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Our Ford Flex Limited turns One this week, so I thought it would be a good time to reflect back on the last year we have shared.

Together we have covered 16,000 miles, slightly above the national average, and overall, my impressions remain favorable. I still love the way it looks, and by the number of people who give me a passing thumbs up, I am not alone. For a stylized SUV stretching over 201 inches at the waterline, I am also constantly surprised by how small it drives.

The acceleration from the 262 hp V-6 instills confidence in high speed lane changes, and the two speeding tickets I have received are a testament to how comfortable it cruises at 80 mph. Mileage is better than expected, with an average around 22 MPG.  Steering doesn’t feel over-boosted, and there is no slop on center. The stop and go traffic into the city does test the four wheel disc brakes, and for the most part, they do their job admirably, exhibiting no pull under heavy braking. I have noticed some funny noises recently that hint at heavily worn brake pads, which would be troubling after only 16,000 miles. Use caution when parallel parking, however, because the low profile tires mean that the aluminum rims sit below most curb heights and can easily be scratched.

The interior, spanning two time zones, is well laid out, and very attractive with white stitching highlighting the black leather seats. A slightly lower quality faux wood than I am used to in my VW Toureg highlights the dash, but it is forgivable.  As a kid hauler, it is a dream.  My one and four year old commute into the city with me also, and despite the two captain-chair sized car seats, the back seat still swallows all of the bags without crowding the kiddie’s leg room. The in-seat DVD players will come in handy some day, but for now, the kids aren’t interested, so they have only been used once.  My heartbeat really starts to race over the onboard technology. Ford really knocks it out of the park in this area. With a few minor complaints, SYNC works as advertised. Once the system syncs up your phones, calling is easy. Press a button on the steering wheel and a woman’s voice walks you through the menu. Sometimes she is a little hard of hearing though, and I find myself resorting to dialing the number on my phone and then letting  the system take over placing the call. The ipod docking station is a great addition too.

There are areas, however, that I think can be improved. To date, the Flex has been back to the dealership 3 times, excluding regularly scheduled maintenance, for minor, but annoying issues. The battery failed within the first few weeks, and I had to use Ford’s roadside assistance to pick the vehicle up and deliver it to the dealership. Ford was great about diagnosing the problem and replacing the battery at no charge. Shortly after that, the front right tire began rubbing inside the wheel well and back it went again, this time for a re-adjustment of the plastic shell surrounding the wheel. Next came a leak through the ceiling mounted sunroof controls, which was the result of a clogged drain in the roof. While all these were small problems, they highlight my overall impression that the quality could be a bit better.

Panel gaps on the front quarter panels are not consistent from top to bottom. The seats already show wear, with a grayish hue showing through the black leather on the leading edge of the two front seats, and more than one plastic trim piece (one behind the driver’s door handle and one from the dash) having fallen off. For a vehicle costing more than $40,000, this is not acceptable.

My biggest issues, however, involve the non-adjustable front seat headrests, and the turning radius.  The headrests stick way to far forward to ever be comfortable, and if you wear a ponytail, anything more than 30 minutes in the front seats will strain your neck. Because of this, we asked Ford to replace the tall headrests with a set from a Ford F-150, which they did at no cost. While not as good looking, they are certainly more comfortable than the original equipment. And when it comes to turning radius, an oil tanker would be a fair competitor. Turning into a normal parking space requires a wide birth, and even then, usually involves backing up to get a good straight fit.  To be fair, I think that Ford has addressed both of these issues in the 2010 edition.

Would I buy this vehicle again? Or better yet, would I recommend it to friend? Yes, with caveats. I think it is hands down the best looking vehicle in its class, with enough poise and refinement to make it a comfortable, easy family hauler, and enough bells and whistles to keep me from getting bored. Customer service at the Stamford Ford has also been fantastic. Always friendly, courteous and prompt.  So what is the caveat? Ford’s has come a long way with quality control, but not far enough. Parts of this car feel cheap. My VW Toureg feels much tighter and better assembled than the Flex even after 60,000 miles, and the interior materials appear, and feel a higher quality. It will interesting to see how well the Flex holds up in the coming years.