2013 Ford Flex SEL AWD Review - The 2013 Ford Flex SEL AWD provides a lot of space for travelers and heavy freight, it allows a variety of sound resources, and you can add on a lot of car owner aid and safety technical for not much more money.As with the 2012 design, the platform Flex is operated by a 3.5-liter V-6; thanks to varying camshaft moment, it now generates 285 hp and 255 lb-ft of twisting (up from 262 and 248) and should journey an extra distance on each quart of gas (up to 18 in the town and 25 on the road for front-wheel-drive models). We do not anticipate the uptick in outcome to cut much from its 0-to-60-mph time (which was a ho-hum 8.4 a few moments before we examined it), so rate devils are recommended to examine out the EcoBoost-endowed Flex, with its 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of twisting. This motor is the same from 2012, and again comes conventional with all-wheel generate, which is optionally available with the normally aspirated six. In our examining, the EcoBoost flex hit 60 in six a few moments smooth and eliminated the quarter-mile in 14.6 at 96 mph.
It should be mentioned that, regardless of what exactly is under the bonnet, no Flex has ever hit us as really fun to generate, and it does not look like that will modify for 2013. At least no Flex will be saddled—yet—with the wimpy 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that, as we mentioned when we experienced it in the 2012 Traveler, is overmatched by the huge of a three-row cross-over.
Boxy body system
Depending on where youre getting your details, the Flex is either a huge cart, a huge cross-over, or an SUV with lower-than-average floor approval. Lengthy, low, and extensive, the Flexs real characteristics is tricked by its underpinnings, the D4 foundation, which it stocks with the Honda Traveler, pretty steadily growing this automobile in the cross-over category as far as Im involved.
Im a fan of the Flexs boxy visual, even if the cinnamon ale metal natural colour made it look like a big pickle.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Visually, the Flex creates huge use of 90-degree perspectives in its style with a very erect techniques and compressed finishes that are compared with long horizontally feature collections that run down the edges of the automobiles and across its grill and liftgate.
Interior design
egotiate into the Honda Flex SELs 10-way power-adjustable motorists chair and youll be welcomed first by the MyFord instrumentation seated just before you. This mostly digital evaluate group functions only one physical switch, for the speedometer. Flanking the speedo are a couple of color LCDs that can show a personalized amount of reliable details. The left show is home to the gas mileage and journey details, while the right show is where youll learn more appropriate to the current sound source, hands-free call, or turn-by-turn routing details, if so prepared. These displays are managed by a couple of online shields on the rim and are amazingly user-friendly, giving access to a ton of details -- or a least of it.
Were lovers of the MyFord system group, which is highly useful and configurable.
Ford Synchronize is the Flexs speech control program for hands-free contacting and sound play-back from a linked USB generate (MP3) or iPod system, and is conventional on the Flex SEL. However, our design was prepared with the Synchronize with MyFord Contact program, which places a large, 8-inch LCD at the top of the center collection.
Available Models
STYLE | ENGINE | DRIVE-TYPE | INVOICE | MSRP |
SE 4dr FWD | Gas V6, 3.5L | Front Wheel Drive | $ 29,110 | $ 30,885 |
SEL 4dr FWD | Gas V6, 3.5L | Front Wheel Drive | $ 30,982 | $ 33,225 |
SEL 4dr AWD | Gas V6, 3.5L | All Wheel Drive | $ 32,801 | $ 35,175 |
Limited 4dr FWD | Gas V6, 3.5L | Front Wheel Drive | $ 36,581 | $ 39,230 |