I've written two reviews of the Explorer in the past, first of the 2002 and more recently of the 2004. Both times I came away from my test drive disappointed. On paper the Explorer seemed very competitive. On the road, not so much. My list of cons in the 2004 review included:
Quivering structure
Busy ride
Cheap interior
Seats could be better
The review was titled, "I'm still waiting for some much needed revisions."
Well, for 2006 Ford has heavily revised the Explorer. Were my criticisms addressed? I took a top-of-the-line Limited V8 for a test drive to find out.
Styling Exterior styling was among the "pros" in my previous review. Nothing crazy, just very handsome with perfect proportions.
Apparently Ford felt, perhaps based on market research, that the Explorer needed to stick out from the crowd more. So every trim except the base XLS has a huge chrome grille on the nose that strongly resembles the one I heavily criticized on the latest Jetta. Somebody should sue, if only so I won't have to look at this front end on too many cars. If that fails, perhaps the aftermarket can lend a hand.
One thing the aftermarket won't be able to fix is the nearly four inches that have been added to the Explorer's nose. The SUV's proportions suffer, though I suppose I shouldn't complain if its crashworthiness benefits. At least I hope the big nose isn't just there for aesthetic reasons.
The Limited I drove was fitted with chromed 18-inch wheels that similarly seek to dramatically boost the Explorer's bling quotient. Just ghastly. Luckily these are much more easily avoided than the grille. A number of far more tasteful wheels are available. None of the others are 18s, but the Explorer still looks plenty fine with 17s.
The Explorer I drove, like all of those in the upper trims, was fitted with running boards. You want them, and not only to facilitate getting in and out. Ford has strengthened the frame beneath the vehicle this year, and this appears to have entailed making it taller. On 2006 Explorers without running boards a huge ugly frame is clearly visible beneath the body.
It seems I wasn't the only person complaining that the previous interior's styling was overly utilitarian, even cheap. The revised interior looks and feels considerably more upscale. If anything the interior now tries too hard not to seem utilitarian. As with the exterior, there might well be too many bits of chrome here. The chrome rings around the instruments and air vents are very thick. They're way beyond simply serving as accents. The widespread plastic wood could be more convincing. The shifter is now on the console, which is good. But the handle of said shifter is a good half-foot tall and feels hollow and plasticky to the touch. I detect some Hummer influence here. Something less cartoonish would be more inviting.
Still, an improvement. Certainly no one will now complain that the interior feels spartan and cheap.
Accommodations You continue to sit well over the instrument panel in the Explorer, but this time around I didn't feel too close to the header. Either the seat is a bit lower, or my expectations have shifted. Either way, the view forward remains commanding. If anything the road appears even further down now.
Many reviewers have loudly complained about the interior door grips in the redesigned interior. Supposedly to enhance crash safety they are located beneath the armest, and are hard to use.
Last time around I complained about overly mushy, formless seats. Well, those seats are gone. The news ones, though still not outstanding, are firmer and better-shaped. Most importantly, they now feel substantial, not like something from a supplier's bargain basement.
Even with the new seats, rear seat comfort remains just acceptable. The cushions remain flat and firm, such that I personally wouldn't be able to relax. This Explorer had the three-person split bench. The captain's chairs, which have a large console between them, might be better.
The 2006 I drove didn't have the optional third-row bench. The one in the 2004 was more comfortable than I had expected, but that was not not saying much. The cushion was very low to the floor, so adults must ride with knees high. However, there was enough room. So while I would not want to be back there for too long, a trip across town wouldn't be too bad. Among other Ford vehicles, the third row in the Freestar minivan is tighter, while that in the Freestyle crossover is roomier.
Ford did do an excellent job with the cargo area. There's very little room behind the third seat--if so equipped. But fold at least one row and the area is large, usefully shaped, well-finished, and very easy to access. First, there's a low floor enabled by the independent rear suspension. This translates to a low loading height. Then, there is the the liftglass. It is nice to be able to open the rear glass without opening the entire tailgate if all you have to do is throw in a shopping bag or two. The problem is that SUVs tend to be so high off the ground that it's not always easy to throw something in through the raised glass. With the new Explore5r, Ford has addressed this problem by having some of the door open with the glass, so that it is like a door within a door. This reduces the liftover to a very manageable height.
