2009 Ford Flex - Dinky 3rd Row Seat

We had a Flex this weekend when we flew home...I hated them before I rode in one (thought they looked barfy IMHO) and I hate it even worse now that we had one for the weekend.

It is NARROW...when you are inside it in the front passenger seat it feels nice and big and roomy, but that sucker is narrow. We had a hard time getting a Roundabout and a Futura next to each other in the 2nd row, and putting a booster (AirBooster or TurboBooster) next to the Roundabout was impossible.

The third row seat is dinky. I sat back there for one trip and while *I* was ok, anyone of average height is gonna be totally squished. Plus, my not even 8yo fit back there unboostered. Reilly is 50" tall and has a seated torso height of 17".
I didn't think to get a picture of him in his booster for comparison...durh!



Here are the other things that I did not like...

:thumbsdown: Driver & Front Passenger seats were uncomfy (my middle/upper back hurt after any ride longer than a half hour).
:thumbsdown: I couldn't get the seat adjusted so that the shoulderbelt was actually touching my shoulder...it was always from 1"-3" away from actually touching my shoulder no matter how I adjusted the seat (front to back) or belt (height on the track).
:thumbsdown: The floorpan on the passenger side is not flat...it actually bumps up at the front of the seattracks, and since I didn't like having the seat forward at all (it was all the way back all weekend) this put that bump right under my feet and it was ANNOYING.

What did I like?

:thumbsup: It rode low to the ground, which made it easy to lean into the vehicle and buckle Reiker in the 2nd row center.
:thumbsup: It drove really nice (with the exception of horrendous torque steer when accelerating quickly).
:thumbsup: Trunk space/deep well. Much more trunk space than a TaurusX or Mountaineer with the 3rd row up.

It looks similar to my Mazda5. I have to go do more research now...

That pic of your DS in the 3rd row makes me want to cry! The seat belts in my Mazda5 are forward of the seat, so that it doesn't even touch my kids until their belly. It's been a nightmare, and it's the STUPIDEST thing - there's no reason it has to be like that!

*off to check it out*

ETA: Oh, that's definitely not much like my Mazda5 after all. Sure looks similar from the pics of the back seat, though!

Does it have switchable belts? I've found the only way to get a belt to sit right on me in some cars is to switch it to ALR mode, for some reason I can then get it to sit against my shoulder and in the right spot. Sometimes.

ketchupqueen said:

Does it have switchable belts? I've found the only way to get a belt to sit right on me in some cars is to switch it to ALR mode, for some reason I can then get it to sit against my shoulder and in the right spot. Sometimes.

Click to expand...

It does have switchable belts, but that's not the problem. Here's what it looks like:


And here's what it does:


The seats don't move at all, so there's no way to fix it! It's the stupidest thing; I've actually filed a complaint with NHTSA and repeatedly contacted Mazda about it. Every tech I've talked to about agrees that it's not a safe design. :thumbsdown:

(Sorry, OP, didn't mean to hijack your thread!)

Wow, that's a BIG margin. I've had one that sat about 3/4 inch off, and locking it I was able to get it... somewhat closer. But I've never had one that far off! That's ridiculous and I can't believe they tested that and it passed federal standards.

My Armada 3rd row has a pretty short seating depth too. My long-legged 6.5yo can fit there in a pinch. I like the fact that smaller kids fit well there when I drive on a school fieldtrip and I don't have to argue with a 5th-6th grader about booster use.

*I* find it perfectly comfortable myself, enough so that I've sat back there with DD1 on long trips to watch movies. DD1 and I are both a smidge over 5'5" tall.

well, I wouldn't say he fit since his knees weren't at the edge, but it is scary how well the belt was fitting him as he looks smaller than my 7yr old (not sure if he is or not)

I can see why you didn't like the vehicle, though.