for the all–wheel drive vehicles, which is on par with other seven–seater SUVs on the market.

Ford Flex is a big car, but despite its size it’s a lot easier to handle than you’d think. Power–assist steering makes the car feel nimble, but with a turning radius (curb–to–curb) of 40.7 feet you won’t be turning on any dimes. Optional 20–inch tires improve the SUV’s performance and handling, while acoustic laminated glass on the windshield and front windows in the Limited makes the Flex one of the quietest rides in the segment. And it’s also one of the safest, according to its Chief Engineer, Gary Boes, who boasts that the Ford Flex has the same roll gradient as a BMW 335i.

In short:
If space and quiet are indeed equated with luxury in cars, then the 2010 Ford Flex is a premium vehicle suitable for a range of consumers. It’s not just functional, it’s also fun, and in a rare feat for the crossover SUV segment, it manages to be stylish.