Auto Reviews

GIBRALTAR -- The 2009 Ford Flex seemed like the ideal vehicle to test Downriver.

That Southeastern edge of Wayne County should be marked on maps with a big Blue Oval -- this is Ford Country. Mustangs are born in Flat Rock. Stop at any light and you'll find yourself surrounded by F-150s (their body panels stamped in Woodhaven).

The Flex, Ford's overdue replacement for its discontinued minivan, would fit right in with the hard-working group of men and women I gladly call neighbors.

But with its distinctive looks, surefooted performance and groovy interior, the Flex seems to have more white in its collar than blue. It's more pay bridge than free bridge -- the preferred way to cross over to Grosse Ile. This big people hauler may come with a fridge in the second row and the best voice-operated media player on the planet, but the Flex's price can grow faster than the fishfly population in July.

The Flex SE starts at $28,995 (including destination), but an all-wheel drive Flex Limited needs another $8,000. My test vehicle, a top-of-the-line all-wheel drive Flex Limited with more bells and whistles than all of the railroad crossings on Gibraltar Road, topped out at $44,000. That's like buying a base model Flex and a Ford Focus.

In fairness, lots of big crossovers come with hefty price tags. A fully loaded all-wheel-drive Saturn Outlook XR hits $42,700; the base price for the XR starts nearly $3,000 lower than the Flex Limited.

Ford says its pricing strategy provides more content at a better price. The Flex starts with a lower price than the GMC Acadia and it's on par with the Honda Pilot. But between you and me, I think all of the fully-loaded big crossovers cost too much.

Spend a little time in the Flex, and that high price may not discourage you. This vehicle is top-notch.

Stand-alone looks

First, there are those slab-sided good looks. It's as if Ford's designers took meat cleavers to the clay models. Cruising along Fort or Jefferson, I never saw another vehicle that resembled the Flex, except for a few BMW Minis zig-zagging through traffic. The Cinnamon Clearcoat Metallic body and white roof gave the Flex a retro feel with a modern twist, something anyone who frequents the Wyandotte art fair can appreciate.

Most big crossovers, such as the Outlook and Hyundai Veracruz, have that similar trucky-station wagon look, but the Flex stands out and alone.

Chrome door handles and the three-bar grille gives the Flex just enough sparkle, and the big 19-inch tires on my Limited fit snuggly inside the wheels. Twenty-inch wheels are also available. The front end is flat and the fascia below the bumper rests close to the ground. The silver fog lamps push out the edges and emphasize the vehicle's width (88.8 inches when you include the mirrors). It looks substantial. It looks solid.

Standing 68 inches high, the Flex feels smaller when you're outside of it. Inside it's massive. It's the coolest trick in any car. Every time I exited the Flex, I would do a double take because I could look down at the roof.

The long horizontal lines stretch the length even more. It's long to begin with -- 201.8 inches, with a 117.9-inch wheelbase.

The all black greenhouse -- the area of windows above the door -- provides the Flex with street cred, or at least better looks than a minivan, even if it can carry a liter of kids and parents (six or seven people depending upon the configuration).

Kids can certainly hop into this machine easier than some higher-standing crossovers. And they'll have all of the features of home: Roof-mounted DVD player ($1,020); four-panel Vista roof ($1,495); and even a $760 small refrigerator right between the second-row seats. The fridge works incredibly well, though I wish I could reach it from the front row.

The second-row captain's chairs are just as comfortable as the front seats, offering more legroom (44.3 inches) compared with the front row's 40.8 inches. Even the third row gives you 33.3 inches of legroom and lots of space.

Cool features

Up front, there are plenty of user-friendly features. The 390-watt Sony stereo with 12 speakers rocks and the Travel Link system, coupled with Ford's voice-activated Sync, remains the best overall media management system on the road today. Sync allows you to tell your iPod -- and some other portable music devices -- where to go.

It takes a little time to learn to the right voice commands and shortcuts around the audio prompting, but once you do you'll never want to be without it. Tell the Flex, "Max AC" and the air conditioner kicks on full. Tell it to "play artist Cracker" and you're bathed in "Euro Trash Girl."

But that's only the beginning. Travel Link, which is part of the Sirius Satellite Radio package, will provide you with live traffic updates on your on-screen map. You can also pull up the movie listings to the Southgate Cinema 20 and if you need directions, the system will give you voice commands all the way to the parking lot. The optional navigation system, which includes a reverse camera, is $2,375.

The Flex boasts a few more features I really like. The adjustable ambient lighting can change colors at the touch of a button and the adjustable pedals allow any driver to find the right position.

One only noticeable item I found strange was the location of the button to close the power liftgate. Ford put the button against the interior wall. Most power liftgates have a button on the edge of the gate. It lets you push the button and step away as it closes. The Flex liftgate closes slowly enough to move out of the way (and it automatically opens if it pushes against your head), but I felt like Seymour Krelboin every time I closed the back.

But once it's buttoned up, the Flex is ready for the road.

Total package

The 262-horsepower V-6, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission gives the Flex plenty of power. On the highway, the Flex was a comfortable cruiser. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Few vehicles would be more comfortable for a long haul. Around town the Flex handled itself with aplomb. It's not a sports car, but it felt quick. The long wheelbase (117.9 inches), smooths out the ride and is very quiet.

The gas mileage is on par with other big crossover SUVs. The front-wheel drive model hits 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel-drive models reach 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

A quick look at the major competition and you'll see the Flex is right along with the best of the best. The 2008 Toyota Highlander hits 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway; the Honda Pilot, 17/23; the Acadia reaches 16/24; and the Hyundai Veracruz, 16/23.

The Flex may be one vehicle that offers something no one else provides: A total package. Its luxurious interior, unique exterior, and the solid performance makes it worthwhile contender.

Those are sensible enough for Downriver, even if the prices feel more like Oakland County.

Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com.