PROS: Comfort, reliability, towing capacity, EcoBoost V6 engine, seating and cargo capacity, sleek SUV styling.
CONS: Fuel-economy, platform is getting on in years.
There are fancier SUVs. There are more luxurious SUVs. There are faster SUVs. There are more technologically showy SUVs.
But there are almost no SUVs that have a track record to match the Ford Explorer. Introduced in 1990, the Explorer has been in continuous production through five generations; the 2018 model year will see an update, but the vehicle is getting a little long in the tooth. That said, when we recently borrowed a 2017 Explorer from Ford — about $55,000 as tested, in the Platinum trim level — we were surprised at how well this venerable platform is holding up.
The mid-size SUV market is critical to Ford, given that in combination with its best-selling F-Series pickup trucks, mid-size utes are major profit-drivers in the US. Ford must keep the Explorer competitive, even as both mass-market and luxury brands bring new large SUVs to consumers — and as Ford itself expands its portfolio of crossovers (the fifth-gen Explorer sits on a crossover frame, not a truck-based architecture).
We had a great test in store for the Explorer: a run of roughly 200 miles round trip, from BI's suburban New Jersey test center to the east end of Long Island. Along for the ride would be my family of five. Here's how it went:
The 2017 Explorer arrived in "White Platinum" paint job, with a black leather interior.
The design of this SUV has evolved over the years, becoming progressively sleeker. But this is still a full-size, three-row SUV that intended to max out passenger space and cargo capacity.
The waveform grille and backward-wrapping headlights reduce the overall massiveness of the front end, but the Explorer continues to have a powerful road presence when viewed from this angle.
The Ford blue oval badge is pretty big, but the arrangement of elements is in proportion.
The rear end is also nicely proportioned relative to the rest of the vehicle. Overall, the Explorer's design is about as harmonious as a quite large SUV can be.
The "Explorer" badging at the rear end is literally etched in chrome. To be honest, it's a bit on the subdued side.
We enjoyed the "Platinum" trim level, which rolls in a healthy options list — everything from the aforementioned leather interior to heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats, along with power-assist features to fold and stow seats and branded floor mats, rain-sensing wipers, and a premium audio system.
The Premium is the top-of-the-heap Explorer trim level. Ours had a 3.5-liter, 365-horsepower EcoBoost V6 under the hood (that means turbocharged power). The transmission is a six-speed automatic that effortlessly sends the power to a four-wheel-drive system. The whole thing can tow 5,000 lbs.
To handle all our stuff, we had to drop one of the third-row seats. But the cargo capacity was more than adequate for a quick weekend getaway that included two adults and three kids. That's a power liftgate, by the way.
The instrument cluster combined analog and digital elements, but it's a family tachometer-speedometer layout. The steering wheel has a nice hunk of wood trim at the top and while steering is far from sporty, I also never labored to maneuver the two-and-half ton SUV.
More wood trim. The interior is handsome, with brushed metal. top-stitched leather, and most wood elements throughout.
Ford seats are some of the most comfortable in the business. Our testers had massage functions for both driver and passenger. The stylish quilting is a nice touch.
Some trim-level branding.
The dual moonroof keeps the rear seats from feeling as if they're trapped in a dark cave.
A drive-mode selector allows for adjustments based on conditions and road quality.
Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system was rolled out two years ago, and I've been warming up to it. The eight-inch touchscreen on the Explorer is small-ish, but it works well.
Sync itself uses a fairly intuitive tiled interface.
Navigation was reliable. Audio quality was also impressive, and you have Bluetooth connectivity, as well as AUX and USB ports. The voice-recognition system got mixed up at one juncture of our journey, but in general, it worked well.
So what's the verdict?
The Explorer isn't cheap, but given the substantial array of features, comfortable and roomy interior, robust performance, towing and off-roading capability, and technology, it's a solid deal. In many ways, this SUVs competes very favorably against overtly luxurious vehicles.
Fuel economy isn't great — 16 mpg city/22 highway/18 combined —but the EcoBoost V6 mimics V8 power, and don't forget that you can accommodate five adults and all their gear, even if the third-row passengers will be snug (smaller children won't).
Driver-assist tech includes lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and an excellent set of front and rear cameras. Safety is superb, with airbags everywhere, solid crash-worthiness, and thanks to the crossover platform, a reduced risk of rollover.
The twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 serves up ample horsepower with a touch of a V8-like surge and no perceptible turbo lag. The 0-60 mph run roars by in under six seconds and the Explorer gets up to freeway velocities with alacrity — and is happy to stay there, cruising along placidly and with terrific insulation from wind and road noise. Driving this legend is nothing like piloting a sports car, but the ride never feels harsh, bumpy, or truck-like.
Reliability is pretty good and the Explorer should hold up fairly well over a long ownership haul, taking plenty of abuse and turning the sticker-price into a good investment; for well under $60,000, you get plenty of premium goodies, big-truck power, and lots of room for stuff. The power-assist features make it easy to fiddle around with the seats to max out interior-configuration options.
So not much to complain about here, and plenty to enthuse over. I have three kids ranging in age from 7 to 14 and in size from kinda small to near-adult. They were each happy in their personal space. On our 200-mile round trip jaunt, the Explorer handled everything short of fording a stream. We drove through small town and the big city, and we connected everything with a lengthy highway drive. It was all good, from start to finish.
Two decades is long time to keep it real in the SUV game. But the 2017 Explorer could justifiable be called better than ever.
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