2/18/2024 0 Comments Iexplorer review 2016It's also refined, comfortable, is great for trips both long and short and can be had with a powerful, yet fuel-efficient drivetrain. Where the Explorer holds a big upper hand is with the options it offers - it has a huge range of available engines and trim levels. Even with so many choices, Ford's 2016 Explorer remains a standout in the group. The Nissan? You'll have to live with its droning-but-efficient continuously variable transmission. The Toyota remains competent but banal, and the Chevy is really long in the tooth. Mazda just debuted a new CX-9 at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it's one to keep an eye on. The Pilot is all-new and much improved for 2016, so it's a real threat. Today's three-row crossover market is a crowded one, with models like the aforementioned Pathfinder, Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander all vying for attention. Unfortunately, Ford does not sell the Explorer in the UK or Australia. It also features quilted door bolsters and trim, a 500-watt Sony audio system and other exclusive exterior appointments. The luxury-focused Platinum is available only with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, and comes with Nirvana-leather wrapping the seats and instrument panel. My Limited all-wheel-drive tester with its 2.3-liter EcoBoost runs $44,245, while a new-for-2016 Platinum trim sits atop the lineup at $53,915. There's an Explorer flavor for everyone, with prices starting at $31,995 for a front-wheel-drive, 3.5-liter V-6 example. It's well-suited to coddle families with space, features and nice interior surroundings. Functionality and versatility are key, and when scored on these criteria, the Explorer's merits are undeniable. Three-row crossover SUVs rarely get my pulse racing in terms of their performance or styling, but driving verve and sexy sheet metal aren't exactly their primary missions. Millions sold for good reasonīy the end of the road trip, not only did I have a newfound appreciation for everything that goes into making quality bourbon, I developed the same feeling for this Explorer. It's a slick feature that came in handy whenever I had my hands full. A hands-free liftgate is also new, and lets owners open and close the rear hatch simply by kicking a foot underneath the back bumper. To avoid trouble areas, it offered alternate routes a couple of times and kept us from losing precious time sitting in traffic.Įven without those systems, Ford strengthened the Explorer's tech hand for 2016 thanks to the addition of an enhanced active park-assist system that now offers both perpendicular- and parallel-parking assist, not to mention park-out assist to help drivers safely exit parallel-parking spots. The navigation system with SiriusXM Traffic proved handy, too, faithfully alerting me of accidents and construction on our route. Blind-spot monitoring was flawless and much appreciated, particularly in the rain, when it provided extra reassurance during lane changes. ![]() For the long, straight and boring interstate slog, the former was stupendous, although the system did momentarily freak one night, briefly slamming on the brakes after detecting a car in the next lane when coming over a crest. My trip was also made better thanks to advanced driver-assist features including adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. ![]() When not in use, the third row folds flat (also with the push of a button) to open up 43.9 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for a couple of mountain bikes, among other things. However, access is easy, as there's a power-fold second row that slides and flips forward with the push of a button. The third row's tighter confines remains best reserved for kids. The one minor annoyance I experienced inside stemmed from the Explorer's too-thick lower A-pillars, as they obstructed the forward-facing view quite a bit. I give a lot of credit to Ford for listening to its customers and making the change to more conventional and intuitive switchgear. The single-best change for the Explorer's mid-cycle refresh has to be the decision to ditch the 2015 model's maddeningly unresponsive touch-sense climate controls. Everything looks and feels premium inside, with wrapped and stitched surfaces, as well as matte-finish wood mixing beautifully with silver trim pieces. After our long trip, both my passenger and I felt fine - we could have jumped back into the Explorer and done another 20 hours if necessary.Īnother reason why I didn't mind spending all those hours in the Explorer was because the Limited is such a nice place to be. The cabin's front buckets seats were cushy, yet offered support in all the right places, helping ward off fatigue, and it was easy to find a comfortable seating position with all the adjustments available from the seats and steering column.
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