With all-new instruments to look at and use, a lower hoodline, and a smoothed-out interior, our Explorer XLT was a delight to drive. The front suspension has eliminated a lot of the old Explorer?s annoying ride habits, especially the pitching and rocking we used to experience at freeway speeds. It?s quiet and relatively plush (for a truck) with a bit of body roll in sharp turns.The 4.0-liter V6 is certainly no substitute for the Jeep Grand Cherokee?s optional V8 or GM?s 200-hp V6. Still, Ford?s engine copes with the heavyweight Explorer?s bulk without straining, though it is still a bit grindy and noisy. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly, quietly and positively.
The rack-and-pinion steering is a good deal more precise than the old system, and it doesn?t require a lot of correction in freeway driving. Even though the Explorer is a large, heavy vehicle, it felt lively and was responsive even at low speeds. Next Page