2013 Ford Flex

REAR-CONSOLE REFRIGERATOR
When fitted with the middle-row captain's chairs instead of the bench, the console between can be equipped with a built-in refrigerator that holds up to seven 12-ounce cans. And, with a low temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit, it can double as a mini ice cream cart.

SYNC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
Ford's SYNC communications system features a voice-activated command center that can access music from an attached MP3 player, answer and place calls from a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, and even read aloud incoming text messages.

Ford took pains to make the 2013 Flex someplace special. The inviting interior is functional, elegantly appointed and meticulously assembled. The restyle this year gives the instrument panel a clean and functional high-tech look, with the three screens for the new MyFord Touch system. Noteworthy features include the massive 4-panel Vista skylight. The 2nd-row and 3rd-row seats fold flat, but so does the right-front passenger seat, creating acres of cargo room. For hauling people, the front and middle rows provide spacious and comfy accommodations for four full-size adults, five in a pinch. Third-row occupants will find legroom snug.

The 2013 Ford Flex looks both functional and quirky, both edgy and timeless: Ford Country Squire wagon meets Mini Cooper. It's a box, for sure, but an elegantly detailed box, with aero-friendly contours around the edges and lower body. The new-this-year face is quite modernistic, with a strong horizontal character and the unusual decisions to downplay the headlights and put the Flex name in chrome across the nose. The aluminum-clad liftgate and optional contrasting-color roof are also strong visual elements. The Flex's flat, brick-like contours won't thrill everyone, but it's a distinctive and functional way to build a family hauler.

Depending on trim, Ford offers two engines and the choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) on the 2013 Flex. The standard engine on all trims is a smooth and efficient 3.5-liter V6 with variable valve timing. Its 287 horsepower (modestly increased for 2013) is certainly adequate if not class-leading. Fuel economy is quite good with an estimated 17 mpg city and 24 highway. All-wheel-drive models earn slightly lower estimates. Optional on the Limited trim is the EcoBoost V6, which uses gasoline direct injection and twin turbochargers to produce an impressive 365 horsepower. A 6-speed automatic transmission is used throughout, and the EcoBoost engine is offered only with AWD.

3.5-liter V6
287 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
254 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25 mpg (FWD), 17/23 mpg (AWD)

3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6
365 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
350 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500–5,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg

The 2013 front-wheel-drive Ford Flex SE has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $31,710. The mid-range SEL starts just over $34,000 with FWD, $36,000 with AWD. A top-line Limited starts just over $40,000 with the base engine and FWD and tops $45,000 with the EcoBoost V6 and AWD. Fully loaded, a Flex Limited can exceed $50,000. The Flex's pricing is in line with competitors such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Honda Pilot. To make your best deal, be sure to check our Fair Purchase Price, which shows the typical Flex transaction prices in your area. As for resale value, Kelley Blue Book expects the Flex to hold a good portion of its original purchase price, on par with the Chevy Traverse, but falling slightly behind the Honda Pilot.

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