2009 Ford Flex

The all-new 2009 Ford Flex, with unique styling and seating for seven, is a cool-looking alternative to a minivan.

Flex features an interesting shape, signature side grooves, and an all-black greenhouse. Add to that the distinct roof that is sure to provoke "love-it" or "hate-it" emotions, and you have a distinctly different Ford.

You can put me on the "love-it" side. Flex dares to be different and its exterior styling represents a radical departure from anything else offered by Ford.

Topping the Flex is a roof that comes in two colors: White Suede or Brilliant Silver. The roof and all-black greenhouse nicely contrast Flex's exterior paint palette. The Ford Flex tester looked sharp with its Sterling Grey Clearcoat Metallic finish topped off by an all-black greenhouse and White Suede roof.

The tester also came equipped with an optional ($1,495) Panoramic Vista Roof. This option features four separate glass panels that really let a lot of natural light inside the cabin. The glass panel over the front seats opens while the other panels are fixed.

Flex is available in three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited. Pricing ranges from around $28K - $36K.

The cabin is spacious and the materials look and feel upscale. All three rows offer plenty of head and legroom. The Flex SEL tester came with comfortable Charcoal Black leather seats and some interesting options.

First, I especially enjoyed the latest Ford SYNC and voice-activated navigation system with SIRIUS Travel Link.

SYNC is a Ford-exclusive system developed with Microsoft to link your Bluetooth phone to the vehicle's entertainment system. It's one of my favorite features for its ease of setup and number of features.

The navigation system with SIRIUS Travel Link includes real-time traffic, coast-to-coast weather conditions and fuel price information for over 120,000 gas stations.

Another option ($760) I enjoyed in my Flex tester was the refrigerated rear console. It can quickly cool your favorite beverages and it's large enough for a six-pack or two 20-ounce bottles.

A backup camera is also available and something that Flex owners will truly enjoy is the ambient lighting system. It allows the user to program any of seven different interior lighting colors to fit their mood. With this feature, customers can change the lighting on two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the front console, footwells and around the two front cupholders.

The 2009 Ford Flex is built from the Taurus platform and features a 262-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The base SE model powers the front wheels while SEL and Limited models are offered with FWD or AWD. The intelligent all-wheel-drive system can transfer torque front to rear and side to side when needed.

I found the engine in my 2009 Ford Flex SEL FWD tester to be more than adequate. Acceleration from a stop, and for passing, is good, even with a full load of passengers.

The Flex feels very stable and delivers a smooth, comfortable ride. My only complaint is fuel economy. My Flex seemed thirsty for fuel, and I got to experience Ford's capless fuel filler neck when I stopped to gas-up. There's no gas cap to remove and reinstall. Just stick the nozzle in the neck and it automatically opens a valve to permit refueling. The valve automatically closes when the nozzle is removed.

Flex is a likable crossover that won't be confused with other models. If you like to be different, Flex will help.

2009 Ford Flex SEL FWD

Engine: 3.5-liter (262 hp) V-6

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Drive type: FWD

Fuel economy: 16 city/22 highway

Base price: $36,555

As tested: $43,875 (includes $700 for destination)

Web site: www.ford.com