Vehicle: 2011 Ford Explorer Limited V6 4WD with Luxury Seating Pkg and Technology Pkg
Price as tested: CDN$54935
Performance: There had been many ups and downs with Ford Explorer. Everything else from the best-selling SUV to the Firestone tire fiasco. Ford has claimed they have reinvented the Explorer to a level, that is good enough to turnaround such a worthy franchise. Is this latest generation capable of doing this trick? We will find out after this test drive.
Unlike the previous Explorer, the latest guise is only available with V6 engine. What makes a V6 more appealing than any 4-cylinder or V8 is the combination of both merits. The fuel efficiency of a 4-cylinder with the refinement of a larger V8. In Explorer’s case, this DOHC 24-valve 3.5 liter V6 engine comes with Ford’s advanced TiVCT which we first saw in the amazing Mustang. TiVCT stands for Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, which improves the engine timing while increase the efficiency and performance at the same time. With the Explorer’s 283 ponies and 253 lb/ft of torque moving the heavyweight 4731kg around, it provides surprising amount of grunt when pushed the metal around. The credit has to go to its nicely ratio 6-speed automatic gearbox. While many would have wish Ford to give Explorer more than 6 gears, as the industry is going for more gears for the sake for more gears. As we have seen from Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes E-Class. We would rather have a 6-speed gearbox instead. Why? Because with 6 gears, there are enough gears for engineers to spaw the ratio. As we have seen from the Explorer. The 1st and 2nd are low enough for peppy acceleration, 3rd and 4th for engine to reach its sweetspot efficiently while 5th and 6th are for exceptional tall gear cruising speeds. In this engine’s case, its both a refined and smooth operator. The throttle response is crisp without feeling overly abrupt. When pushed it to the max, it doesn’t feel any hestiation or harshness which shown how much Ford has put through the engineering when it comes to well-honed refinement.
Handling: The reason Ford goes for unibody construction for the new Explorer, is mainly due to its amount of rigidty and stiffness this whole structure is able to afford when compares to body-on-frame traditional construction. The result is an Explorer which provides a very civilized on-road manners without losing much when it comes to off-roading. In the past, Explorer was known for being softly sprung and loss-lossy when it comes to on-roading. The new car is everything but. It handles as good as anything SUV in its class without breaking a sweat. The steering provides decent feel and feedback, without the numb and darty off-center feedback as in any of its predecessors. The body motions have controlled exceptionally well, with much more significant improvement when it comes to its understeer. Many have criticized Explorer’s soft suspension with understeer characteristics as its major contributions to the Firestone rollover fiasco a decade ago. The new suspension feels compliant with a sense of firmness, which is exactly the opposite of previous Explorers. On the other hand, it rides as good as any luxury car does. While terminal understeer remains foreseen when pushed, Ford’s excellent ESC works hand-in-hand with its AWD system, as second line of defence. Last but not least, Explorer’s advanced Terrain Management System let driver control on what driving conditions they are in. Right from snowy mode to sand mode to daily driving mode.
Brakes: With 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, Explorer’s pedal feels firm and solid. Its also relatively easy to modulate even after a couple of harsh stops. Unlike previous Explorers, which were known for mushy brake pedal. The new one actually provides sure-footness pedal feel without any spongeness. It is exactly the hallmark of a good braking system when mated with an unintervented ABS.
Interior: Just like any of those SUV or crossover with 3rd row or seats, Explorer is either/or wen it comes to 3rd row vs cargo space. With the 3rd row up, it barely have enough space for adults. However, when it folds down, it got plenty of space for luggages for all 5 passengers.
Open the electric tailgate on our Limited, it got a low liftover with minimal side instrusions for maximum cargo capacity. There is also a nice rear washer/wiper for clearing out the back window for visibility. If there is one drawback, however, its the rear glass doesn’t open indepedently.
Ford’s interior really have come a long way in the last couple of years. The same goes for the Explorer. All the cheesy materials have gone for top-notch plastic and leather materials, which are well-matched for its price tag. Then add a nicely bolstered leather seats and an initutive MyFord Touch touchscreen variety to the mix, it pretty much wraps up the whole package.
Conclusion: If you have lived somewhere in Canada or US, you probably know someone who have owned an Explorer. Or even you have owned one before. It was the pinnacle of a 90s family mobile. Then came the Firestone rollover fiasco which almost completely killed the franchise. The new Explorer has everything else its predecessors were known for and more. It got aplentry of space, abundance of power while handles exceptionally well. If it won’t be able to turnaround the Explorer franchise, nothing else does.
Competitions:
Honda Pilot
Toyota Highlander
Buick Enclave
Dodge Durango
Hyundai Veracruz
OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2011 Ford Explorer
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5