Braking is excellent and the suspension has a compliant attitude, but Ford's Explorer can bounce around over rough pavement, making occupants regret the Denver omelet they had for breakfast.įord has a philosophy of building vehicles that everyone can be happy with. They're tough and solid, though steering is a little slow and ponderous and the body leans through tight corners. We recommend this powerplant over the other two motor choices due to its great power, decent fuel economy and affordable price.Įxplorers retain a distinctly trucklike character, which could be a bonus or a demerit. In addition, this engine costs less and offers greater fuel efficiency. Fortunately, Ford introduced an optional SOHC V6 in 1997 that offers nearly as much power as the V8. While the acceleration with the 5.0-liter motor is improved over the base V6, it gives up a lot in fuel consumption. To compensate, Ford also offers an OHV 5.0-liter V8 engine that used to power the Mustang GT. That's not good news when there's a need to pass or merge. Acceleration is fine from a standstill, but step on the gas at 50 mph and not much happens. The Explorer's standard 4.0-liter V6 is the smallest engine found in a domestic sport-ute. Explorers offer more cargo capacity than most rivals do, and five passengers can ride with ease. Rear-seat comfort surpasses Chevy, and entry/exit is easier than the Jeep Cherokee.
Materials in the Explorer look and feel rich. An organically sweeping dashboard houses radio controls that can be operated without a magnifying glass. The interior instills a feeling of quality that is missing from the Chevrolet Blazer. But it's also a compliment to Ford, as the Explorer gets just about everything right. The Explorer's sales success, of course, has to do with America's big appetite for SUVs. The modern-day Country Squire, some have called it, after the segment-leading station wagon of the 1960s. This is totally understandable, as the Explorer combines style, comfort and room in a go-anywhere package. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.Since its introduction in 1990 as a 1991 model, the Ford Explorer has resided at the top of the sport-utility sales heap. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.ġ-Star: Poor vehicle. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.Ģ-Star: Below average vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.ģ-Star: Good vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.Ĥ-Star: Very Good vehicle. You can interpret our ratings in the following way:ĥ-Star: Outstanding vehicle.
For example, a compact car cannot be compared to a SUV-They are different vehicles altogether. When comparing vehicles using our Rating System, it's important to note that the rating earned by each vehicle correlates only to the models within its class. Unlike other websites and magazines, our ratings are not based solely on a singular road test, but rather a more encompassing batch of criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.
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