Suburban Dad: 2011 Chevy Traverse vs. 2010 Ford Flex

It’s always tricky to compare apples to apples with cars we test, as the trim levels often vary, as is the case here. But if you were out on dealer lots cross-shopping the two models, the Ford turbo is only a few hundred dollars more than a comparably equipped Traverse. And in my road-trip testing, an all-wheel-drive Flex returned better mileage than a front-wheel-drive Traverse. Below is what I thought of the two trims I took on the road. To see how the comparably equipped models stack up, you can check out their specs head-to-head here.

MSRP as tested (without destination):

• 2010 Ford Flex Limited: $45,245
• 2011 Chevrolet Traverse FWD 2LT: $36,970

Handling: While the Flex has the clear advantage in acceleration, the Traverse was no laggard with its V-6 engine. Still, there was never a time when I felt pushed back into my seat like the Flex made me feel. Both crossovers held well to the road, and the steering was very responsive. The Traverse seemed to have a smaller turning radius than the Flex (20.2 feet for the Traverse compared with 20.4 feet for the Flex, but the difference seemed greater).
 
Mileage: The 2010 Flex Limited is rated at 16/22, while the 2011 Chevy Traverse is rated at 17/24. We drove the Flex for just about 2,000 miles, and the Traverse for 520-odd miles. The winner? The lighter (4,790 pounds  vs. 4,643 pounds curb weight), shorter, but more powerful (281 horsepower at 6,300 rpm versus 355 hp at 5,700 rpm) Flex.

The numbers:

• Flex: 22.7 mpg over 2,000 miles, both urban and rural, with two adults and fully loaded with cargo.
• Traverse: 22.5 mpg over 520 miles — mostly highway but including one stretch outside Battle Creek, Mich., where we went three miles in 30 minutes — with two adults and no cargo.

Rear seating, access and cargo: Both crossovers offer a lot of space to second-row passengers. The Flex came with captain’s chairs, which made third-row access easy, and the Traverse offered a split second-row bench with an accordion-style sliding seat. With the third row down, both offer great cargo space. It’s when the third row is up (like on a family vacation) that these crossovers are really put to the test. The Flex has passed every time I’ve needed it to, but not with much space left over. The Traverse’s cargo space seems pretty close, though the Flex clearly has more vertical space inside.

2011|Chevrolet|Traverse

2010|Ford|Flex