2019 Ford Explorer Review, Pricing, and Specs - Car and Driver

Highs Handsome exterior, quick when equipped with the twin-turbo V-6, spacious cargo hold. · Lows 365-hp V-6 limited to the most expensive models, big and heavy, ... SearchSubscribeGiveaGiftNewCarsAcuraAlfaRomeoAstonMartinAudiBentleyBMWBollingerBugattiBuickBytonCadillacChevroletChryslerDodgeFerrariFiatFiskerFordGenesisGMCHondaHyundaiInfinitiJaguarJeepKarmaKiaKoenigseggLamborghiniLandRoverLexusLincolnLordstownLotusLucidMotorsMaseratiMazdaMcLarenMercedes-AMGMercedes-BenzMercedes-MaybachMiniMitsubishiNikolaNissanPolestarPorscheRamRivianRolls-RoyceSubaruTeslaToyotaVolkswagenVolvoReviewsFirstDrivesInstrumentedTestsComparisonTestsLong-TermRoadTestsHowWeTestFromtheArchiveNewsAutonomousVehiclesTestingHubRecallsNewYorkAutoShowFeatures10Best2022EVsLightningLap2022ColumnsAutomotiveHistoryBuyer'sGuide2022Editors'ChoiceFutureCarsLeasingUsedCarsCertifiedPre-OwnedSUVsandCrossoversTrucksElectricVehiclesRecreationalVehiclesMaintenanceCarInsuranceShoppingAdviceNewsletterVideosFollowInstagramFacebookTwitterYouTubeShopDoNotSellMyPersonalInformationSkiptoContentMakes&ModelssigninSubscribeReviewsNewsFeaturesBuyer'sGuideSubscribeReviewsNewsFeaturesBuyer'sGuideHomeFordExplorer2019Selectayear202220212020201920182017HighsHandsomeexterior,quickwhenequippedwiththetwin-turboV-6,spaciouscargohold.Lows365-hpV-6limitedtothemostexpensivemodels,bigandheavy,so-sobuildquality.VerdictTheverydefinitionof"midpack."ByEricStaffordOverviewOnthesurface,theFordExplorerappearstobeanupscaleSUV,borrowinghigh-classstylingfromoneoftheworld'sshimmeringluxo-utes,theLandRoverRangeRover.ButlookcloserandtheFord'struecolorsbegintoshow,mainlyintheformofacabinthatisdurableandfamily-friendlybutnotatallposh.Yes,techgoodiessuchastouchscreeninfotainment,onboardWi-Fi,anddriver-assistancetechnologiesareoptions—butthey'realsoavailableonnearlyallofitsmainrivals,too,andsomeevenofferthemasstandard.TheExploreriscapableandagreeable,butitstimeaskingofthethree-row-crossovercastleisjustamemorynow.What'sNewfor2019?WhiletheExplorerhasnotbeensignificantlyupdatedsincebeingrefreshedfor2016,thepopularmid-sizerhasseveralmildchangesfor2019.Mostofthesechangesarelimitedtochangestostandardequipmentamongthevariousmodelsandrepackageddriver-assistanceoptions.TheXLTversionaddsanewDesertCopperappearancepackage,whichincludes20-inchwheelsandnumerousblackexteriorandinteriortreatments.TheLimitedmodelalsoreceivesanewbespokeappearanceupgradecalledtheLuxuryLimitedpackage.Itbrings20-inchrims,chromemirrorcaps,andspecificleatherandfaux-suedeinteriorappointments.PricingandWhichOnetoBuyBasemodel$33,360XLT$35,495Limited$43,860Sport$47,720Platinum$55,260WearemostenthusiasticaboutthehottestExplorermodel,theSport.It'sfarfromthemostaffordablemodelintherange,butitsstandard365-hptwin-turboV-6isadiamondinthecoalminethatconstitutestherestofthepowertrainlineup.TheSportmodelalsoincludesall-wheeldrive,aninfotainmentsystemfeaturingan8.0-inchtouchscreenwithAppleCarPlayandAndroidAuto,andpower-foldingthird-rowseats.We'dalsooptforthe401AEquipmentGrouppackagethataddscooledfrontseats,heatedsecond-rowseats,afrontcamera,ambientinteriorlighting,andmore.PartnershipFindyourperfectride!We'repartneringwithCarvanabecausewewanttomakeiteasyforyoutofindtheexactvehicleyou'relookingfor.FindingInventoryEngine,Transmission,Towing,andPerformanceLikes:Twin-turboV-6isrefinedandpowerful,comfortableandquietride.Dislikes:Nottooexcitingtodriveontwistyroads,softbrakepedal.ThebaseV-6andoptionalturbofour-cylinderenginesarebothadequateformostduties.WhiletheV-6issomewhatunrefinedandtheturbofourcanbehesitanttopullawayfromastop,neitherwilldisappointtheaveragecrossoverconsumer.Thetwin-turbochargedV-6foundintheSportandPlatinum,however,iswickedquick.TheExplorercantowupto5000pounds,butthoseinneedofathree-rowcrossovercapableofhaulingheavierloadsshouldconsidertheDodgeDurango,whichcantowasmuchas7400pounds.TheExplorerdrivesbiggerthanitis.Itswell-dampedrideprioritizescomfortoverdynamichandling.That'sablessingforthosewhoregularlytravelonroughroadsortakelongtrips,butit'sacurseforthosewhoenjoytakingthelongandwindingroutehome.Whilemorecommunicativesteeringwouldbenice,theelectricallyassistedsystemisbothquickandlightenoughfortypicalcrossoveractivitiessuchascrawlingmallparkinglotsandcartingpeopleacrosstown.TheExplorer'sbrakepedalisonthesofterside,butinourtestingits174-footstoppingdistanceprovedfullycompetitiveamongthree-rowcrossovers.MoreontheFordExplorerPowerAtaPrice:2017FordExplorerPlatinumFordExplorerSportTested:What'sInaName?FordExplorer'sVisualHistory:1990–2019FuelEconomyandReal-WorldMPGTheExplorer'sfueleconomyisunimpressive.Theoptionalturbochargedfour-cylinderdeliversfueleconomythatisnobetterthanitsrivals,although,toitscredit,itdoespumpoutfarmorepower.Duringour200-milehighwayfuel-economytest,ourtwin-turbotestvehiclemissedits22-mpghighwayestimateby2mpgandfinishedbehindsimilarrivals.Interior,Infotainment,andCargoLikes:Spaciousfirstandsecondrows,longlistofdesirableoptions.Dislikes:Poorrearvisibility,cumbersomethird-rowentry,nousefulthird-rowcubbystorage.TheExplorer'sinteriorsuffersfromanawkwardlayoutandpoorbuildquality.Whilethematerialsusedinourtop-of-the-linePlatinumtestvehiclewereofhighquality,cabinfitandfinishwashorrid—panelsfittogetherpoorly,andgapsbetweenpanelswerelarge.Also,theExplorerhaspoorerrearvisibilitythanmanyofitspeers.Spaciousaccommodationsandcomfortablefrontseatsaretheinterior'sfewsavinggraces.We'vefoundtheupgradedtouchscreeninfotainmentsystem—calledSync3—tobeintuitiveandfairlysnappyinitsperformance.MosteveryconnectivityfeatureisofferedontheExplorer,butunfortunatelyveryfewarestandard.Capableofconnectingupto10devices,theExplorer'soptional4GLTEWi-Fihotspotkeepsthewholefamilyonlineandentertained—aboonforlongroadtripswithantsykids.TheExplorerbenefitsfromanextremelyroomycargoareabehinditsthird-rowseat.Lessimpressiveisthespacebehindthefrontrowofseatswhenboththesecondandthirdrowsarefolded.VariousbinsandcubbiesthroughouttheExplorer'slargecabinprovideadequatesmall-itemstorage.SafetyandDriver-AssistanceFeaturesOverallSafetyRating(NHTSA)ViewCrashTestResultsTheExplorer'ssafetyfeaturesandcrash-testsuperioritymayhavebeentop-notchbackin2011whenitwaslastredesigned,butincomparisonwithwhatisofferedbytoday'smoremoderncrossovers,theydon'tcompete.SeatbeltairbagsaretheExplorer'ssolestand-outsafetyfeatureandallofitsdriver-assistanceequipmentrequireshellingoutforoptionpackages.Availableforward-collisionwarningandautomatedemergencybrakingAvailablelane-departurewarningandlane-keepingassistAvailableparkingassistWarrantyandMaintenanceCoverageFord'swarrantycoverageisstrictlyaverage.NotethattheBlueOvaldoesnotoffercomplimentaryscheduledmaintenancewiththepurchaseofanExplorer—aperkofferedoncompetitorssuchastheGMCAcadiaandtheToyotaHighlander.Limitedwarrantycovers3yearsor36,000milesPowertrainwarrantycovers5yearsor60,000milesNocomplimentaryscheduledmaintenanceFordFord2024MustangStartingat$30,000estFord2023F-150Startingat$35,880C/DRating9/10Ford2023F-150RaptorStartingat$72,000estC/DRating9/10Ford2023RangerStartingat$27,000estAdvertisement-ContinueReadingBelowFord2023RangerRaptorStartingat$44,500estFord2022F-150LightningStartingat$41,769C/DRating8.5/10Ford2022BroncoRaptorStartingat$70,095C/DRating9/10Ford2022BroncoStartingat$32,895C/DRating9.5/10Ford2022BroncoSportStartingat$30,410C/DRating9/10Ford2022E-TransitStartingat$48,520Ford2022EcoSportStartingat$23,335C/DRating3.5/10Ford2022EdgeStartingat$39,440C/DRating6.5/10Advertisement-ContinueReadingBelow