Greene Ford Compares 2016 Ford Flex VS 2016 Chevrolet Traverse Near Buford, GA

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Flex inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Traverse doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Both the Flex and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, and an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Flex as a “Top Pick” for 2015. The Traverse is not a “Top Pick” for 2015.

The Ford Flex has a better fatality history. The Flex was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 4.2% lower per vehicle registered than the Traverse, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Flex’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Traverse’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

The Flex’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 6 more horsepower (287 vs. 281) than the Traverse LS/LT’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The Flex Limited’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 77 more horsepower (365 vs. 288) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 270) than the Traverse LTZ’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Flex Limited is faster than the Traverse LS/LT:

On the EPA test cycle the Flex gets better fuel mileage than the Traverse:

The Flex has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Traverse doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Flex stops shorter than the Traverse:

The Flex SEL’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Traverse LS’ standard 70 series tires. The Flex’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Traverse’s optional 55 series tires.

The Flex has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Traverse’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Flex has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Flex flat and controlled during cornering. The Traverse’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Flex’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Traverse doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Flex Limited AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the Traverse LT AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Flex SEL AWD performs Car and Driver’s emergency lane change maneuver 1.2 MPH faster than the Traverse LT AWD (58.9 vs. 57.7 MPH).

The Ford Flex may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Chevrolet Traverse.

The Flex has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Traverse (155.8 vs. 150.8).

The Flex has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 7.5 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more third row headroom and .1 inches more third row legroom than the Traverse.

The Flex Limited offers an optional rear tailgate seat that can be flipped rearward and used for tailgate picnics. (Do not use seat reversed while vehicle in motion.) The Traverse doesn’t offer a rear tailgate seat.

The Flex has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Traverse doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Flex’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Traverse doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Flex’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Traverse’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Flex’s exterior PIN entry system. The Traverse doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar ® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Intelligent Access Key standard on the Flex SEL/Limited allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Chevrolet Traverse doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Flex SE/SEL’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Traverse’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Flex Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Flex has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Traverse only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Flex’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Traverse LT/LTZ.

Both the Flex and the Traverse offer available heated front seats. The Flex Limited also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Traverse.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Flex’s passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation, which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Traverse doesn’t offer a filtration system.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Flex Limited offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Traverse doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Flex Limited’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Traverse doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Flex owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Flex with a number “5” insurance rate while the Traverse is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Flex is less expensive to operate than the Traverse because it costs $18 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Flex than the Traverse, including $136 less for front brake pads, $231 less for fuel injection, $129 less for a fuel pump, $14 less for front struts and $251 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Ford Flex has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its November 2008 issue and they ranked the Ford Flex SEL AWD higher than the Chevrolet Traverse LT AWD.

 The Flex is ranked first in its class and received the 2015 “Total Quality Award.” The Traverse is not ranked.

The Flex was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 2 of the last 8 years. The Traverse has never been an “All Star.”