Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Ford Flex Limited AWD

4: EcoBoost isn’t a saviour at the pump

Ford branding on its EcoBoost engines hints at a possibility that it might be fuel friendly, but don’t be fooled. The only thing this is more efficient than would be a V8 – and a thirsty one one at that.

The EPA rates the EcoBoost AWD Flex at 16/23 mpg city/highway, with a combined rating of 18 mpg. Our testing was pretty equal between city and highway driving and came to 17 mpg. While that’s close to the EPA estimates, it means the total range on a tank of gas is closer to 300 miles, meaning road trips will require frequent stops at the pump.