Test drive the updated Ford Explorer
The large American crossover has received new attractive options. But even more interesting is that after the improvement, the flagship Ford suddenly fell in price.
Serpentine near Elbrus. There are no safety nets on the rocks, and the road is strewn with fallen rock - some stones are twice as large as a wheel. It's scary to get a lump in the body, I want to spur the Ford Explorer and drive faster.
Remember the top Sport variant - boosted to 345 hp, with a suspension tuned for better drive - would be in place. Only here the place is special, and in general in Russia, the frankly expensive Sport was almost not in demand and recently left the market.
249-strong versions of Explorer XLT, Limited and Limited Plus remain on the assembly line in Yelabuga. Their sales, on the contrary, were constantly on the rise - the successful modernization of the model in 2015 affected. And now it's time for a fresh portion of new things.
The cladding is more pretentious, the bumpers are different, on the front and the lighting equipment is of a different shape, and there is more chrome. The distance to start the engine by two presses of the button on the key has been increased to 100 m. The washer nozzles are now heated. The upper edge of the windshield now has a housing with a USB connector. At the same time, the electric adjustment of the pedal assembly has been abolished. That's all the difference.
Much more important is the change in the price list. After the update, the Ford Explorer fell in price, and the difference with the previous prices - from $ 906 to $ 1. And that's more than a handful of improvements.
The basic XLT version offers LED headlights and taillights, keyless system, cruise control, parking sensors and a rear camera, 18-inch alloy wheels. Salon 7-seater, seats with electric drives and heating, there is a three-zone climate control, a full set of airbags and curtains. Sync 3 multimedia system with touch screen supports AppLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The middle version Limited is distinguished by: 20-inch wheels, a front camera, a remote engine start, a tailgate with a hand-free function. The seats of the second row are already heated here, and the front ones are supplemented with ventilation. The third row is transformed by electric drives. The steering column also has an electric drive, and the steering wheel is heated. The audio system is cooler, a subwoofer is added and navigation is installed.
And the top version of the Limited Plus was on the test. The main "plus" here is electronic assistants: an automatic headlight switch, adaptive cruise control, a lane departure tracking system, monitoring of "blind" zones and a parking assistant. There is also a massage of the front seats, and the roof is panoramic and with a sunroof.
The salon is spacious, and on the third row it is quite free for adults. Maximum cargo capacity - a promising 2294 liters. Explorer is generally American friendly to the family practical user. Therefore, there are many places for small things and USB connectors. Comfortable sound insulation and a choice of colors of contour lighting add comfort.
But here's the inconvenient: instead of the parking brake pedal on the flagship, it would be logical to see automation. The resting area for the left leg is narrow. Also, touch screen icons respond poorly, no matter how you press. Scrolling through the menu on the dashboard is also confusing. And why does such a big man have such modest side mirrors?
When parking, you rely on cameras - they help out. Rear - with movable trajectory tips, front - with the ability to expand the viewing angle. Both are equipped with washers, and these useful nozzles, originally conceived for Russia, are now being installed in other markets.
Electronic assistants seem to be useful too. But Explorer tracks the vague Russian markup from time to time. You already forget that the function is active, when suddenly the steering wheel begins to vibrate and deviate. Active cruise control and approach warning systems are expectedly good on the highway, but fail in the narrow bends of the province. And after auto-deceleration to a complete stop, the "cruise" is disabled.
A separate conversation about off-road systems. All-wheel drive is equipped with a Dana electromagnetic clutch, which by default distributes torque to the front wheels, and when they slip, it can transfer a significant share to the rear. But in addition, modes are available for different conditions. Something more, remember?
"Dirt / Rut" - automatic transmission shifts remain smooth, but upshifts are blocked, and electronic insurance is weakened, you can slip. "Sand" - a clear priority of low gears with the ability to spin up to cutoff, sharp reactions to gas. "Grass / Gravel / Snow" - the engine is strangled, the throttle response is sluggish, but the switching is quicker, and slippage is suppressed. By the way, in loose snow outlays, the regime for sand may turn out to be more relevant.
For the sake of better cross-country ability, the Russian versions, unlike the American ones, are deprived of the "skirt" under the front bumper. The declared ground clearance is 210 mm. We checked it with a tape measure under the protection of a motor - yes, that's right. The suspension was not adapted to our roads. And it has clearly been tuned to reduce body roll and improve handling.
The Explorer maneuvers is understandable, does not seem to be inert-heavy, although a little on his mind: in a sharp turn he strives to go to demolition, then he can wag aft. We cleared the aforementioned serpentine without any problems. But smoothness is frankly lacking, especially on 20-inch wheels. The tremors and concussions are constant. But the suspension withstood the blows from the badly broken grader without breakdowns.
The V6 3.5L gasoline engine in the American original produces 290 hp. Power in Russia reduced for tax benefit. The lack of strength is not felt, and the sharp and smooth 6-speed "automatic" can be switched to the sport mode - so it is more interesting. There is also a manual one, but you need to change gears with a mini-key on the automatic transmission handle. After the test, the onboard computer reported an average consumption of 13,7 l / 100 km. Not bad, fortunately, AI-92 gasoline is possible, and the tank holds 70,4 liters.
The base Ford Explorer XLT starts at $ 35, the Limited is $ 196 more expensive, and the Limited Plus electronic assistants add another $ 38. Compared with similar in format "pro-American" all-wheel drive Infiniti QX834, Mazda CX-41, Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Teramont, it turns out that Explorer is more profitable.
| A type | Crossover |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | 5019/1988/1788 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2860 |
| Curb weight, kg | 2181 – 2265 Feet |
| engine's type | Petrol, V6 |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 3496 |
| Power, hp with. at rpm | 249 at 6500 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm at rpm | 346 at 3750 |
| Transmission, drive | 6-st. Automatic gearbox, permanent full |
| Maximum speed km / h | 183 |
| Acceleration to 100 km / h, from | 8,3 |
| Fuel consumption (horizontal / route / mixture), l | 13,8 / 10,2 / 12,4 |
| Price from, $. | 35 196 |
