Steve Levy: We got to ride around Los Angeles and Malibu in 2009 Ford Flexes yesterday.
Jonny Lieberman: Don’t forget Ventura County.
Levy: That’s right. We crossed the line in Oak Park! Flex plays well in the 805 [Ed Note: Both Levy and Lieberman hail from the Conejo Valley]
Lieberman: I believe it will. High style and seven seats will have the OG soccer moms staking out the dealerships. Especially when you compare the distinctive, square shape of the Flex to the more anonymous jellybean profiles of all its competition.
Levy: This is going to be a rough first debate–we both dig on the Flex.
Lieberman: True. But we can still give it a go.

Levy: First off there’s the way it looks. Its just plain cool. They translated the Fairlane Concept pretty faithfully.
Lieberman: Indeed. “Sub zero” as you Brits might say.
Levy: The proportions of the “two box” shape are bang on. I dig on the mono tone of the green house — the glass, the B, C and D pillars are all black. And of course there’s that roof that can be had in a contrasting color.
Lieberman: I’m really into the different colored roof. Sure, they’re stealing from Mini. But remember what Woody Allen said, “Always strive to be original. But if you must, steal from the best.” What do you think of the horitontal lines running the length of the doors? They do break up a vertical slab, but they’re a bit too Sebring hood for my taste.
Levy: I like. They break up what could have been a very bland flat space. And they give an impression of motion. They could have been cliche, but they aren’t. My larger point is that everything works; the grill, the accent on the tailgate, Ford nailed it. The styling gets an A. Drop it a few inches and roll it on 22s and its an A+.
Lieberman: Right, but if you plant it on bigger wheels, you harm the all important MPG. And while the Flex is OK (17/24 FWD, 16/22 AWD) it ain’t great.
Levy: It’s not bad, though. It’s basically the same as anything being cross shopped–Honda Pilot, Audi Q7 3.6 and probably better than GMC Acadia/Saturn Vue.
Lieberman: Better than the Murano for sure. And the Nissan’s only got five chairs.
Levy: The mileage is a big step up on what I think people will be jumping out of–Expeditions, Suburbans and Sequoias –probably 50% better
Lieberman: All true, except does 50% better cut it when gas prices are four times as much? Remember, 17 mpg around town is if you’re EPA gentle. And that’s with an empty car not loaded with 6 children and all their soccer swag.
Levy: But at the moment what are you going to do? There isn’t a seven-passenger alternative. Well there’s an alternative European answer, but what are Americans going to do if you need 5 plus seats regularly? A move from the body on frame, leaf sprung, V8 SUVs to this is a solid step in the right direction, and its as good as its going to get in the good ‘ol USA. So lets be real, for now at least.
Lieberman: I just wonder if people who purchased seven-passenger SUVs without really needing them will make a move to a (much) smaller vehicle. That said, I did like how the Flex drove. Much closer to a car than I assumed going in.

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