On the road For 2006 the optional V8 is essentially the unit from the Mustang GT lightly modified to reduce noise levels. With 292 horsepower channeled through six, more tightly-spaced ratios, it moves the Explorer with authority, if not quite effortlessly. You won't feel the need to race anyone, but you also won't ever feel that the Explorer is weak.
GM's SUVs badly need a similar transmission; they're still getting by with four widely-spaced ratios. I used to harp that the Ford's 239-horsepower V8 was weaker than the base six in the GM products. This year the GM six produces 291 horsepower, one less than the new Ford V8. Coincidence?
The Explorer's handling has improved a bit for 2006. It feels more balanced in turns. Unlike in the GM SUVs, there's no slop in quick transitions. The steering remains among the best you'll find in a true SUV, with very natural weighting and even a bit of feedback. Lean is acceptably managed, but still well in excess of what you'll find in a BMW SUV. A Jeep Grand Cherokee is more enjoyable and confidence inspiring when driven aggressively thanks to a lower center of gravity and a somehow more "natural" feel. But then I never feel like driving very aggressively when I'm sitting so high off the road, anyway.
Ford appears to have devoted more attention to ride quality. In my review of the 2004 I said, "Compared to most competitors, the Explorer feels insubstantial, crude, and, well, cheap." I would not say this about the 2006. Perhaps due to the stouter frame, the old quivers have largely been banished. Those that remain are faint and relatively infrequent. The new Explorer feels like a more substantial, higher quality vehicle as a result. Bumps and divots are also handled more smoothly, especially at the low speeds that have typically posed the largest challenge for Ford's SUVs. Finally, noise levels are low, even at highway speeds. If only the interior wasn't trying so hard to fool me I might think I was actually in a luxury vehicle. A huge improvement.
Ford Explorer Price Comparisons and Pricing A similarly equipped TrailBlazer runs about $1,500 less than the Explorer. A higher rebate, $2500 vs. $2000, is responsible for $500 of this margin. Between the two the Ford now has the upper hand, as its previous disadvantages in horsepower and ride quality are gone, while its advantages in handling and packaging efficiency remain.
A 4Runner Limited, with only a $500 rebate, runs about $4,800 more. Adjusting for equipment differences only shaves $1,000 off this margin. The Toyota feels more substantial, but doesn't acclerate, handle, or ride as well, and has a more cramped rear seat. You've got to really want the Toyota.
I don't have pricing for a 2006 Pathfinder in my database yet. But the 2005, even without a rebate, is about $500 less than the Ford.
All of the above comparisons are for heavily loaded vehicles. Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)
TrueDelta's page for the Explorer:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Explorer.php
Last words Frankly, I'm surprised Ford addressed so many of my criticisms with its 2006 revisions. The new Explorer has been substantially improved in about every way. The improvements in structural solidity and ride quality are especially welcome. I'd also be very enthused about the new interior if it wasn't a bit overdone.
On the other hand, the exterior revisions are a step backwards. Call me shallow, but the new grille and optional 18-inch wheels instantly prejudiced me against the whole vehicle.
I'm not much of an SUV person--the Freestyle crossover is much more my taste among seven-passenger vehicles. That said, in my new neighborhood an SUV with some real ground clearance and snow traction would actually make sense. I now rely on the county to plow the roads, and they sometimes didn't get around to it for five or six days after some big snows last winter. I like much about the 2006 Explorer. It fits seven people within a relatively compact exterior, feels agile as SUVs go, and now also feels substantial. But could I personally drive a vehicle with such a chrome-laden nose? Probably not.
A Note on Ford Explorer Reliability I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.
Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy an Explorer rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Ford Explorer reliability comparisons.
Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the Explorer--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive
free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.
For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.
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Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Chevrolet TrailBlazer review Dodge Durango review Jeep Commander review Jeep Grand Cherokee review Kia Sorento review Nissan Pathfinder review Toyota 4Runner review 
