Ford Explorer is a traditional midsize SUV with body-on-frame construction. Available with V6 or V8 power, the Explorer competes against the Chevy TrailBlazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner, and Nissan Pathfinder.
All Explorers offer a smooth ride and decent handling for such big, heavy vehicles. The interiors are pleasant, with only oddly designed door panels to complain about.
Explorer has earned the best possible impact protection rating in the federal government's crash tests: five stars for the driver in a frontal impact, the front-seat passenger in a frontal impact, front-seat occupants in a side impact, and rear-seat occupants in a side impact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2006 model year New Car Assessment Program.
The Ford Explorer drives like a traditional SUV though relatively smoothly and quietly, due partly to its independent rear suspension.
The Ford Explorer has never been better and represents an excellent choice among midsize sport utilities. It gets the basics right while paying attention to the details. We find the Explorer fully competitive in a tightly contested segment, succeeding as both an excellent machine and a high-value purchase. It's handsome, smooth, quiet, comfortable and competent.