2011 Ford Explorer: Up Close
You sit high in the Explorer without quite having to climb up to get in, so the view of the road should be as commanding as in any bona fide SUV. The downside is a high cargo floor — a nearly hip-height 32 inches, by my measuring tape — meaning suitcases won’t be any easier to load in. Headroom is abundant in all three rows; it’s up as much as 1.8 inches over the 2010 Explorer, depending on the row. With the driver’s seat raised all the way, my 5-foot-11 frame still had an inch to spare in the moonroof-equipped models Ford had on display. Impressive.
The second-row seats tumble forward for third-row access. It’s an old-school, involved process some competitors have ditched for slide-forward, walk-in access. There’s no word whether the captain’s chairs add that capability, but I’m not holding my breath.
Thick A-pillars take a chunk out of forward visibility. You can declutter the rear view by folding the second- and third-row head restraints out of the way. They fold in a manner that renders the seat mighty uncomfortable without putting them up again. That’s a small safety victory — and speaking of which, the optional inflatable second-row seat belts have a thicker lining. Ford says they offer better comfort than conventional belts. We’ll have to spend more time with them to confirm this.
