Ford Flex earns five stars all around for crash safety
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Flex.
Ford has made safety one of its top priorities, and its efforts have paid off. Not only does the Blue Oval have more five-star crash rated vehicles than any other automaker, but it's added another notch to its safety belt with NHTSA giving the Flex five stars for both front and side impact tests. A front crash impact score of five stars means that there is a 10% or less chance of serious injury at 35 mph, and the five star side impact score indicates a 5% chance of serious injury at 38.5 mph. The Flex comes standard with dual front air bags, headliner mounted side curtain air bags, traction and stability control, and tire pressure monitoring, which helps with NHTSA scoring. The Flex also received four stars for rollover protection, tying the CUV for best in class in the crossover segment.
With a Volvo-derived platform and plenty of heft, we're not surprised the Flex achieved a five-star score in NHTSA testing. Then again, it doesn't hurt that just about every automaker engineers all new cars and trucks specifically to score well on the Fed's tests. Hit the jump to view Ford's press release.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Ford Flex
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 5, 2008 - The 2009 Ford Flex has earned five-star frontal- and side-impact crashworthiness ratings, the highest possible scores, in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests.
The results for Ford's newest full-size crossover are better than the Toyota Highlander's and include class-leading four-star rollover ratings for both the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.
"The 5-star ratings for the Flex are evidence of Ford's overall safety commitment. In fact, we have produced more 5-star-rated vehicles than any other automaker," said Susan Cischke, Ford's senior vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. "The Flex offers it all: a head-turning design, top safety ratings, unsurpassed highway fuel efficiency in its segment, power, spaciousness, comfort and great features."
Flex safety standard
Flex, which went on sale this summer, has a full array of standard safety equipment.
This includes dual front air bags, headliner mounted side curtain air bags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, Ford-exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) and tire pressure monitoring system.
Flex gets some of its core strength from the use of lightweight aluminum-coated boron steel - one of the strongest weld-able materials - in the body structure. The use of high-strength steel in the B-pillars is only part of the Flex's robust safety profile. Ford engineers also located the side door intrusion beams to help manage and absorb energy during side impact crashes.
"Flex safety is built on a solid foundation - the platform of the 5-star rated Ford Taurus and Taurus X," said Gary Boes, Flex chief engineer.
How the Crash Ratings Work
NHTSA's frontal collision ratings are determined by placing crash-test dummies in the driver's seat and front-passenger seat and securing them with the vehicle's safety belts. Vehicles are then crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 mph, which is equivalent to a head-on collision between two similar vehicles that are moving at 35 mph. The 5-star rating attained by Flex indicates a 10 percent or less chance of serious injury to a belted occupant in the front seat.
Side-impact crash testing represents an intersection-type collision with a 3,015 pound barrier moving at 38.5 mph into the Flex, with crash test dummies buckled into the driver and rear passenger seats. Flex's five-star rating, the highest possible, indicates a 5 percent or less chance of serious injury.
"Safety is a top purchase consideration, second only to fuel efficiency, so Flex's top safety ratings and highway fuel economy are a winning combination," said Catherine Pearce, Flex marketing manager.
Even More Technology Works in Customers' Favor
Flex also can help drivers avoid problems on the road.
The new SIRIUS® Travel Link™ feature, praised for helping motorists find the cheapest gas, also can help route them around congested, potentially dangerous conditions using the vehicle's navigation system with real-time traffic information, available in select markets.
SYNC®, Ford's hands-free connectivity system for Bluetooth-enabled phones and digital music players, helps drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel to reduce distractions.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Chris Whiteford 2:10PM (8/05/2008)
I can't help but feel that although the Flex design was a departure from their standard ones it still falls a bit short on wow factor.
I did have the impression as well that it would be smaller than it is but seeing production models, I can't escape that it is to big for the segment I think it would excel in.
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tke 2:09PM (8/05/2008)
Safe or not, handsome or not, powerful or not... the Flex ain't fuel efficient enough for a summer/2008 introduction. It's too bad cuz the Flex seemed like it had it goin' on.
(http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/jul2008/bw20080731_765256.htm) (http://autoenergy.blogspot.com/2008/07/ford-flex-vs-chevrolet-suburban-plano.html)
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Matt 2:18PM (8/05/2008)
Wow thanks for those useful hyperlinks that everyone will surely click on.
nardvark 2:35PM (8/05/2008)
7 people at 24mpg is not bad at all. If you're driving it solo, yes, it's thirsty, but I'm not going to scoff at families who buy these. My wife and I own two small cars that get in the 30's, but if we have more than two kids, that's no longer an option.
Torrent 2:38PM (8/05/2008)
You guys expect fuel efficient people haulers with midsize sedan MPG. Unfortunately, that doesn't exist. 24 MPG for a 7 seater is plenty good. Because in the 70's, 7 seaters would have around 15 MPG, so I think there has been quite some improvement over the decades. When you think about it, 24 MPG is good, since average commute is under 50 miles a day.
500 2:41PM (8/05/2008)
Just needs more power and I'd strongly consider one. Hurry up Ford and give it at least the EcoBoost six (or TwinForce, or whatever they're calling it now.)
