2005 Explorer
- Engine Size: 4.0L - 6 Cylinders
- Style: Crossover
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- Model: Explorer
- Class: SUV Crossover
- Seating Capacity: 5 Seats
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1568
The Ford Explorer Works For Me.
Pros
Comfortable, handles well, nice styling.
Cons
The paint appears to chip easily.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
I would recommend the Ford Explorer as a comfortable SUV.
About three months ago, I was issued a new fleet vehicle. It is a dark green 2005 Ford Explorer. I have since put 7,000 miles on it. You can see by the mileage that I spend a good part of my day in this truck, so comfort is one of the most important aspects of a work vehicle for me.
If I worked in the construction field, I might be more concerned with towing capacity or off-road type handling. However, I do not use this vehicle in that capacity and am not in a position to rate the off-road handling.
Comfort
I will start with the most important feature for me. The seats in this truck are adjustable to a position that is comfortable for my 5' 10" frame. Most of the switches that I need to be able to control (windshield wipers, rear defrost, lights, etc) are on the steering column or within close reach. My one complaint about the placement of the controls is the radio. For some reason the radio controls are just far enough away to make it uncomfortable for me to manually scan the channels. I would suggest getting the radio controls on the steering wheel, if it is available. Other than that, the controls are easy to reach.
The seats are very comfortable. For the amount of sitting I do, I haven't had any problem with discomfort or back pain. The seats are soft but firm enough to provide support. There is ample room on either side of me when I'm driving, where I don't feel cramped. I have also been pleased with the overall handling and ride. The ride is smooth, with minimal jarring when navigating road hazards.
Fuel Efficiency
I don't pay for the gas going in this vehicle, but I still wince whenever I fill her up. The gas tank holds around sixteen gallons, for which I get approximately 250 miles. I would therefore estimate my gas mileage around 15 mpg. This is probably not a good indicator of highway mileage, because most of my driving is city driving.
Having owned a 5.4L Expedition followed by a 4.6L Expedition, I know that this gas mileage is not very good. In fact, it is comparable to what I was getting in the larger Expedition. My 5.4L was averaging around 14 mpg int he city and 16 mpg on the highway, while the 4.6L which I just traded was averaging about 16 mpg and 18 mpg respectively.
Pricing
Because this is a fleet vehicle, I am not aware what the actual price was. However, I am familiar with the price range for the Explorer, and would place it in the average for this size and type of vehicle (around 30,000 dollars for a 4wd).
Paint
I bring the paint up for a reason. The factory finish on the Ford Explorer is professional. However, it seems that this paint has a higher propensity to chip. I have three dings in the side of the truck. All three dings have small paint chips missing. I'm not sure the cause for this chipping, but it seems a little bit out of the ordinary.
Interior Room
The Ford Explorer is surprisingly roomy. Adults can comfortably sit in the second row of seats without feeling cramped. Having owned the Expeditions, I figured the second row of seating might be a little bit cramped in the Explorer, but that is not the case.
The cargo area of the Explorer is also a decent size. I have a locking storage unit mounted in the back of the Explorer, and it is a fairly large unit. It fits just far enough in to rub the plastic tailgate molding a bit.
I was planning to mount a docking station for my computer in the front of the Explorer, but have decided against it. The center console area is not very wide. The addition of a docking station would take up a substantial amount of the front passenger seating area. The docking station I have is capable of swiveling. However, it would mount to the floorboard on the passenger side, which would cause some discomfort to an adult passenger riding in the front.
Power
This vehicle accelerates slowly with the overdrive engaged. It picks up a bit with the overdrive switched off. However, it accelerates sufficiently for my purposes.
Power Inverter
I thought I would mention that I have a power inverter installed under the seat, as well as communications equipment. In spite of this additional draw on the battery, I have not observed any issues with the battery.
Comparison
I have not compared the Ford Explorer to other vehicles in it's class. The only other SUV's I am familiar enough to compare the Explorer to is the Expedition, as far as personal use goes. However, I did visit mkaresh's website www.truedelta.com to do a comparison. I chose to compare it to the Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep came out a bit cheaper in an apples-to-apples comparison, and would probably be worth checking out if you are looking for a similar vehicle.
