Edmunds | Help Contact Editor Sign In | Follow Inside Line
Here is Senior Editor Erin Riches with a video review of the Ford Explorer. The video covers the entire Explorer model range but the action footage features our long-term Explorer XLT EcoBoost.
See the video after the jump...
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
Advertisement
Latest Poll
My next car will be:
Recent Posts
2012 Volvo S60 T5: Backseat Action
May 23, 2012 7:00 AM
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata: The Door Bars
May 23, 2012 6:00 AM
2012 Ford Explorer XLT EcoBoost: Gets a Passing Mark for Road-Tripability
May 23, 2012 12:01 AM
2012 Toyota Prius C: Introduction
May 22, 2012 9:05 PM
2012 Audi A8L: The Sound of No Hands Clapping
May 22, 2012 4:46 PM
Advertisement
Tip the Editors
Got a breaking news tip for the Inside Line editors?
Send it to tips@edmunds.com
Awards
Vehicles
Past Vehicles
Browse Archives
steviebster says:
09:50 AM, 02/21/12
I have driven my parents 2012 Ford Explorer Ltd (v/6, awd) for almost 400 miles now which includes highway and in-town trips during our winter in the NW. I now know why it's was the best selling mid-sized SUV/CUV in the US of A for 2011. The Explorer is one of those rare vehicles that manages to do everything well, and at times at or near the top of it's class. The ride is (on 20 inchers no less) is up there in best of class. It is better than the CX-9 GT and the Jeep GC Overland in that regard. The handling is actually much better than I was lead to believe in some reviews (especially the personal vendetta review in MT). The fit and finish is great...nothing like the pics of Edmund's long-term Explorer). Yes... the MyFord Touch is frustrating at times but I find it has been more user error on my part. Looking forward to the upgrade though. The comfort is better for me and my folks than the Jeep GC Overland that they almost pulled the trigger on. The Explorer is roomier than the Jeep and 200 lbs or so lighter. The V6 pulls in the Explorer closer to the Hemi in the Jeep than the standard V6 (no doubt due to weight). The 3rd seat is roomier than the CX-9. One of the wishlist items for my folks was a panoramic sunroof. This ruled out the CX-9 or the Durango. I think if Mazda had offered the "big roof", they would have purchased it. As it is they are more than happy with their Explorer...often remarking how is feels like a luxury vehicle. I find my dad comparing it to his golfing buddy's rigs...a Toyota Highlander and Cadillac SRX. The version they bought has several cool and useful features even though I thought a couple of them to be gimmicks before using them. Active Park Assist is great and a better system than Lexus. It is, however, a bit disconcerting to see the steering wheel doing its own thing without any input from the driver. The first few times it feels like those trust exercises where you fall back into the arms of people behind you! The Adaptive Cruise Control is something I've come to enjoy. Being able to set the distance from the vehicles in front of you really ups the comfort level of cruise control. You don't have to keep hitting resume or jab the brakes. The power folding/raising 3rd row is great although one could probably do it faster manually. All in all their Explorer is great...this coming from yours truely...Mr Carnut.
-Stephen
sharpend says:
10:43 AM, 02/21/12
How are we supposed to watch the video when we click away during the freaking ad?
Just sayin'.
legacygt says:
11:42 AM, 02/21/12
@steviebster: Thanks for this perspective. Is the V6 you drove AWD or FWD. If it's FWD I'd be curious what kind of mpg you saw because I'm skeptical of the real world savings that the Ecoboost 4 provides.
steviebster says:
12:48 PM, 02/21/12
Legacygt:
It's the AWD and V6 combo. Mind you there is only about 800 miles on the odometer. During a mixture of suburban/city driving the mileage read 19.2. I expect that to get better as 1) the vehicle breaks-in more, and 2) we stop using the "winter" gas blend come spring. As a comparison, the 2000 Mazda MPV van they have gets between 18 and 19 mpg with the same mix of driving right now. The van is approximately 800 lbs lighter and has about 80K on the odometer. Overall, I'm impressed.
audisport says:
01:36 PM, 02/21/12
The Explorer by no means is a bad vehicle. What I hate are its proportions. Too much FWD front overhang and the Non-20inch wheels look microscopic. I also feel that the Durango's interior is layed out better, has more comfortable seats as well as better plastics and leather quality. Also, the Durango has IMHO a much better look with front wheels pushed to the extreme front which can be contributed to the RWD layout. The Durango also has "real" AWD, which matters to me but probably not most.
steviebster says:
02:00 PM, 02/21/12
I sat in both the Explorer and Durango and I felt they were equally nice but that the Explorer was more contemporary. I whole-heartedly disagree w/the better materials comment. The Explorer looks much more impressive in person w/the 20" wheels (Limited model w/body color grill) than the the more old-school Durango (albeit good-looking)...IMO. The dimensions are not out of kilter when so equipped. Constantly getting favorable comments. The Durango is way too heavy but if towing over 5k lbs is a must then the Durango is the vehicle. I think Ford was smart to go w/the Terrain Mgmt system instead of 200 lbs of differential for the 1% of folks that need (or think they need) heavy-duty off-road capabilities. It really boils down to what is important to the buyer. For my folks it was a mega moonroof (living in the NW during winter you'd understand why). This ruled out the Durango. I'm kind of confused as to why Dodge doesn't offer that option when it's available on the shorter roofed Jeep Grand Cherokee. The extreme weight of the Durango was also a factor for them.
three40duster says:
03:18 PM, 02/21/12
I can't believe you guys actually quoted EPA mileage figures when you haven't even come close to that in this vehicle.
three40duster says:
03:39 PM, 02/21/12
"The extreme weight of the Durango was also a factor for them."
Seriously? 4700 lbs to 4900 lbs makes it extreme? 6% difference is the break point for something have "extreme" weight?
steviebster says:
03:47 PM, 02/21/12
Three40duster:
Yes...200 lbs has a noticeable affect on acceleration when comparing the V6 to V6 AWD Explorer/AWD Durango. I've driven them and review data back it up. I don't need whatever extra off-road capabilitites supposedly offered by the V6 AWD Durango over the V6 AWD Explorer...and neither do the majority of folks...unless they're lying in questionaires. The fact is...the Durango is the heaviest of the affordable mid-sized CUV/SUVs.
three40duster says:
04:16 PM, 02/21/12
Hah...you completely missed the point. Calling something that's 4900 lbs extreme to something that weighs 4700 lbs is like calling someone who makes $1 million salary extremely rich compared to someone that only makes $940k. It's all about relatives there...only point I was making.
steviebster says:
04:34 PM, 02/21/12
I appreciate your point three40duster but I smiled a bit thinking some of the times my dad used the phrase "picking the pepper out of the flysh*t". :-)
explorerx4 says:
05:49 PM, 02/21/12
MY '11 Explorer AWD has averaged 21.5 mpg over 9500 miles.
19+ on the low end and 24+ on the high end.
I do keep it in a garage and don't do a lot of short trips (5 mile round trips to the grocery store, etc).
Still have my '02 V8 4WD, which has averaged 15.9 over it's life.