Topic: First Drive: 2011 Ford Explorer

[saint_satan]

I know lots of people that love Explorers because they were a proper SUV, could tow big loads, full frame, old-school transfer case 4WD, etc.

It may appeal to a new group of owners but Explorer traditionalist will run from this to Grand Cherokee or 4Runner.  Am I the only person who sees the fleeting ghost of the Aztec in the styling

[DCypher]

I don't quite agree with your post regarding the Explorer being for off-road and the Flex not. I have a 2010 Flex AWD and I have taken it over pretty much any terrain I would this new Explorer. The vast majority of buyers who want an 'off-road' vehicle consider a gravel road 'off-road' so the only real benefit to the explorer is the terrain control and 4wd vs awd system that will likely rarely get used. For the price this just doesn't seem worth it.

Looking at the interior pics it looks identical to my flex with a different wrapper on the outside - almost like Ford it trying to woo back the crowd that was angry that Ford's 7 seat non-minivan (Flex) had too polarizing a style so they brought back the Explorer as a totally different vehicle to placate those shoppers.

I am curious about the fuel economy though. I average 12l/100lm city in my Flex so I don't understand how this can be that much worse unless the engine wasn't broken in yet for the review.

[Ice]

I know lots of people that love Explorers because they were a proper SUV, could tow big loads, full frame, old-school transfer case 4WD, etc.

It may appeal to a new group of owners but Explorer traditionalist will run from this to Grand Cherokee or 4Runner.  Am I the only person who sees the fleeting ghost of the Aztec in the styling

The Grand Cherokee sounds like it's pretty much a similar deal to me as the new Explorer. Isn't it a unibody vehicle as well?

I don't see any Aztec in the styling. That car was hideous beyond believe... Ford looks like they took their time on this one and produced something pretty good looking for a big monster SUV/CUV thing. The Grand Cherokee looks good too. Both have interesting takes on the same basic idea.

[Dante]

Isn't GC a 5-seater with significantlly less cargo? I don't think they have the same target market? Durango would be the direct competitor for the Explorer.

[saint_satan]

Traditionally, the Explorer and Grand Cherokee were in the same class.  The "I have big SUV and go hunting/fishing and pull stuff" class.  The traditional SUV is all but gone now so I don't know what the market is anymore.  Most SUVs are variations on the AWD station wagon.  Not necessarily a bad thing - most current Explorer owners would have been better off with a Subaru Outback whether they admit it or not.

I still have a soft spot for SUVs with actual capability but there is less than a handful of these now.

[Dante]

^^^

Right, but to me GC and Explorer no longer directly compete with each other.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Throughout the challenge, the Explorer faithfully scrabbled everywhere the 4Runner did, but with notably less head-toss from its four-wheel independent suspension and indeed, fewer creaks from its body structure. There was even less teeth-gnashing during the hill descent, as the Ford's technology was both easier to summon (the Toyota requires a surprising amount of button and lever pushing to optimize it for downhill performance) and quieter in operation. Again, none of this is to deny that the 4Runner (or indeed, the Jeep we left back on the handling course) is ultimately more capable off-road than the Explorer, but we were struck by the surprising amount of capability that's built into the Ford – certainly plenty of capability for weekend woodsmen, beachgoers and ski holidays. Either way, when it comes time to pack up the weekend cottage and escape from the Dueling Banjos on a snaking dirt road, we'd take the Explorer every time.


http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/13/2011-ford-explorer-first-drive-review-road-test/

There's likely not much difference off road between this and the previous Explorer. The previous version was pretty clunky on road though, while this seems to have stepped up to somewhere near the head of the class.

The only significant loss is in tow capacity, which is down to 5000lbs from 7400lbs. Ford's reasoning is that anyone hauling that much is likely going to get an Expedition anyway.

[CanuckS2K]

^^^

Right, but to me GC and Explorer no longer directly compete with each other.

They may or may not be, but there will certainly be a LOT of people cross shopping the two. 

[Steve]

Keep going, Ford, keeeep going, and pretty soon you'll be back, full circle, to the Ford Fairlane station wagon that I grew up with in the 1970s...

[MKII]

I think what is Ford is saying is if you need to tow something over 5,000lbs
buy this......
 

[ktm525]

Traditionally, the Explorer and Grand Cherokee were in the same class.  The "I have big SUV and go hunting/fishing and pull stuff" class.  The traditional SUV is all but gone now so I don't know what the market is anymore.  Most SUVs are variations on the AWD station wagon.  Not necessarily a bad thing - most current Explorer owners would have been better off with a Subaru Outback whether they admit it or not.

