Forget being a friendly, non-conventional, minivan-like crossover with retro styling because the 2010 Ford Flex, which will now be offered with an available twin-turbo, direct-injection EcoBoost V-6, is currently gunning for the full-size sport/utility segment. Ford is looking to lure SUV buyers who place increased emphasis on big V-8 power with their EcoBoost V-6, which puts out 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The 2009 Ford Flex was endowed with the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 with 262 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, which remains the standard powerplant in the Ford CUV.
While some critics may point out that full-size SUV owners are in a class of their own and may not even consider purchasing a smaller vehicle, Ford marketing manager Kate Pearce says otherwise, claiming "it depends on what you're coming out of. If you're in a V-8 today and you really like that power, EcoBoost might be the perfect trade for your V-8." In addition to citing comparable V-8 performance levels, Ford has also highlighted the increased value of purchasing a Flex rather than a popular full-size SUV such as the Chevy Suburban and Toyota Sequoia.
The 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost is available only with all-wheel drive, and boasts a 0-to-60-mph sprint time in the 7-second range while projecting fuel economy ratings of 16 city/22 highway. Towing capacity is maxed out at 4500 pounds when equipped with the optional tow package.
In comparison, both the Sequoia and Suburban would be hard pressed to match the EcoBoost'ed Flex in the acceleration test and fuel economy ratings. The Chevy and Toyota SUVs can best the Flex in the towing department, but Ford maintains its CUV offers sufficient towing capacities, especially when full-size SUV owners are not towing every weekend or approaching their maximum towing limits. Pearce noted that 29 percent of traditional SUV owners tow at least once a month.
With its unique looks and long list of features, the Flex has been performing up to Ford's expectations, and remains poised to continue its strong growth in the developing crossover segment. We will have to wait and see how the EcoBoost'ed Flex fares in drawing the full-size SUV crowd.
Source: Ward's Auto