There are many reliable used cars, trucks, and SUVs on the market, so it can be hard to narrow it down. If you have not considered the 2017 Ford Flex a good used SUV for one reason or another, it has much to offer shoppers. This sport utility vehicle often gets overlooked in the sea of options, but the Flex checks many boxes shoppers might be looking for.

Is the 2017 Ford Flex a reliable used SUV?

According to Edmunds, the 2017 Ford Flex is a reliable used SUV with a comfortable cabin. It has plenty of room in the cargo area and comfortable seats throughout the cabin. As one of Ford’s most recognizable SUVs, the Flex isn’t always remembered among the newer models. However, it makes for a great used SUV.

Ford’s dependable 3.5L V6 is known for being a reliable engine, too. It moves the SUV around town with enough power, but Ford does offer the 365 hp turbo EcoBoost engine as an option. If you are worried the regular V6 isn’t enough, the EcoBoost engine will certainly move the Flex full of people without an issue.

While it wasn’t the most modern SUV on the market in 2017, it was reliable and earned high marks from experts. Plus, the Flex could tow up to 4,500 pounds with either of the engine options. That isn’t class-leading by any means, but it is enough for most casual towing situations.

Is the 2017 Ford Flex a safe used SUV?

When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the 2017 Ford Flex, it gave the used SUV mostly good scores. 2017 was a pivotal year for many vehicles, as more safety systems became standard this year. The IIHS gave the Flex high scores on the moderate overlap front, side, roof, and head restraints. It only earned a score of “acceptable” on the small overlap front test.

Ford used two different types of headlights on the Flex in 2017, with the Limited trim receiving HID projector lights. These were not curve adaptive and only earned a score of “moderate.” On the SE and SEL trims, the halogen reflector lights earned a score of “poor.”

In the critical areas of driver injury measures, this used SUV earned the highest score on all four segments. This includes head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not give the SUV an overall safety rating, it did earn a four-star score on the rollover segment.

Why did Ford discontinue the Flex?

At the end of the day, Ford felt it did not sell enough of this used SUV to keep it in the lineup. The automaker only sold about 300,000 units of the Flex during its 11 years on the market. That works out to less than 30,000 a year. While the Flex was unique and spacious, Ford felt it had stronger SUVs with better numbers in other vehicles. It also wanted to focus on sport utility vehicles of different sizes to increase the options within the brand.

Overall, the 2017 Flex is worth checking out for a reliable used SUV. These days, you have to think outside the box a little to find the best vehicle for your life and situation. The Flex has you covered if you need a comfortable SUV with a dependable engine.