2005 Ford Explorer Review

Specifications

Still a Sales Leader After All These Years

Its amazing how slick marketing and the associated street buzz can make a person believe that something is hotter than it really is, but in reality some of todays most popular new cars, trucks and SUVs arent the newest, flashiest or most technologically advanced.

Take the Ford Explorer. Its conservative lines, back-to-basics interior styling and body-on-frame layout are hardly the remedies for success in todays hotly contested SUV market, but still the midsize blue oval breadwinner is the best selling SUV in the U.S. Its been that way for the last fifteen years, managing a total volume of over 5.5 million units. So if youre wondering if the Explorer is any good, all you need to do is “ask the audience”. After all, can that many car owners be wrong?

Of course, not all 5.5 million Explorers sold went to new homes since the current Explorer hit the market in model year 2002. And this model, still the current Explorer until it gets replaced next month, is so much better than the model it sent to pasture that it must have been a difficult decision for the blue oval marketing team to attach an Explorer nameplate to the rear liftgate.

The biggest change was the addition of a fully independent suspension system, resulting in a much smoother ride, a literal metamorphosis in handling and with that, much greater safety when attempting to avoid a potential rollover - it was the previous Explorer that was affected by the Firestone Wilderness AT tire debacle after all.

But before I get too far into my rambling thoughts, I thought you might be asking yourself why Ive chosen to write about a vehicle thats pretty well ready to exit stage left as a new model enters the scene. Well, the main reason is that I missed driving the Explorer when it was new in the fall of 2001, and since then Ford hasnt had one in the local press fleet for me to test out. Here in upstate New York, to test the next-generation Explorer, I finally had the chance to drive the old model, and being relatively impressed I thought Id put pen to paper, or at least my fingers to the laptop, and share my thoughts on a vehicle that will no doubt be a very, very good buy once the new model arrives at your local showroom.

What impressed me? A variety of things actually, starting with relatively good passing power in V6 trim, and the availability of a reasonably powerful V8 that connects through to a five-speed automatic transmission, the ability to go off-road when needed, plus an extremely compliant ride and competent handling. OK, its no crossover SUV, taking to curves with the car-like agility of a Freestyle, for instance, but if respected its quite capable of keeping between on the right side of the yellow line when pushed slightly over posted speeds, only becoming unsettled when jarring road imperfections send shudders through the frame and suspension components.

The steering is light and, while not particularly precise, ideally suited to toiling around town or coasting along the freeway at 60 mph. And this is exactly what most people do with their Explorers. Mom, three kids in the back, off to school, soccer practice, ballet, or maybe the entire family gone camping, DVD-player screening Pixar, a boat in tow, roof rack filled with what-have-you and cargo bay maxxed to capacity… you know the stereotypes. Heck, I am the stereotype and proud of it. Im the classic family guy, with a wife, three kids, an ex-wife, child support payments, legal entanglements… Oh stop! Im getting depressed just thinking about it.

Anyway, this is probably the type of vehicle that Id buy, and given the right deal it might make a lot of sense. Now that Goodyear and Michelin tires are on the menu, as well as Firestone rubber, and especially since it scored three stars out of five in the U.S. federal governments rollover resistance ratings (an average score by the way) before electronic stability control was added as standard equipment this year to make it much more controllable at speed. And in case you didnt know, and I didnt until today so dont feel bad, vehicles with stability control are 67 percent less likely to be involved in a crash; that according to the NHTSA. The Explorer also achieved an overall rating of “good” when introduced, which is the highest score possible in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safetys offset crash test.

So, safety out of the way, I guess it would come down to interior accommodations. As if a person would buy anything as large as an Explorer if they didnt need to haul around bodies and gear… and in my situation this is a priority. The second row is quite comfortable, legroom sufficient and head and shoulder room quite ample. Even the third row offers more room than the majority of competitors, even enough for real, live adults in a pinch. Access to it comes by seats that fold forward, up and out of the way, and featuring reasonably decent ingress and egress. While this should be par for the course with seven seaters, its not actually the case with many in this segment, even brand new models built by automakers that should know better.

But Ford knows SUVs very well, and because of this has basically kept its auto division in business on the strength of its light truck and sport utility lineup. Ford was the first to introduce an overhead cam V6 in the entry-level midsize segment, the first to offer a V8, first to include a five-speed automatic, first with an independent rear suspension, a flat-folding third row seat, side-impact airbags, and first to offer roll stability control. The latter feature, along with side-impact airbags gives the 2005 model a double 5-star side impact rating, by the way, while the Explorer also achieves a 4-star front-impact driver and 5-star front passenger rating. Amazingly enough, the Explorer has a better track record for collision than any rivals, and a twenty-five percent better insurability rating than any competitor.

So, while Ive seen better fit and finish in the cabin, nicer materials used for seating surfaces, cooler dash design and more precise feeling switchgear, the current Explorer is a pretty decent SUV that can be had for a really good price. Disregard the MSRP, your local dealer certainly will. Im sure he/she has a pile of incentives, not the least of which is Fords recent invitation to join its Family Plan and save even more.