A 3,445-Mile Road Trip in the 2013 Ford Flex
Now, we’ve driven each version of the Flex before. Our first trip took us in the original version from Chicago to upstate New York. Two years ago, we drove an EcoBoost-equipped Flex from L.A. to Chicago. This time, we had a new Flex with the stronger-than-the-original base engine.
Here are bits and pieces of how the trip went.
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By the Numbers
Miles from start to finish: 3,445
Here are the two longest legs:
- Chicago to Denver: 1,891 miles, 89.5 gallons of gas, and nearly exactly 36 hours of driving time. 21.1 mpg (according to the trip computer).
- Denver to Chicago: 989 miles. 46 gallons of gas. Just under 16 hours of driving time. 21.5 mpg (according to the trip computer).
How the Flex Drove
For my family, the Flex remains the greatest touring crossover available today. My wife and I have three teens, who are very much adult in size, yet never on the trip was there arguing about space or comfort. In fact, the kids were arguing about who could have the third row for the way home; normally, they hate to sit in the way-back.
It’s an incredibly smooth ride, whether on endless stretches of interstate or unpaved roads leading into Montana (more on that later). Normally, on most road trips we take, which are almost all much shorter than 3,000 miles, I hear complaints about seat cushions or someone’s inability to get their seat adjusted to a comfortable position. That wasn’t the case with the Flex.
I should point out this was not the EcoBoost Flex, a version I drove from Los Angeles to Chicago two summers ago. That being said, the 285-horsepower V-6 I drove for this road trip was more than adequate, providing plenty of power when I needed it even in mountainous areas. Sure, it growled more than many crossovers of its size, but I liked that. Is it odd to like the exhaust note from a three-row crossover?
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