Used 2017 Ford Flex SEL

Meet the 2017 Ford Flex SEL — the practical-yet-quirky family hauler that looks like it was carved out of a comfortable couch and painted Burgundy Velvet Metallic Tinted Clearcoat. Under the hood is a gutsy 3.5L V6 that delivers 287 hp and 254 ft-lbs of torque, giving you plenty of polite shove for merging, passing, and pretending you didn’t just pass a minivan on a school-drop-off run. Fuel economy is sensible for a vehicle this roomy: about 16 MPG city and 23 MPG highway. Factory-installed creature comforts and convenience goodies (i.e., everything you need to keep passengers content and remote-control chaos to a minimum) include comfortable Dune leather seating, power-adjustable front seats, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, and steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls. The SEL brings thoughtful tech and safety staples from the factory: a full complement of airbags, stability/traction control, a rearview camera, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, and a well-laid-out center stack with easy-to-use infotainment and audio controls. Exterior touches include stylish alloy wheels, roof rails for extra hauling flexibility, fog lamps, and automatic lighting that saves you from parking-lot brightness faux pas. Inside, the Flex is all about space and sensible design: three rows of seating with generous headroom and a flat, wide floor plan that makes folding and loading gear a no-drama operation. The Dune leather interior looks upscale and stays easy to clean (sticky fingers welcome, as long as they’re wiped off afterward). Practical features like multi-zone climate comfort and multiple charging/accessory points keep everyone happy on longer trips — and yes, there’s more than enough cargo room for groceries, sports gear, and that mystery box you keep forgetting to open. This particular Flex is in excellent overall condition, with good mileage — under 95,000 miles and averaging less than 10,000 miles per year — and a clean CARFAX to back it up. In short: a roomy, reliable, and pleasantly unusual family vehicle that’s as ready for carpool karaoke as it is for the school run. Burgundy never looked so useful.