I still have a soft spot for SUVs with actual capability but there is less than a handful of these now.

Around here the Explorers/GC's were the economy sized SUVs. Any real towing duties are handled by Expeditions/Suburbans/Yukons/Sequoia or 3/4 ton 4 door trucks.

[Dante]

^^^

Right, but to me GC and Explorer no longer directly compete with each other.

They may or may not be, but there will certainly be a LOT of people cross shopping the two. 

Likely, but I guess they will soon realize that the new Explorer went on a different direction.

[ktm525]

I bet the eco boost V6 makes an appearance for 2012.


I likey the package. Perhaps when the LR3 goes out to pasture this will be filling the garage.

[Mensou who?]

Base V6 FWD: $29,000
Base V6 4WD: $32,999
XLT V6 FWD: $35,899
XLT V6 4WD: $38,999
Limited V6 FWD: $41,199
Limited V6 4WD: $44,199
Freight: $1,400

4WD is 4K more on the base trim and the step to an XLT is pretty steep at 6-7K.  Looks like Ford is getting overly confident in its pricing strategy like GM.


Looks like they haven't exorcised their demons with the fuel economy either.

And I don't know if it's me but I really still don't dig Ford's interiors and dashboards and I think that the retirees and grey hair set buying this vehicle will be put off more than anything with all the multimedia and embarked tech galore they don't use.

That's a point Menou...it would have been a good point if you actually knew what you were talking about.  For example the 4 Runner Limited with Navigation Automatic 5 Speed goes for $49,665 plus $1,560 for auto.  Assuming that the brakes actual work on the 4Runner; that's over $5K more than the Ford.  Give me a Ford any day!

[saint_satan]

The pricing looks fair.  I'm sure even the base model comes well equipped.  $32,999 isn't bad for a V6 4WD.  Like everything else, there is price creep.  I always thought the Nav packages were steep.  Go get a Tom Tom at Best Buy for $200...

[PJungnitsch]

Ford's marked prices don't mean that much, they usually start discounting fairly soon after launch.

[TopGun]

.....
The only significant loss is in tow capacity, which is down to 5000lbs from 7400lbs. Ford's reasoning is that anyone hauling that much is likely going to get an Expedition anyway.

Ya, that towing loss is big...but most of them only really towed kids to school anyway.

According to the AutoBlog guys, the full-size truck/SUV GM T900 is just raking in the cash as there's not much in that class it is competing with.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

According to the AutoBlog guys, the full-size truck/SUV GM T900 is just raking in the cash as there's not much in that class it is competing with.

Never understood why the Expedition doesn't get better sales. Roomier, better interior, and much more reliable then the Yukon/Tahoe/Suburban.

Then again, I don't really understand these behemoths in general.

[ktm525]

According to the AutoBlog guys, the full-size truck/SUV GM T900 is just raking in the cash as there's not much in that class it is competing with.

Never understood why the Expedition doesn't get better sales. Roomier, better interior, and much more reliable then the Yukon/Tahoe/Suburban.

Then again, I don't really understand these behemoths in general.

Up until recently they had less power. Also until the Expedition Max the Suburban had the big market to itself when Ford axed the Excursion. Also many Suburban owners are on their 3rd, 4th etc. Simply trade one in and get another. Many repeat Suburban buyers.

[Minou]

Base V6 FWD: $29,000
Base V6 4WD: $32,999
XLT V6 FWD: $35,899
XLT V6 4WD: $38,999
Limited V6 FWD: $41,199
Limited V6 4WD: $44,199
Freight: $1,400

4WD is 4K more on the base trim and the step to an XLT is pretty steep at 6-7K.  Looks like Ford is getting overly confident in its pricing strategy like GM.


Looks like they haven't exorcised their demons with the fuel economy either.

And I don't know if it's me but I really still don't dig Ford's interiors and dashboards and I think that the retirees and grey hair set buying this vehicle will be put off more than anything with all the multimedia and embarked tech galore they don't use.

That's a point Menou...it would have been a good point if you actually knew what you were talking about.  For example the 4 Runner Limited with Navigation Automatic 5 Speed goes for $49,665 plus $1,560 for auto.  Assuming that the brakes actual work on the 4Runner; that's over $5K more than the Ford.  Give me a Ford any day!

Toyota's top trim of everything they sell has been known to be way overpriced for ages.