This coming year, we find that the Ford Explorer has not changed much on the outside nor on the inside, but there are additional options in the form of the XLT Sports Appearance Package that makes the Sport trim a bit more accessible for would-be buyers, and if you were to look really hard, you’ll see a bit of bodywork and the upgrade in interior features.
The current Explorer comes in five different trim levels, the base, XLT, Limited, Sport, and Platinum. The base, XLT and Limited trim levels get a 3.5L V6 engine with an option for the 2.3L turbocharged EcoBoost I4 engine. The Sport and Platinum models come with a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 engine. All the engine options use a six-speed automatic transmission. The new Sync 3 infotainment system is put in place for all the trims except the base, and it ousts the MyFord Touch system.
The new XLT Sport Appearance package does away with the EcoBoost V-6 engine (and the costs involved with having it in) and also adds 20” Magnetic Gray wheels and grille, mirror caps, and rear applique. The Ebony Black body side cladding, a black roof rack, and an Explorer hood badge complete the exterior look. On the inside, everything comes in Dark Earth Gray, with leather front seats, Miko suede for seat backs and inserts with Dark Brown on the scrim and door trimmings as well as in the stitching.
The Explorer is also pretty decent by ways of safety. Although the safety ratings for the 2017 version aren’t out yet, there are very little structural changes from last year’s model that was extensively tested by the major safety organizations and we’re pretty sure that with the amount of tech that’s loaded into the car, you’ll be pretty much well protected sitting inside one of these. You may want to take note that the 2016 car rates a little subpar for rollover safety, so hopefully we will see this addressed with the 2017 model gets its ratings.
But for those that need to know, you’ll get the standard 6 airbags, a 3rd-row safety canopy, front passenger knee airbags, and rear outboard inflatable seatbelts. Also added are adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support to the Blind Spot Information System. You can opt for Inflatable rear safety belts for the XLT model which may be a good idea if you are using 2 rows of backseats for an expanding family. Lane keep assist and lane departure warning are also only offered on the Limited and Platinum models.
While the Ford Explorer is marketed to be all rough and tumble, we find that the vehicle functions best as a family wagon that has a little more power under the hood, rather than something that can rough it all out offroad. There’s really not much to shout about when it comes to its capability aside from thet “Snow mode” which still wouldn’t perform as well if you didn’t have the right wheels on.
But there are some perks. As we mentioned earlier, the Sync 3 technology system replaces the MyFord interface and thankfully, it is considered an upgrade as it works more seamlessly and efficiently compared to the previous versions. The touch sensitive controls on the center stack are gone too but all in all the system still has issues and it will still take some getting used to.
We still favour the Sport when it comes to picking a trim level that meets our needs as it seems to be the most steady out of the other options while not being too over-the-top. The EcoBoost V6 engine that comes with this model easily surpasses offers excellent acceleration – there’s plenty of actual boost that comes almost instantly and effortlessly when you reach for it – and an engaging driving experience to boot. The fuel economy leaves a lot to be desired though. We also find that the pedals can be a bit abrupt, so while responsive, it’s important to go careful when you’re getting off to a start.
The Sport gives you decent acceleration from a stop and there are sport-shift modes for most of the models to allow for a quicker throttle and response from the engine although the lack of shift paddles is regrettable. The transmission holds its lower gears well though and that in itself makes the car a strong competitor in the crossover segment. However, if you’re trying to shift gears while on the mood, for example while taking turns on a winding road, the Explorer struggle to figure out what you want and that takes our impression of how much of an SUV this car really is.
The steering system and natural assist features help a lot though, and the stiffer suspension on the Sport trim help the Explorer to better navigate the roads though. There’s less body roll and the premium tires give better grip on most surfaces. The drawbacks are that you’ll feel the bumps a lot more than in comparison to the other Explorer trims and the wheels may emphasize potholes and other imperfections on the road so it looks like it’s a real toss up, depending on how you like to drive.
Braking is efficient and that will help with those curves though and these too are responsive pedals, and coupled with the tyres underfoot, the stopping distance has been recorded at 108 feet from 60 to 0 mph.
And of course since the Explorer is marketed as an SUV, we had to review its off-roading capabilities. Since there is the option for all-wheel drive and there are some pretty nifty terrain options for mud, sand, and snow we suppose that it gives you a little bit more confidence if you’re thinking of heading into more risky territory. It’s nowhere near a real trail-grinder though, so best to keep to the beaten track better than not.
Early Explorers didn’t score very high on the appeal factor but we’re glad to say that things have much improved, especially when it comes to the top-of-the-range Platinum trim which gets high quality materials and soft touch plastic. However, it looks like while they use better stuff, the build quality is abysmal. Things don’t f it together and spotted gaps between panels. Rather disappointing if you consider how much you’re actually paying for the car at this level.
Drivers can get easily settled in with all the automatic adjustment options on the chair but the rear visibility is a bit of a problem despite the huge windshield and tall windows. Side view visibilit is also limited due to the pillars by the side of that big windscreen. But at least there’s not to much to worry about claustrophobia with all that light coming in, and you’ll still have your driving assists and optional parking sensors to help you get the feel of the land. The Explorer is surprisingly quiet even at the Sport trim. Even the tires are pretty silent and road and wind noise are nearly imperceptable too.
The rest of the car is spacious too and the seats at the back can be considered pretty wide compared to other models. The padded armrests are also a plus. Getting into the car if you have a bigger passenger roll call will be a bit of struggle for friends with shorter stature although the entryway is long and wide. There is an option for bucket seats in the second-row which helps in granting access to the back since you can just walk through instead of having to fold or shift the whole row of chairs, but either way, they don’t come with arm rests. While there’s plenty of headspace at the last row, seats are much harder and your knees and foot space are limited.
There is a bevy of indoor storage – typical cupholders, door pockets and a center console bin and cargo space comes up to about 600L behind the last row which is sadly on the smaller end for this segment although with those seats down, you’ll get an additional 1200L.
The Ford Explorer is quite a flashy vehicle now with the new stylings, especially that new XLT Appearance package and the ride and handling is pretty decent for an SUV. The price may not be so attractive when you’re really starting to look into it though because like we mentioned, in order to get enough of the bells and whistles for this car to run at its peak, you’ll really need to go up a trim level or two.
You will also have to take a look at the fuel consumption for the car. While on paper things look all peachy, you could get a bit trigger happy with the gas pedal considering the thrill you might get with all that responsiveness.
We like the fact that the Ford Explorer straddles the lines between having a big family car and a performance vehicle quite well and it can definitely provide a good option to someone who doesn’t like to compromise on the drive quality when they are starting to expand their head counts.
With the good safety figures to boot, it could be a perfect car for a new mum or dad.
original post: Reviewing the Ford Explorer
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