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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2014 Ford Flex

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Overview

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2014 Ford Flex Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 7.7

The 2014 Ford Flex is not your typical 7-passenger family vehicle, as you can tell just by looking at it. The silhouette – long, flat-sided, squared off – suggests the big station wagons of the 1960s and 1970s, and it sits lower and sleeker than a typical SUV. Competitors like the Honda Pilot, Dodge Durango and Chevrolet Tahoe can tout maximum tow ratings and off-road capability, but the Flex chooses to focus on transporting people over paved surfaces. It's striking and stylish as well as functional and useful – a fine combination similar to minivans and SUVs in capabilities, but clearly different from both.

You'll Like This Car If...

If what you'd really like is a modern interpretation of the classic American station wagon theme, the 2014 Ford Flex could be the one. It offers seating for six or seven, a range of trim levels and prices, available all-wheel drive, and a turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you need to tow more than 4,500 pounds or go bounding over rugged, unpaved terrain, the 2014 Ford Flex is not your best choice. A big V8-powered SUV such as the Dodge Durango or Ford's own Expedition is better geared to those tasks.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

7.7
Driving Dynamics

7.8
Comfort & Convenience

7.8
Design: Interior & Exterior

8.2
Value

6.6
Safety

7.7

How It Ranks

#8

out of 13

MPG

#4

out of 13

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

9.1 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2014

After a thorough facelift and some mechanical and equipment upgrades last year, the 2014 Ford Flex gets minimal changes in package contents.

Driving the Flex

Driving Impressions The 2014 Ford Flex manages to feel maneuverable and responsive despite its wide body and long wheelbase. Through tight turns, especially, it shows good poise, and its smooth ride and...

quiet interior help make for a pleasant driving experience. Sway and body roll are minimal thanks to taut suspension, big wheel and tire packages and the Flex's low-to-the-ground stance. Electric power steering often comes up short on feel, but this system works well. Despite its boxy appearance, the Flex seems to slip through the air easily at freeway speeds, creating very little wind noise. The base 287-horsepower engine gives adequate acceleration but the EcoBoost option is clearly stronger (365 horsepower) and adds an element of sportiness to the drive. An available all-wheel-drive system adds another level of assurance on slippery roads.

Favorite Features

REAR-CONSOLE REFRIGERATOR
Pick the middle-row captain's chairs rather than the standard bench seat and the console in between can contain 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 continually evolving 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.

2014 Ford Flex Details

2014 Ford Flex Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Ford worked hard to make the 2014 Flex a special place to be. The inviting interior is functional, elegantly appointed and meticulously assembled. The new-last-year instrument panel is clean and functional, with the three screens for the new MyFord Touch system. A massive 4-panel Vista skylight is one of the noteworthy features. The 2nd-row and 3rd-row seats fold flat, and so does the right-front passenger seat, creating what feels like acres of cargo space. For hauling people, the front and middle rows provide spacious and comfortable accommodations for four, or five in a pinch. Third-row occupants will find legroom a little tight.

Exterior

The 2014 Ford Flex looks functional and quirky, a little edgy but still timeless. Think Ford Country Squire station wagon meets Mini Cooper. It's a box, for sure, but an elegantly detailed box, with aero-friendly contours and soft edges. The new-last-year face is quite modernistic, with a strong horizontal character and some unconventional treatments in the relatively subtle headlights and prominent Flex name in chrome across the nose. A liftgate clad in brushed aluminum and the optional contrasting-color roof are also strong visual elements. This "flying brick" shape may not appeal to everyone, but it's a distinctive and functional way to build a family hauler.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2014 Ford Flex comes in three trim levels: SE, SEL and Limited. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, a 6-way power driver's seat, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, Reverse Sensing System, fog lights, front and rear air conditioning, an MP3-compatible CD player, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Specifying the Limited trim adds heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, Sony Premium audio with Ford SYNC communications system, voice-activated navigation, leather upholstery, a power-folding 3rd-row seat, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Standard safety equipment includes 3-row side-curtain airbags and inflatable 2nd-row safety belts.

Optional Equipment

Options for the 2014 Ford Flex vary by trim and include the 365-horsepower EcoBoost V6 (Limited only), all-wheel drive (SEL and Limited), a rearview camera, a power rear liftgate, heated 2nd-row seats with power Autofold mode, 2nd-row captain's chairs with a center-console refrigerator, a 4-panel Vista roof, a contrasting-color painted top panel, remote start, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, and the Park Assist active parallel-parking aid.

