Parents who love driving have never had it better. In the past five years, there has been a veritable explosion of choices in seven-seat vehicles up and down the scale in size and price. Ford’s offering, the Explorer, had already been the best-seller in America for more than a decade when it debuted here in 2005 as an all-new model.
Earlier this year, Ford pulled the wraps off the new Explorer, featuring a heavy exterior makeover. The nose of the vehicle goes for the big-rig look, with a massive chrome grille that would be a good fit on Optimus Prime. (A flame job wouldn’t look out of place either.) The styling looks bold without being garish, and the angular look is a fine counterpoint to the soft curves currently in fashion in this genre.
True to its extensive change of appearance, the rest of the Explorer has been reworked from the tires up. The interior has been completely revamped, with better seats, gauges and materials all around. Hard plastics have been replaced with the soft-touch kind. The shifter has migrated from its previous awkward position on the steering column to the floor; it’s now a shiny chrome lever. There are plenty of cubbyholes for cups, cellphones and gadgets. The Explorer’s audio system is iPod-ready, with sufficiently pleasing sound quality. The interior door release provides some novelty but borders on being gimmicky. For convenience, the pedals adjust electrically and there are remote switches on the steering wheel not just for audio but for the aircon as well.
The Explorer seats seven in a 2-3-2 configuration. The front seats provide plenty of space to stretch out. The middle row is divided into three individual buckets. The rear seats are comfortable enough for a Sunday jaunt to Tagaytay. Middle and rear seats can split-fold and tumble to free up cargo room, enough for a sofa-swallowing 2370 liters.
Providing propulsion is a 4.0 liter sohc V6 with 210 hp and 344 Nm. The five-speed automatic is well matched to the engine, the tandem providing seamless acceleration and a quick burst when taking off from standstill. Fuel mileage of 5.7 km /liter won’t win any Greenpeace awards, but it’s acceptable given the level of performance.
The Explorer is easy to drive around town. The vehicle beltline is relatively low, resulting in a big greenhouse and excellent visibility. Steering is properly weighted and feels secure even at triple-digit speeds. Ford keeps the Explorer manageable in mass and volume. Its length is below five meters, and it will slot into most mall parking spaces.
As with its predecessor, the Explorer uses body-on-frame construction. The frame now features fully-boxed sections for greater rigidity. The SUV feels solidly constructed, with none of the creaking and groaning that afflicts frame-type vehicles. Road and engine noise are reduced to a whisper. Most SUVs in this class use a rigid-axle rear suspension; the Explorer uses independent double-wishbones for better ride and handling.
What surprised us most about the Explorer is its willingness to hustle. Its fluid response on twisty roads and flyovers can put to shame some near-luxury sedans. Turn-in is obedient, and body roll is kept in check. It’s still no sports sedan, but there’s plenty of satisfaction to be had behind the wheel. Four-wheel disc brakes exhibit initial sponginess, but are willing to bite hard if required.
It’s evident that Ford has spared no effort in redesigning and reengineering the Explorer to bring its dynamics and driving environment to a higher level. It may have lost ultimate off-road ability as there’s no four-wheel drive, but on the road, it is best in its class.
As for passive safety, the Explorer has front, side and curtain airbags and traction control. There’s even a roll stability control system pinched from Volvo to help keep all four wheels on the ground during severe maneuvers.
With its newfound refinement and enhanced features, the Explorer should have no trouble finding its niche. It is priced above the Toyota Fortuner and Isuzu Alterra, not to mention its own stablemate the Everest, but its better-quality interior, ride comfort and enhanced safety features can justify the difference. The Explorer packs the performance and much of the handling prowess of European luxury SUVs at a fraction of the price.
By Jason K. Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
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