The turbo four just feels like a better fit with the driving feel of the Explorer. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost four costs $995 more, and in addition to getting two more miles per gallon, it’s gutsy, less peaky, and more responsive, and sharper in acceleration than the V6 it should be, with tremendous torque of 310 pound-feet. The base V6 can accelerate from 0 to 60 in about 8.5 seconds, which is adequate but hardly neck-snapping sometimes it feels like it limps up to speed. The first- and second-row seats are among the most comfortable in the class, although the second row is low to the floor and the third row is usable by adults. The Explorer is designed for families, and for passenger space. It’s quieter inside thanks to tighter door seals, new engine mounts, and acoustic glass in all models except base. There are finally real buttons on the instrument panel, replacing some of the problematic MyFord Touch buttons. The tall body, generous glass, ad three-bar grille distinguish it, as much as its outline. There’s a new spoiler at the rear, and exhaust tips integrated into the fascia.Įven two feet longer and way thicker, it’s still an Explorer. The mesh grille is higher and more defined, while the LED headlamps have a chunky look to them. All the sheetmetal has been changed except for the sides, although the rear pillars are reshaped. The Explorer’s body looks more smoothly finished than ever, with clean edges and an overall soft appearance, even with sharp corners. Platinum models get soft Nirvana leather, heated wood steering wheel, premium Sony sound system, and a big moonroof. Sport models get a firmer suspension, dual exhaust tips, and leather with red stitching. Sport and Platinum models both come with the 365-hp V6 and 4WD. XLT adds heavy-duty brake calipers, fog lamps, and other things Limited gets the luxury like perforated leather, heated and cooled front seats, hands-free liftgate, and rosewood trim. The standard Explorer is well equipped, including a rearview camera (with washer) and 18-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires. Front-wheel drive is standard on base, XLT and Limited four-wheel drive is available for about $2000. It would have gotten an extra +, but it only scored Marginal in the insurance industry’s new frontal crash test into a pole. Notice that’s still better fuel mileage than the original 1991 Explorer, while delivering 135 percent more power.Įxplorer earns five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests, and a Top Safety Pick from IIHS. The base V6 rates an EPA-estimated 17/24/20 mpg City/Highway/Combined the four-cylinder twin turbo EcoBoost gets 19/28/22, and the 365-hp V6 gets 15/22/18. It welcomes a lot of people with their stuff, comfortably and efficiently. It does everything we want a mid-sized crossover to do. Today’s Explorer handles everything a family can throw at it. There’s also a killer EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 that makes a 365 hp and 350 lb-ft. The base engine is a 3.5-liter V6 making 290 horsepower and 220 pound-feet. For 2016 there’s a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that makes 280 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The blowout over the years has been in efficient horsepower, with Ford’s four- and six-cylinder twin-turbo EcoBoost engines. And believe it or not, the 2016 Explorer is $3500 less expensive in today’s dollars.įor its silver anniversary, the 2016 Explorer gets a makeover of its front and rear end, including LED headlamps and taillights retuned suspension and electric power steering some new features, and more quiet inside.
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Today’s Explorer seats seven and can tow 5000 pounds. Then it was rear-wheel drive, now it’s front-wheel drive. Then it had a 5-speed manual, now a 6-speed automatic. In the beginning, its V6 had 155 horsepower and got 17 mpg today it has nearly twice as much horsepower and gets 20 mpg. Today it’s 24 inches longer and 620 pounds heavier. It was 174 inches long and weighed 3800 pounds. We remember when the Explorer was a newborn. The 2016 Ford Explorer is the 25th anniversary model.