Review of the 2018 Ford Explorer Sport
Introduction
The vehicle we are testing today is well-known and has a strong reputation in the Middle East for its numerous features. It's the Ford Explorer, particularly the Sport version equipped with Ford's impressive EcoBoost engine. Let's dive deeper into what makes the 2018 Explorer Sport stand out and see if it's worth the price of AED 273,000.
Exterior Design
You can easily recognize the Explorer Sport by its black front grille and the Explorer name displayed above it, along with a similar black strip at the rear. The overall design remains consistent with the previous year's model, and there's a significant influence from the Range Rover. The Explorer Sport comes with halogen lights, distinctive LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and 20-inch alloy wheels. Since most of the distinctive parts are in black, it's better to choose a color other than black to differentiate it from other variants.
Interior Design
The interior of the Explorer features a lot of black, accented with red stitching on the leather to distinguish the Sport from other variants. I must admit I love the interior design; the curves on the sides that merge with the dashboard design create a spacious feel and add beauty to the cabin. However, I wish Ford had paid more attention to the quality of materials used inside to enhance the luxurious feel that the Explorer somewhat lacks.
This observation does not diminish the practicality and spaciousness offered by the Explorer. The front space is excellent, and the driver can electrically adjust the seats, steering wheel, and even the gas and brake pedals. This means you can achieve optimal comfort for long-distance driving, which is a hallmark of American cars.
Equipment and Technological Features
Ford has not held back with the Explorer Sport; it features keyless entry and ignition, a touchscreen with Ford's SYNC 3 system, navigation, and a high-quality Sony audio system with 12 speakers. It also includes Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto support.
The vehicle is equipped with a tri-zone automatic climate control system, with air vents in the roof for the second and third-row seats. You can control the climate zones via the touchscreen or dedicated buttons on the dashboard. The internal lighting color can also be adjusted through the screen, offering seven different color options.
In front of the driver, there is a dashboard featuring a speedometer in the center with two screens on the sides showing various information. As usual, you can control this using buttons on the steering wheel. I wished the vehicle had a feature to display the navigation map on one of the screens. Additionally, from the steering wheel, you can control the audio system, phone connectivity, and adaptive cruise control, which comes with radar that helps maintain a specific distance from the vehicle in front based on your preference.
For safety, the Explorer is equipped with a blind-spot monitoring system in the side mirrors, collision warning with brake intervention, 360-degree parking sensors, and a rearview camera to assist with parking.
Finally, I must mention the terrain response system controlled via a dial on the center console, which adjusts driving dynamics for paved roads and offers three options for unpaved paths, along with a hill descent assist system.
Second Row of Seats
The second row offers a very spacious area comfortably accommodating three passengers, equipped with air conditioning vents in the ceiling and controls. The Sport version comes with two screens on the headrests, which are perfect for families, especially during long trips.
To enhance practicality, the cargo space can be adjusted by folding the second-row seats in a 60/40 split, and the third-row seats can fold in a 50/50 split or be completely hidden, all done electrically via buttons located in the rear trunk, which also opens electrically with the key or hands-free.
Driving Experience
As expected, we experienced a comfortable ride with an excellent suspension system capable of absorbing the bumps of any road. The Explorer Sport is equipped with Ford's fantastic 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine, generating 360 horsepower and 502 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
Despite these impressive figures, the driving experience isn't particularly sporty or thrilling. In other words, while cornering, there is still significant body roll, and although the steering is precise, it lacks the high sensitivity expected for this type of driving.
The Explorer’s engine can accelerate this large SUV to 100 km/h in just 6 seconds, and it produces a delightful sound, especially with the turbo.
Conclusion
The 2018 Ford Explorer Sport is a family-friendly, practical, and comfortable SUV that seats up to seven passengers, making it excellent for long trips. Its powerful engine sets it apart in its class, and with a price of AED 273,000 and all these features, the Explorer remains one of the top choices in this segment. However, I believe that if Ford paid more attention to the quality of materials used inside and updated the vehicle with full LED lighting in the front and a redesign of the dashboard buttons, I could confidently say it's a Range Rover at half the price.
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