Test drive update...

I just got back from returning my latest test vehicle and picking up my current test SUV. The contrast was so stark, I just had to tell you about it.

The vehicle that I just turned in was a 2008 Lexus GX470, one of my favorite body-on-frame traditional SUVs. I was riding high above traffic, with a firm ride and a commanding view of the road.

The SUV that I just picked up was a 2009 Ford Flex. Back-to-back with the Lexus, I was shocked at how quiet and smooth the Ford felt, and how car-like the driving position and road feel was.

The contrast between the vehicles was astonishing and illuminating. Neither vehicle suffers by comparison. In fact, both vehicles shine as purpose-built tools for a specific job. It just goes to show that there are many ways to solve the same equation, and personal taste winds up being an enormous factor into which solution is the right one for any individual. As much as I like the Lexus, I can see situations where the Flex would excel. For instance, on a long highway drone, I'd definitely pick the Flex for its smoothness, utter silence and superior fuel economy. For twisty, rough roads and crowded city driving, I'd take the Lexus. I could make an argument for either vehicle, and I wouldn't want to call one better than the other -- they're different tools for different jobs.

Photo © Jason Fogelson