Introduction
The Ford Explorer is a significant vehicle for Ford, largely due to its popularity in both the Middle East and the United States. You can spot it frequently in police broadcasts in the U.S., where it is known as the "Interceptor." The Ford Explorer has played a crucial role in popularizing the family SUV concept since the early 1990s. Now, with the fully redesigned sixth generation for 2020, it brings numerous updates, the most notable being the return to a rear-wheel-drive platform. Let me introduce you to all the new features in detail in this report, focusing on the Limited trim.
Exterior Design
The 2020 Explorer is longer and wider than its predecessor, built on a wheelbase that is 15 centimeters longer. This not only provides more space for passengers inside but also enhances weight distribution while driving, which should improve overall dynamics.
Design Changes
The most significant design change is at the front, featuring a new grille and headlights. Notably, all trims of the Ford Explorer in this generation come standard with LED headlights. The new design sees the headlights extending further into the grille. The Limited trim also includes LED fog lights and 20-inch alloy wheels.
The overall design of the new Explorer aligns it more closely with modern SUVs, which are increasingly aimed at family use within urban settings, while still retaining the distinctive elements that have always characterized the Ford Explorer. The A and B pillars are black, while the C pillar is wide and clearly defined in the vehicle color, which is this striking red that Ford calls Rapid Red. The D pillar is also black, creating a seamless look with the rear windows.
Rear Design
At the rear, the design is more reminiscent of the previous generation, but like the front, the new Explorer comes standard with LED taillights. The Limited trim features two faux exhaust outlets.
Space and Comfort
The rear trunk opens electronically via the key or by waving your foot under the vehicle. In terms of size, it sits between the Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot, with 515 liters of space behind the third-row seats, which fold down electrically. When both the second and third-row seats are folded flat, the total cargo capacity reaches an impressive 2486 liters, making it competitive with other vehicles in this class.
Third-Row Seats
Accessing the third-row seats involves pulling a single lever that slides the second-row seats forward, providing ample room for entry. Like most vehicles in this category, I found the third-row seats to be more suitable for children. They can accommodate adults for short trips but lack dedicated charging ports for mobile phones, although there are air conditioning vents and cup holders available.
Front and Second-Row Seats
As mentioned, due to the increase in wheelbase length, the second-row seats offer excellent space with good adjustments for sliding forward and backward, as well as recline options for added comfort. There are also overhead air conditioning vents and controls for this area, which is one of three climate zones that come standard on the new Explorer.
The front cabin design has seen significant improvements over the previous generation, offering ample space and reducing the number of buttons for a more modern look. The dashboard features some soft-touch materials, while synthetic wood accents enhance the cabin's aesthetics. However, I noticed a considerable amount of plastic in other areas of the interior.
Technology and Comfort
The entertainment system screen measures 8 inches across all trims available in the region. It is positioned higher than in the previous model to facilitate better visibility and ease of use. However, I wish it were more integrated into the surrounding design or at least tilted towards the driver.
The entertainment system is Ford’s SYNC 3, which remains unchanged, offering a built-in navigation system and support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The sound system in the Explorer Limited features 12 speakers from Bang & Olufsen.
Additional Features
The cabin is also adorned with ambient lighting options, with seven color choices. One of the highlights of the front cabin, which showcases its modern design, is the abundance of storage spaces specifically designed for mobile phones. There’s a compartment beneath the screen, another in the center console with USB charging ports, and a designated spot for a phone in front of the cup holders, with a wireless charging pad at the end of the center console.
The Explorer is also equipped with an electric parking brake and a shift-by-wire dial for the standard 10-speed automatic transmission.
Performance and Engines
Let me begin my discussion on driving the new Explorer by outlining the available engines for this generation according to Ford Middle East, which are four options:
- A 3.3-liter V6 engine will be offered on a standard trim, likely designated for commercial use and not available for individual buyers.
- A hybrid option combining a 3.3-liter V6 gasoline engine with an electric motor.
- The XLT and Limited trims receive a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (EcoBoost) engine producing up to 300 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque.
- The most powerful option, the ST, features a turbocharged V6 (EcoBoost) engine delivering 400 horsepower and 563 Nm of torque.
All these engines are paired with the same 10-speed automatic transmission. Returning to the Explorer variant I tested, equipped with the four-cylinder EcoBoost engine, it offers very good and adequate performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7 seconds.
Driving Experience
The Explorer has long been known for providing a stable driving experience on long journeys, and it still does. It indeed delivers a high sense of stability on the road. Its independent suspension at the front and rear enhances the feeling of stability and luxury during driving. Noise isolation is good regarding sounds from the road and wind, but as I have experienced with most small four-cylinder engines pulling heavy vehicles, engine noise is noticeable in the cabin when you push it for acceleration.
However, despite its small size, it offers excellent fuel consumption rates of up to 8.4 liters per 100 km.
There are seven driving modes, including a towing mode with a towing capacity of up to 2540 kilograms, a Sport mode, an Eco mode for fuel savings, a Normal mode, as well as settings for slippery roads, rocky terrains, and a mode designed for deep sand or heavy snow. Each of these modes adjusts the engine and transmission settings, throttle sensitivity, steering, suspension, and power distribution for the all-wheel-drive system to suit driving conditions.
Conclusion
Certainly, as Ford states, the sixth-generation Explorer is the best Explorer they have produced to date, featuring significant changes, a new rear-wheel-drive platform, new engine options, an improved design, and modern equipment. All this undoubtedly makes it a great choice in the family SUV segment, but it has also led to an increase in price, making it comparable to competitors that offer much at lower prices, especially regarding cabin quality and exterior finish, such as the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade, both new entrants in this category.
In the UAE, the price of the 2020 Ford Explorer starts at AED 154,900 and goes up to AED 236,000, while the Explorer Limited trim that we tested is priced at AED 199,000.
