It’s definitely hip to be square at the moment. The C3 Picasso, Kia Soul, Toyota iQ and Urban Cruiser all have the cubist look, with wheels pushed right to the corners to maximise cabin space while simultaneously creating a cool, simple box shape.
But it’s not just small cars that look good as a cube. I’ve just spent a week in California driving a Ford Flex. It’s a massive people lugger with a horribly lazy V6 and more slack in the steering than in James Cordon’s underpants.
But it looks fantastic: a giant oblong of a thing, like an inflated Mini Clubman. It has a white roof, chunky chrome slats for a grille and similar treatment around its arse. There’s not a bendy line on it.
And because it’s so linear, it’s also super-practical. Seven adults sit comfortably over three rows, with no swoopy roof incursions to limit headspace, or huge pillars to block visibility.
Thing is, it hasn’t gone down awfully well Stateside. Of all things, they’re worried about fuel consumption. Seems it doesn’t matter what their V8 pickups drink; what this V6 consumes is enough to put them off. Ditching the permanent four-wheel-drive option would help, and sticking a diesel in there would clearly improve MPG. But this is America dammit, and that just won’t do. Eating your cake is just as important as having it.
At least they like the styling. Probably takes them back to their old ‘woodie’ station wagons. The timber might have been replaced by shiny plastic, but at least it shows how a titanic SUV can look just as funky as an iQ.
Real shame we can’t have it over here, eh? Guess we’ll stick with a Berlingo Multispace for now. It’s kind of boxy, after all.
These new big, boxy cars around lately are strangely cool. The Toyota IQ and Citroen C3 Picasso are the coolest in their class. The C3 is a car that you would buy because you have a large number of people in your family so you need something big and spacious. But it’s also cool, so if your divorced, you can still have one and it’ll be just right for you, honestly, the C3 is unique in that way.
The IQ is an excellent small car, but has just enough room for four people. It drives incredibly well – even wacking a smile on your face occasionally – it’s got enough kit to please Bill Gates, just, and you can buy a nearly new one for a small amount of money. But the best thing is that the IQ is also cool.
But im not so sure about this. The Ford Flex looks, well, a little like a straight-edged Range Rover which is a little odd. From some angles it looks good, but from others, it looks ridiculous. But the styling isn’t lazy like old boxy Fords. Ford say it’s meant to have ‘Limo-Style Comfort’ and it probably has. Knowing American cars it probably has the softest suspension known to man and the worst handling capabilities.
But i don’t want one. It’ll look stupid on my drive, it’ll be too wide and long for B-Roads and will have the most tackiest interior plastics known to man. And i don’t really want a full on American 7-seat crossover thing. If i want a 7-seater i’d buy a Galaxy, or if i want a crossover thing, i just wouldn’t buy one, i’d buy a Freelander instead for similar money.
god damn it i hate the ford flex. so damn ugly. GGGAAHHHR i hate it.
i live in the u.s (but im part british) and i,ve been in one it may be ugly but it’s actchally cool. i say it’s a estate, a family can use it, but a teen would not be embarresd. truly i would buy a rs6. it’s the same price.
what an ugly beast you are mad dan read if you think that is cool!
hmmm, box shaped cars. only one cool car with a rectangular nose if you ask me.
“fire up the quattro!”
Sorry but, since 2004, some type of Scion (Toyota’s youth brand) had been released, and it has nearly all the features of this Ford. I am afraid to say, nothing new here,..
Its the Scion xB I believe…..sorry dont mean to be negative Dan.
Dan,
Thanks for the review. Couple of things to let you know. On fuel economy, Flex is equal to or best in class for any full size crossover so we are in good shape there.
On sales, it is true to say that we are not where we would like to be (who is, quite frankly) but we had a record sales month last month which is great.
Also, you don’t have to have all-wheel drive – we do a front wheel drive version as well which gets even better fuel consumption.
Thanks for the review.
Kind regards,
Jay Ward
Ford Communications Manager
jay ward, would you be able to convince your bosses to let us lot in north america have the new focus’s? the ones here are horrible boxy things, we want the RS!
I think it’s ugly, as do many Americans, which is why it flopped here.
As for no diesel, you can blame the greenies for that. Greenpeacers hear diesel and still think of massive 18 wheelers spewing soot and sulfur into the air.
It’s ironic that America’s greenies are against very green technology, like low-sulfur diesels and nuclear power with waste-reenrichment.
Can anyone suggest to me what type and brand of suspenssion to use if I want to modified ?
What brand and model is the original C3 model use?
Thank You
I agree with bugatti – i would get an rs6!
I actually quite like it for Europe as well. And if an Audi Q7 or big Merc do fit in a normal road, so does this.
Thing is that I´m quite bored of german mediocrity and greyness [including the current Mini]. German cars are efficient, but somebody up there in Germany forgot about how perfection can leave a human… cold.
I saw one on TV and didn’t think much of it I have to admit. Not into the square look unless it’s a Bedford van – they’re mid-engined you know!!