Ford tweaks Flex, Taurus for 2013

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The 2013 Ford Taurus is built right here in Chicago, and while the Ford Flex comes together in Canada, both vehicles are perfectly suited for Midwest duty.

In the case of the Taurus, the latest version refines the midsize-plus exterior look. The Taurus’ long front and rear overhangs feature a new grille and trendy LED taillights. The lower body aero additions give the car a sportier look, especially the high-performance SHO.

The Flex also receives a styling tuneup as Ford has deemed that the blue oval logo be removed from the exterior except for the rear hatch. Flex is a big seller in the import-heavy California market, so apparently less logo is more. Up front there are large letters spelling “FLEX” followed by an all-new grille with a thick chrome band between the square headlights. Overall, Flex looks as if it could be part Range Rover.

Both vehicles use the same V-6 power plants but soon Taurus will add a 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that was not available for testing. Ford’s 3.5-liter V-6 makes 288 horsepower (287 in Flex) and 254 pound-feet of torque. This engine is boosted by Ford’s Ti-VCT (variable camshaft timing) to help stretch fuel economy and give it a bit more pep in all six gears. During testing this engine had some low-end grunt and good acceleration in both cars.

The top engine is a turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. This is the hot rodder’s choice as 365 horses are very stout, but the heft of the cars mutes the power a little and premium fuel is recommended. This engine makes you feel like you’re driving a V-8 but you get the mileage returns of a V-6 engine.

The entry-level cars come with standard front-wheel drive or you can opt for all-wheel drive. The EcoBoost cars are all-wheel drive. The only transmission offered is a six-speed automatic with overdrive. Top models like the SHO come with steering-wheel paddle shifters and they deliver very quick shifts/downshifts. This is a “smart” transmission that factors in steering, yaw and acceleration, so if you’re pressing the pedal it will stay in a lower gear to give you power before sensing the need for a higher gear.

While the SHO and Limited Flex present a sporting look they are not sports sedans. Ford stresses the handling and cornering of the SHO, but in the end these are front-wheel or as-needed all-wheel-drive cars. The electric power assist steering is good, braking is stout and for large vehicles they cut corners well with wheel sizes that range from 17 to 20 inches. However, they are not rear-drive vehicles and if you want that kind of drive experience you won’t find it here. These cars are nothing like the vanilla Taurus of old.

Inside is where Flex and Taurus split widely, so if you try and squeeze five passengers in the Taurus you will have some unhappy campers. The Taurus’ interior has upscale appointments and is full of technological goodies, including SYNC with reworked MyFord Touch. The problem is that interior panels, center console and seating all cozy up to you.

In stark contrast is the Flex, which features all the Taurus’ high-tech goodies and most of the soft-touch surfaces, but appears to use materials that are more suited to the rigors of family use. The comfort, roominess and convenience of the Flex outdistance the Taurus. The Flex is a great car for family vacations or families with active lifestyles.

Seating for seven is standard and even tall kids will easily and comfortably fit in the third row. In addition to the tech goodies, the Flex offers a second-row refrigerated console, inflatable second-row seat belts and new headrests that do not pitch your head forward. Flex features an abundance of storage, cubby holes and cup holders.

These midcycle changes do improve both these cars, but if I had to choose one the quirkier Flex would get the nod for comfort and flexibility. Be aware that these cars can get pricey, exceeding $45,000 for top versions, and even with EcoBoost mileage may not be as high as you expect.