PittPen 2:49PM (8/05/2008)
Comparing the Flex's fuel economy with a Suburban's doesn't sound like seeking midsize sedan economy. It seems to expose the Flex as a "crossover" that isn't so car-like as we'd like to think car-based vehicles are.
Randy 3:08PM (8/06/2008)
The Flex is great in MPGs for carrying 7 people! That's outstanding!
Heck, it's better MPGs than my R/T Charger and that is a 5 seater and my car is smaller!... Well, it does have a Hemi in it! ;)
PittPen 3:14PM (8/06/2008)
Almost every car achieves less than the EPA's stated economy. As for a loaded, all-wheel drive example and just for the record, Car & Driver's September issue shows their real-world economy to be 16mpg.
Silver 2:19PM (8/05/2008)
Butt ugly, super safe. Ah, compromises.
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iQuack 2:21PM (8/05/2008)
Ford offers nothing special in the Flex. Any vehicle THAT heavy and bulky should get 10 stars for safety.
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Yaroukh 6:26PM (8/05/2008)
"Any vehicle THAT heavy and bulky should get 10 stars for safety."
And does it?
Robert O 2:22PM (8/05/2008)
Great news for a good vehicle from a company that is trying.
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Matt 2:22PM (8/05/2008)
I saw one of these on Olympic Blvd in WestLA yesterday and honestly I did a triple-take. It was a black Limited model with the white top. It was big, and handsome, and almost striking. I looked around at other drivers when we came to a long red light at Bundy Drive and they were looking at it, too. I think Ford did a great job with this. Yes, the timing isn't the best, but a ground-up platform design with new powertrains takes years - and I'm happy to see that Ford is doing the best they can with this product in the less-than-welcoming market and economy. The five-star rating will surely resonate with families, presumably exactly what this vehicle was designed for.
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tke 2:41PM (8/05/2008)
In the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands, car sales rose7.8% year over year to 57,177 units in July, while crossover utility sales, which include Ford Escape, Edge and Flex, fell 7.8% to 27,336 units and SUV sales dropped 54.4% to 10,213 units. Truck and van sales slipped 18.1% to 61,680 units..... from http://www.rttnews.com/Content/TopStories.aspx?Node=B1&Id=672454&Category=Top%20Stories&pageNum=2141_4395_6005_2
Matt 2:49PM (8/05/2008)
tke you're hyperlink-happy today. I work in the auto industry and read these press releases long before they meet your eyes. What is it that you're trying to show me? Yes, the market sucks - but that does not mean that the vehicle is a bad piece of engineering. I drive an Audi and am quite happy with its 14.5 city mpg for the performance I get out of it. I'm not in the market to buy a crossover, or SUV, but I think the Edge is a handsome vehicle with Range-Rover-like styling cues for less than half-the price of one. And Ford should (and does) get praise for that.
Silver 3:48PM (8/05/2008)
Are you sure those other drivers were admiring it as you were, or were they just thinking "WTF???"
PittPen 3:05PM (8/05/2008)
Without the Audi in your driveway it'd sounds like you work for Ford, Matt. "Range-Rover-like styling cues" is a wonderful catchphrase for a Ford marketing exec. The Flex does look good and might even drive good but all sales stats from any hyperlink will point to the fact that a good-looking huge Ford SUV/crossover ain't what people are seeking out right now. that doesn't mean it isn't nice, but facts are facts.
Matt 3:28PM (8/05/2008)
Somehow the fact was missed that I indicated it was not the best timing for this vehicle's launch. Also, in all the press releases I've read, which could easily number into the thousands, I've never once seen/heard a PR spin artist make mention of the Range Rover styling similarities, but it's clearly evident when you look at both vehicles, especially the front-end design.
There was a point in time when I would have been proud to work for Ford Motor Company, or General Motors, or hell, even Chrysler Corp. I'm from the Midwest; I enjoyed college in Chicago and my family is still all there.
I live and work in Santa Monica. While that could have meant I worked for Ford's PAG in Irvine, that was dissolved and sent back to Michigan a couple years back. I don't work for a manufacturer and probably never will until they [all of them] can update their clunky top-heavy business models so as not to have directors reporting to directors for the sake of no upward advancement.
While it's a shame that auto-organizations seemingly all have similar personnel issues, what kills me is that the the American-based ones, like Ford, show it in their products more than others, and when a good one finally makes it 'out', it's still shunned by bandwagon haters who have probably never even seen one in person, let along driven one.
Silver 4:02PM (8/05/2008)
"it's still shunned by bandwagon haters who have probably never even seen one in person, let along driven one" - Matt
Matt, it's never a good sign that one must see a vehicle in person to appreciate it. I've never known a vehicle that looked like a dog in photos but was a stunner in person. But that's just me.
The Flex looks like an oversized mutant offspring of a forbidden tryst between a Scion xB and a MINI Cooper. And I doubt seeing it in person would help dull the ugliness.
I've always preferred Ford to GM (though I prefer imports and don't buy domestics for many reasons), but I have to say that GM seems to be back on the right track now (design-wise) while Ford continues to flail about.