2012 Ford Flex Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Ford Flex review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Flex, and includes Ford Flex safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

If you’ve always assumed that “family wagon” and “boring” are synonymous, you may need to reconsider your opinion after driving a 2012 Ford Flex Limited or Titanium model with the twin-turbocharged engine under the hood. That powerful engine propels this wagon that seats 6 or 7 passengers from 0 to 60 faster than a turbocharged BMW 3-Series sedan. True story. While some observers call the Flex a “maxi Cooper” due to visual similarities to the Mini Cooper Clubman, you’ll quickly discover this is a three-row crossover that offers plenty of style and space for families who need it.

The EcoBoost engine is no longer available on the SEL AWD trim on the 2012 Ford Flex; you’ll find it exclusively on Limited and the newly introduced Titanium model. In addition, the second row on the Limited and Titanium trims now features a much-appreciated flip-out armrest with two cupholders. Roof side rails are now also available with the optional Vista Roof. That’s good news for drivers who want to stow their stuff inside and outside the wagon.

The 2012 Ford Flex is available in four trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited and Titanium.

The 2012 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 first and second-row seats, fold-flat front passenger seatback, 60/40 second row bench seating, 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 2012 Flex SEL adds Ford SYNC, Sirius satellite radio, Bluetooth, iPod/USB interface, dual-zone electronic temperature control, universal garage door opener, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, heated front seats, eight-way power adjustable driver's seat and six-way power adjustable passenger seat. Optional convenience packages are available on the SEL trim and include heated exterior mirrors with driver-side memory, power-adjustable pedals with memory, power liftgate, memory feature driver's seat, security approach lamps, 110V inverter, leather-trimmed seats, navigation system and a Sony audio system with 12 speakers.

The 2012 Flex Limited adds a Sony audio system with 12 speakers, a power liftgate, ambient lighting, a memory feature for driver’s seat, perforated leather-trimmed first and second-row seats and 19-inch alloy wheels. An optional four-panel Vista Roof, heated second-row bucket seats, PowerFold third-row seats with tailgate feature and a refrigerated second-row console are also available.

The 2012 Flex Titanium adds 20-inch painted luster nickel aluminum wheels, leather-trimmed seats with suede inserts, a black painted roof and a three-bar black chrome finish grille.

Two engines are available on the 2012 Flex. Let’s start with the base 3.5-liter Duratec V6 engine that generates 262 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimates fuel economy for the front-wheel drive Flex at 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Choose the all-wheel drive version and economy drops 1 mpg in both city and highway settings to deliver 16 city and 23 mpg highway.

The must-have engine for many Flex buyers is the 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V6 that is only available on the 2012 Ford Flex Limited and Titanium trim levels (earlier models offer the EcoBoost engine on the SEL trim). This is the engine you want for towing and going fast thanks to 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly but if you desire a little more control, paddle shifters behind the steering wheel allow the driver to manage shifts across the six speeds. It’s also important to note that all Flex vehicles with EcoBoost engines are all-wheel drive instead of front wheel drive (FWD). As you might expect with an all-wheel drive vehicle, fuel economy drops compared to the FWD version. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg in freeway driving. Our experience driving earlier EcoBoost models reveals that 22 to 24 mpg on the freeway is realistic but 16 mpg in the city is a bit optimistic. We average between 14 and 15 mpg.

When it comes to family vehicles, safety is a key buying consideration and an area where the 2012 Flex shines. Standard safety features include dual-stage front airbags, side curtain airbags on all three rows, front seat-mounted side airbags, two safety belt pre-tensioners, safety belt energy-management retractors, safety belt usage sensors, driver-seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module and front-passenger sensing system. Other standard features include child safety rear door locks, a LATCH system to secure infant seats, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2012 Ford Flex is a Top Safety Pick according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), making this the fourth model year to achieve recognition for its available safety features and positive crash test ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not published crash test results for the 2012 Flex at the time of this writing.

Now in its fourth year of production, the Ford Flex has proven to be a reliable vehicle, especially if you opt for the Flex with the EcoBoost engine. The standard Flex garners an average reliability rating while the EcoBoost Flex pulled down much-better-than-average predicted reliability ratings from Consumer Reports. As this review is written, J.D. Power and Associates has not yet rated the 2012 Ford Flex.

While the new Titanium trim is stylish and distinctive, it’s also expensive. We’ll recommend most Flex buyers stick with the Limited trim for a very well appointed family cruiser. With lots of standard tech features, an attractive interior, loads of paint color options, plenty of power with the EcoBoost engine and the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, Vehix continues to strongly recommend buyers consider the 2012 Ford Flex.

By Michael Waterman