Crossovers v. Wagons: What the Flex?

"IanZ - limited-slip indifferential" (ianz-limited) 12/07/2016 at 23:49 • Filed to: None

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One of humanity’s greatest mysteries is how to classify the Ford Flex. Is it a wagon? A lifted wagon? A crossover? A Jalopnik wet dream come to life? Whatever you call it we can all agree it is undeniably sexy. But that’s not the point.

You have to see the whole thing as a spectrum. With CUV at one end and wagon on the other. Ford Escape versus Volvo V90. Trying to fit the Flex or the Outback neatly into either category is a futile endeavor.

And saying “all crossovers are just wagons” is obviously false. Stop it.

The Flex is 3/4 crossover, 1/4 wagon.

The Subaru Outback is 4/5 wagon, 1/5 crossover.

Other controversial figures include:

Subaru Crosstrek (3/4 hatchback, 1/4 crossover)

Mercedes-Benz GLA/Infiniti QX30 (3/4 hatchback, 1/4 crossover)

Infiniti QX50 (1/3 wagon, 1/3 hatch, 1/3 CUV, 3/3 cool if you live in 2005)

Infiniti QX70 (90% SUV, 10% hatch, 100% drop-dead gorgeous)

This isn’t an exhaustive list, and there are many more genre-bending crosshatchwagonbacks out there.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 12/07/2016 at 23:53

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Crosswagoveron.

Also this has me missing ours.

not for canada - australian in disguise > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 12/07/2016 at 23:54

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And the Highlander, Journey, Traverse, really all the big three row crossovers are 90% Minivan, 10% SUV.

Really, the main difference between say a Sienna and a Highlander is that you’re trading sliding doors for AWD and a bit of ground clearance. I think the Flex kinda fits in that category too along with the Explorer.

Alfalfa > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 12/08/2016 at 00:13

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Between the fact that it isn’t really that far off the ground and it’s proportions (namely being kind of long for how wide is), I say it’s firmly in wagon territory.

zeontestpilot > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 12/08/2016 at 06:16

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I see it as wagons grew into minivans, and minivans grew into crossovers (because the former two have a bad stigma of being ‘uncool’ apparently). Crossovers are their own breed, with elements of both wagon and minivan incorporated into the design.

random001 > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 12/08/2016 at 06:23

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I have an interesting relationship with the Flex. On the one hand, I kinda really like it. But on the other, the loading space is a bit higher than it should be. I just don’t know...

A pogo-stick, obviously. > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 12/08/2016 at 07:46

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I always saw the Flex as straight wagon personally.

Wife drives a ‘06 Freestyle which I also lean wagon (though it’s bordering on crossover/SUV due to ride height and the fact it is built off the Volvo XC90 platform).

Wish there were more proper wagons out there. Hopefully they will make a comeback at some point.

(not my pic, but same color/options)

Probenja > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 12/08/2016 at 08:25

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It’s a crossover as it doesn’t have a normal wagon version which is based off a sedan. Or you could say that it’s a very boxy minivan too.

The new Outback is a crossover, the old Outback was a lifted wagon and the Crosstrek is a lifted hatchback. The rest are all crossovers or CUV’s.