New cars: Ford Flex Limited AWD

Edmunds.com

This alternative to minivans and seven-passenger crossovers has a certain amount of styling panache, seemingly “inspired by vintage vacuum cleaners.” Call it a supersize Mini Cooper Clubman. Unlike anything else on the road today, the Flex does come equipped with “a reasonably powerful 3.5-liter V6” and an extremely high-quality interior. Minivans have more cargo space, though.

Car and Driver

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The Flex is “a Holland Tunnel of a car,” longer by more than a foot than the Toyota Highlander. Though at first glance it seems to have been assembled “entirely of municipal park benches,” it proves to be a “dazzling” vehicle inside and out. The dash shows a “Lexus-like attention to detail.” An optional 32-button navigation screen takes up most of the center stack, and the seats can “perform all manner of Olympic-quality gymnastics.”

Outside

The new Flex is the vehicle for those who want the space of a Chevy Suburban but can’t afford its “dismal gas mileage and won’t be caught dead in a minivan.” Check out these features: seating for seven adults, four sunroofs, and a passenger seat that folds forward and completely flat. Snow and ice pose no problem for the all-wheel drive, but don’t get ambitious. “This beast belongs on asphalt” and handles more like a limo than an SUV.