Flex vs. Explorer: Which Would You Choose?

Flex - family of five that likes road trips.

based on exterior looks id have to go with team edge... the flex is nice and all but outside it looks like an over sized scion XB or whatever boxy thing but meh oh well beauty is in the eye of the beholder right....

Neither.

Explorer. Sorry, Flex. :(

Easy, even with the last new explorer I drove tried to kill me (I come from a Ford Family, so its not hating) I would pick the Explorer. Why?

I dont need a bag over my head to drive it, and secondly I wont laugh at it every time I go outside. I would laugh at the explorer everytime it tried to his the "back country".

Now New Flex, New Ford Explorer, or 1995 Ford Explorer... the 95 :) It got solid 24 mpg combined, could take the back roads, was never short on oil, and was one solid car. Took 2 fender benders and won both without shop required. Just some buffing.

Dodge Durango

@htr_hardtech:

You'd be about the only person I've heard to get that kind of mileage out of an explorer. My mother-in-law had a 1994 Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition that was lucky to break 20mpg most of the time. It was a solid vehicle so no complaints there, but it was never good on gas.

I think the new Explorer will be plenty capable for 95% of the buying public. I have to laugh at the other 5% who though the old Explorer was a good off-road vehicle.

Oh, I forgot. I'll take the new Explorer. The Ecoboost 4-cyl will be interesting if it can boost mileage enough.

flex. still a looker. I can't understand how anyone can say otherwise.

flex, hands down.

Explorer for us

Explorer.

I'd probably say the flex. It's still unique looking and I think it has more cargo carrying potential with the well behind the 3rd row that is very mini-van like. Of course I wouldn't have a problem driving a minivan either. For a family of 5 or 6 I would say the flex hands down. Plus mine would be the ecoboost v6 AWD version (which oddly isn't available on the new explorer, boooooo).

Then new explorer isn't too shabby though. If I had a family of only 4 and it was available with the ecoboost 6 the decision would be way harder.

Explorer. It's a straight-up SUV; not some oversized cross-over/pseudo-station wagon/quasi-minivan like the Flex.

Explorer.

Explorer for me, and that is not because I currently own a '06 version. I think the Flex is not a good looking vehicle, long, hearse... Not directly related but I like the looks of the Edge Sport very much.

Explorer. I really hate this recent trend of boxy cars. xB, Cube, Flex, etc. I hate the way they look.

Depends, they are so similar mechanically that it would come down to interior quality and available features. Having not been in the new Explorer yet, I can't make that call.

If they are on completely equal footing, then the Flex. I like the look and lower center of gravity.

Someone above mentioned the Edge. This gets to the heart of Ford's product problem in this space. They are offering too many vehicles that play in the same sandbox. I'd probably go with the Explorer because I can use the extra ground clearance during VT snowfalls but I really love the Flex. The Flex has one major problem and that's price. It's great that Ford is getting so much out of platforms borrowed from Volvo but maybe their just a bit too pricey to build.

The Flex. If i needed a capable SUV id go with the Durango or Grand Cherokee , the Flex needs updated tho!

@legacygt: The base model Flex is cheaper than the base Explorer. But they both can reach the stratosphere, price wise.

I really like the looks of the Explorer and have never warmed up to the Flex' exterior. I don't like the looks of the Flex interior either. Bottom line is that it is not stylish, it is just a reliable box that can hold a lot of stuff.

The Explorer has some art to it. And that is what I would go with. I just wish the 4cyl. didn't cost so much more than the 6. Kind of eats up your MPG benefits. (Inevitable buyers remorse: Ow, I coulda had a V6.)

@htr_hardtech @arumage 20+MPG!? Everyone I've known with Exploders were between 10-14MPG!

@htr_hardtech: I too am a bit surprised by your '95s mileage. I had a '93 that was lucky to get above 15 mpg in combined driving. The only time I saw it get better than 20 mpg (24.6 mpg if I remember correctly) was when I was driving on a long trip at 55 mph drafting behind a huge box trailer.

Between the new Explorer and Flex I'd probably choose the Flex, but I don't think my wife would go for it - she doesn't like the looks and it reminds her of a minivan.

Flex. While both cars are good looking, I think most people will be buying the Explorer and I'd rather own something that isn't everywhere I look.

Flex, especially if this fantasy involves me being able to afford the Ecoboost version. However, I think the new Explorer will be a massive success, and good on them for that.

"I have to laugh at the other 5% who though the old Explorer was a good off-road vehicle."

+1. The 95+ Explorer was lousy riding and handling both on and off-road. It had terrible roll control. The pushrod 4.0L V6 was weak and wheezy, the SOHC 4.0L V6 was downright harsh at higher RPMs, and the 5.0L V8 was still slow and thirsty (although it had the Mustang's headers and at least sounded cool). It was such a clumsy, lumpy SUV but I still liked it at the time.

As for Flex v. new Explorer, I'd probably take the Explorer. Though I've been in the Flex and like it, I suspect the Explorer would better meet my needs. If I were buying a big hauler like these, I would need a bit more all-terrain ability and less huge minivan-ness.

@bimmerjay

Still beat the rest of what was out there at the time. And the explorer was over built, so it could handle more than what most people thought. The handling still beats a 2006 envoy in anything other than pitted highway.

I miss the fact its no longer a truck based platform now, but I guess we will all have to get used to that. Just wish they would throw out the flex, as the other things Ford makes more than covers that. Thankfully I have only ever seen 3 outside of the dealership since they came out. I dont think they are hot sellers so even with the ugly put aside I would still go with the Explorer even though in my mind its no longer a SUV. More like a minivan with better looks.

Is the Explorer the mystery long-termer? It meets the criteria.

When you see them together like that you really notice how unattractive they both are

I think other colors would help tremendously

Flex

I like the looks of the Flex and to a lesser degree the Explorer but beyond that I rather get the Expedition with either a 5.0L or 6.2 if they come out with it. (Hell would freeze over if they added the Powerstroke)

"Is the Explorer the mystery long-termer? It meets the criteria."

December 2nd is when Ford is to release the Explorer to dealers. There are units sitting on the ground right now at Chicago assembly, but they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Thank you lostboyz.... I'm not the only one saying Dodge Durango...

I have a Flex that i love. Its so special feeling like no other pratical family car. The Flex is boss. BUT im a truck guy and the Explorer can attempt to do some off road and towing un like the Flex. So its a tie. I love the Flexes indivuduality but the Explorers more suv like attributes make me happy.

Although I really like the Flex, I would pick the Explorer because it has more power, more towing abilty, and the Land Rover esque 4x4 system.

The Flex, with one modification:

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2009/04/2009-ford-flex-country-squire-package.html