Overall Impressions
For the amount of time that I spend in the Explorer, I would have to give it high marks. The overall comfort of this vehicle make it a pleasure to drive. The few issues that I have with this vehicle are either cosmetic or work-specific (nowhere to mount a docking station). I would highly recommend the Ford Explorer to anyone looking for a vehicle in this class.
If I worked in the construction field, I might be more concerned with towing capacity or off-road type handling. However, I do not use this vehicle in that capacity and am not in a position to rate the off-road handling.
Comfort
I will start with the most important feature for me. The seats in this truck are adjustable to a position that is comfortable for my 5' 10" frame. Most of the switches that I need to be able to control (windshield wipers, rear defrost, lights, etc) are on the steering column or within close reach. My one complaint about the placement of the controls is the radio. For some reason the radio controls are just far enough away to make it uncomfortable for me to manually scan the channels. I would suggest getting the radio controls on the steering wheel, if it is available. Other than that, the controls are easy to reach.
The seats are very comfortable. For the amount of sitting I do, I haven't had any problem with discomfort or back pain. The seats are soft but firm enough to provide support. There is ample room on either side of me when I'm driving, where I don't feel cramped. I have also been pleased with the overall handling and ride. The ride is smooth, with minimal jarring when navigating road hazards.
Fuel Efficiency
I don't pay for the gas going in this vehicle, but I still wince whenever I fill her up. The gas tank holds around sixteen gallons, for which I get approximately 250 miles. I would therefore estimate my gas mileage around 15 mpg. This is probably not a good indicator of highway mileage, because most of my driving is city driving.
Having owned a 5.4L Expedition followed by a 4.6L Expedition, I know that this gas mileage is not very good. In fact, it is comparable to what I was getting in the larger Expedition. My 5.4L was averaging around 14 mpg int he city and 16 mpg on the highway, while the 4.6L which I just traded was averaging about 16 mpg and 18 mpg respectively.
Pricing
Because this is a fleet vehicle, I am not aware what the actual price was. However, I am familiar with the price range for the Explorer, and would place it in the average for this size and type of vehicle (around 30,000 dollars for a 4wd).
Paint
I bring the paint up for a reason. The factory finish on the Ford Explorer is professional. However, it seems that this paint has a higher propensity to chip. I have three dings in the side of the truck. All three dings have small paint chips missing. I'm not sure the cause for this chipping, but it seems a little bit out of the ordinary.
Interior Room
The Ford Explorer is surprisingly roomy. Adults can comfortably sit in the second row of seats without feeling cramped. Having owned the Expeditions, I figured the second row of seating might be a little bit cramped in the Explorer, but that is not the case.
The cargo area of the Explorer is also a decent size. I have a locking storage unit mounted in the back of the Explorer, and it is a fairly large unit. It fits just far enough in to rub the plastic tailgate molding a bit.
I was planning to mount a docking station for my computer in the front of the Explorer, but have decided against it. The center console area is not very wide. The addition of a docking station would take up a substantial amount of the front passenger seating area. The docking station I have is capable of swiveling. However, it would mount to the floorboard on the passenger side, which would cause some discomfort to an adult passenger riding in the front.
Power
This vehicle accelerates slowly with the overdrive engaged. It picks up a bit with the overdrive switched off. However, it accelerates sufficiently for my purposes.
Power Inverter
I thought I would mention that I have a power inverter installed under the seat, as well as communications equipment. In spite of this additional draw on the battery, I have not observed any issues with the battery.
Comparison
I have not compared the Ford Explorer to other vehicles in it's class. The only other SUV's I am familiar enough to compare the Explorer to is the Expedition, as far as personal use goes. However, I did visit mkaresh's website www.truedelta.com to do a comparison. I chose to compare it to the Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep came out a bit cheaper in an apples-to-apples comparison, and would probably be worth checking out if you are looking for a similar vehicle.
Overall Impressions
For the amount of time that I spend in the Explorer, I would have to give it high marks. The overall comfort of this vehicle make it a pleasure to drive. The few issues that I have with this vehicle are either cosmetic or work-specific (nowhere to mount a docking station). I would highly recommend the Ford Explorer to anyone looking for a vehicle in this class.