Under the Hood

Across its trim levels, the 2014 Ford Flex offers a choice of two V6 engines (both with a 6-speed automatic transmission) and either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The standard engine is a smooth and efficient 3.5-liter V6 with variable valve timing. It makes 287 horsepower and is certainly adequate if not class-leading. Fuel economy is quite good for the vehicle's size with an estimated 17 mpg city and 24 highway. All-wheel-drive models earn slightly lower estimates. The Limited trim offers the option of the EcoBoost V6, which has twin turbochargers and direct injection to produce an impressive 365 horsepower. This 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

Pricing Notes

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for a 2014 front-wheel-drive Ford Flex SE starts just under $32,000. For the mid-level SEL, prices start around $34,400 (FWD) or $36,400 (AWD). A top-of-the-line Limited begins at about $40,300 with the base engine and FWD and bumps up against $45,400 with the EcoBoost V6 and AWD. Heavily optioned, a Flex Limited can easily exceed $50,000. That pricing is in line with such competitors as the Chevrolet Traverse and Honda Pilot. To make your best deal, be sure to check our Fair Purchase Price and see what typical Flex transaction prices are in your area. Considering 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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2014 Ford Flex Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.1

Out of 10

Based on 133 Ratings for the 2009 - 2014 models.

Review this car

Value

9.0/10

Quality

9.1/10
Reliability

9.3/10

Performance

9.2/10
Comfort

9.4/10

Styling

9.3/10

fantastic vehicle. love to drive it.

By Archer on Friday, July 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 44,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "plenty of data ports, cup holders at all positions"

Cons: "no cargo room w seatbacks up fuel capacity 2 small"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have 2010, sel model. i love it. it drives like a dream. easy handling on curves really holds them tight. pure pleasure to drive. wife also likes to drive it."

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fantastic vehicle. love to drive it.

By Archer on Friday, July 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 44,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "plenty of data ports, cup holders at all positions"

Cons: "no cargo room w seatbacks up fuel capacity 2 small"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have 2010, sel model. i love it. it drives like a dream. easy handling on curves really holds them tight. pure pleasure to drive. wife also likes to drive it."

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Can't say enough about this car!!!

By Bofusjr (MI) on Wednesday, July 17, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 25,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I come from a 3 generation family of Chrysler employees. I fell in love with this vehicle when they first came out. The 2011 color of Meditteranean Blue is very eye catching and I get tons of comments on the color. I traded a 2006 Chrysler Town and County mini van for this. I would NEVER drive another mini van now that I own this Flex. Best feature is that the spare tire is inside where it belongs even with the third seat. No more cranking it down and reaching past a HOT exhaust to get the spare out."

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Roomy, dependable car with great gas mileage

By Dc (IN) on Tuesday, July 16, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 73,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Mileage, roomy, looks nice"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"For a car of this size, it gets great gas mileage. 22-25 mph. Very roomy, dependable, comfortable and it looks classy."

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Want a Cadillac but can't afford one?

By Lee (AZ) on Saturday, June 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 80,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "smooth ride, comfortable, mpg, Ford Sync, style"

Cons: "0"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This car is the next best thing in my opinion, only with more versatility. The ride is smooth and I could drive on a long trip with ease. Try putting a 10' board in a Caddy, I can in my Flex. Leg room is fantastic, gas mileage is unbelievable for a car this size. I live out in the country but go to the city a lot, and yet I average 22 to 23 mpg! The only annoyance is everyplace you go people are asking about, have to look inside. I got one of the fist ones and for the fist two years I couldn't stop anyplace that I wouldn't get asked about it "Is that the new Ford in that flashy commercial?" Now some still ask what it is but most know and want to know how I like as they've been thinking about one."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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very comfortable

By vicky (NJ) on Thursday, May 30, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 2,240

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 7/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "back up camera is great, blind spot warning good"

Cons: "Navagation had some trouble entering addresses"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"great car for the whole family. Can fit 7 people and wheel chair at same time. Low to the ground so 90 year old parents can get in. Handles nice, rides smooth. Easy to get used to driving from a smaller car."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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See all 133 reviews