I think I surprised a dude on a sport bike with the Explorer. Let me explain.
I was making a right turn out of our neighborhood. He was behind me and had the same idea.
Finally, a gap opened in traffic, so I had to move–and rather quickly.
He also took advantage of the opportunity and, judging from the revs quickly building, I think he planned on going wide to pass me at the same time.
Well, that anticipated gap in front of me didn’t materialize. The Explorer, all 4500 pounds or so, quickly joined the flow of traffic.
It’s quick, I’ll give it that: 400 horsepower from its 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6. And that 10-speed automatic delivers crisp shifts. I see why these make popular police cruisers.
Our tester, a Platinum model, had rear-wheel drive. No price on the window sticker–not totally unusual–but looks like about a $60,000 purchase.
One surprise, though: According to kbb.com, the Explorer is only the ninth most popular SUV sold in the U.S. last year. I would have expected it to finish higher.
Number 1 on the list? Toyota RAV4 with 475,193 units sold.
Explorer? Just 194,094 sales. The Nissan Rogue does better with 245,724 units sold.
I still found the Explorer to be a comfortable vehicle. Two hours behind the wheel? Easy. The Ultimate Package’s diamond pattern upholstery looks and feels upmarket. Ditto the piping and the material gracing the dash and door panels. Kinda looks organic.
Some wind noise and a little darty, although I got used to both pretty quickly.
Not a big fan of console knobs for both the shifter and drive mods. I’m guessing you get used to it, but I always had to look just to make sure. Middle-row captain’s chairs felt a little tighter and more upright than expected, too. Also a bit on the firm side.
But up front, where the adults sit, no complaints.
Those EcoBoost V6s can be a little surprising, especially if it's anything like the Transit van we used to have. (It was especially quick feeling when it was empty, and it made cool turbo noises if you listened hard enough.)
That said, I could think of worse places to spend a few hours behind the wheel–though I always thought the ST Explorer would be neat to drive.
ST Explorer is a pooch compared to a 3.5 Ecoboost F150. Much Disappoint, Such Sad.
Had one as a rental, was all jazzed. Was happy to give it back. Although bombing a few medians in heavy Mobile, AL traffic "because this looks enough like a cop car" was enjoyable enough.
Oddly, while off the beaten path this weekend in a Jeep (review coming soon), we came across an Explorer ST.
For the longest time I'd see new car prices and think "that's just stupidly overpriced" now I think "man I am so cheap"
Tom1200 said:For the longest time I'd see new car prices and think "that's just stupidly overpriced" now I think "man I am so cheap"
Glad I'm not the only one.
I also don't like that shifter knob in new Fords. My dads Maverick has one and no matter how many times I drive it I can not get comfortable with it.
Tom1200 said:For the longest time I'd see new car prices and think "that's just stupidly overpriced" now I think "man I am so cheap"
I still think they are stupidly overpriced.
I'd rather pay 1/4 that for something used.
I was skeptical of the dial a gear in my wife's Fusion but after driving occasionally over three years of ownership I don't even think about it.
So, when doing a dial for the shifter, should P be all the way to the left or in the center? I want to say I have seen it both ways, but don’t quote me.
David S. Wallens said:So, when doing a dial for the shifter, should P be all the way to the left or in the center? I want to say I have seen it both ways, but don’t quote me.
I don't think it matters anymore than where reverse is on a manual transmission. You either remember where it is in a particular car or you look at the label to find out.
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