2011 Ford Flex Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Ford Flex review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Flex, and includes Ford Flex safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

The boxy shape of the Ford Flex may remind you of a building block from your child’s Lego set. But don’t sell the Flex short because this boxy three-row crossover wagon is a terrific vehicle to transport you and your entire family (up to seven members) in style.

The 2011 Ford Flex remains relatively unchanged for 2011 with one exception: the addition of the premium Titanium trim that boasts a black roof, a black chrome grille, F-L-E-X lettering across the front hood and charcoal black leather seats with gray Alacantra suede inserts.

The 2011 Ford Flex is available in four trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited and Titanium.

The 2011 Flex SE comes standard with climate control, Ford IceBlue interior lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, leather-wrapped shifter knob, sliding front visors with dual-illuminated vanity mirrors, auto-dimming interior rearview mirror, power windows, reading lamps for second and third-row passengers, solar-tinted front windows and windshield, an audio input jack, AM/FM CD player that is MP3 capable with six speakers, cloth seating, fold-flat front passenger seat back, 60/40 second-row bench seats, 50/50 third-row fold-flat bench seat, a reverse sensing system, dual-beam halogen headlamps, fog lights, power locks, bright polished dual exhaust tips, three-bar chrome grille, 17-inch alloy wheels and a mono-tone roof.

The 2011 Flex SEL adds a Sony audio system with 12 speakers, Ford SYNC, Sirius satellite radio, Bluetooth, iPod/USB interface, available navigation system, dual-zone electronic temperature control, universal garage door opener, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, heated front seats, eight-way power adjustable driver seat and six-way power adjustable passenger seat.

Optional convenience packages are available on the SEL trim and include leather-trimmed seats, heated exterior mirrors with driver-side memory, power-adjustable pedals with memory, power liftgate, memory feature driver’s seat, security approach lamps and a 110-volt inverter.

The 2011 Flex Limited adds a Sony audio system with 12 speakers, a power liftgate, multi-color ambient lighting, a memory feature for driver’s seat, perforated leather-trimmed first and second-row seats and 19-inch alloy wheels. Options include the four-window Vista roof, heated second-row bucket seats, a PowerFold third-row seat with tailgate feature (rear seats can be laid down to create rear-facing seats that are ideal for youth soccer and football games) and a refrigerated second-row console.

The 2011 Flex Titanium is essentially a cosmetically upgraded Limited model and adds standard 20-inch nickel aluminum wheels, leather-trimmed seats with suede inserts, a black painted roof and a three-bar black chrome finish grille.

An optional turbocharged EcoBoost engine is available on the SEL, Limited and Titanium models and turns the large Flex into a surprisingly fleet machine. Captain’s chairs, the panoramic Vista moonroof, and a rear-seat DVD system that mounts the screens on the rear of the front seat headrests are available options on the Limited and Titanium models.

The 2011 Ford Flex comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 262 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. This V6 engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 17 mpg for city driving and 24 mpg on the highway.

A 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine is available for the 2011 Ford Flex SEL, Limited and Titanium trim levels. This EcoBoost engine produces 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. This more powerful engine is only available with an all-wheel drive system. The real selling point of the of the EcoBoost engine is that you pay only a 1 mpg penalty to get a heaping helping of power. Plan on 16 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway while enjoying a much more responsive engine.

As a family friendly crossover, the Ford Flex comes packed with safety features that include dual-stage front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, two safety belt pretensioners, safety belt usage sensors, driver-seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module and front-passenger sensing system. Other standard features includes child safety rear door locks, a LATCH system, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

All that attention to safety features resulted in the 2011 Ford Flex achieving a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This means the 2011 Flex received the agency’s best score of Good in their frontal offset, side impact and roof strength tests and includes electronic stability control as a standard feature.

In terms of reliability, J.D. Power and Associates rate the 2011 Ford Flex slightly above average. Consumer Reports has yet to determine their reliability rating for the 2011 Flex, though the 2010 Flex is pegged as much better than average. We’ll take that as an endorsement that the 2011 Flex should be a solid long-term performer.

Whether you adore or abhor the Ford Flex’s design (we know people on both sides of the fence), you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable or accommodating cabin. The seats are pleasant on long road trips. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel and highly adjustable seats make it easy to find an ideal driving position. And the large windshield and rectangular side and rear windows provide as much visibility as one of those big-eyed deep-sea fish would require in an above-ground aquarium.

The Flex offers seating for either six or seven. Opt for the six-seat Flex and you’ll get captain’s chairs and an available mini-fridge between your two very happy passengers. With eight inches more legroom in the second row than a Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia or Buick Enclave and six inches more than an Acura MDX and Dodge Durango, you’re sitting in the most spacious second row you can find in a mid-size to large SUV/crossover. The second-row bench seat is a better option if you plan to carpool more than four kids around town on a regular basis.

While the standard V6 engine works well in most settings, we’ll opt for the turbocharged EcoBoost engine, especially if we can handle the bump in price. This is an engine that has more than 100 more horses than a Honda Pilot and can tow up to 4,500 pounds. Since the Flex is a heavy beast of a machine, the EcoBoost engine feels better matched to the matter. In fact, the EcoBoost engine can rocket a Flex from 0 to 60 between six and seven seconds. Try to match that performance in a minivan.

The Flex is large but drives like a wagon. In other words, it doesn’t drive as large as you might expect given its overall length. But give yourself some space when you try to slow down. The brakes work well but any vehicle that weighs 4,800 pounds needs a little breathing room.

Without question, the Ford Flex is one of the best road trip and family vehicles available today. It’s large enough to fit you and your posse inside. With the 355-horsepower EcoBoost engine, it’s powerful enough to leave popular family crossovers like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander in the dust. It’s stylish enough to make a statement and unique enough that you’ll likely be the only one on your block driving a Flex. We’re big fans of the retro-inspired design and even bigger fans of its function. Add in the Top Safety Pick and high reliability ratings and you can see why Vehix highly recommends the 2011 Ford Flex.

By Michael Waterman