2014 Ford Explorer: What's New
Vehicle Overview
Sharing its car-based platform with the Taurus sedan, the Ford Explorer sits squarely in the crossover realm, pitting it against competitors like the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Chevrolet Traverse. Front-wheel drive is standard, and the Explorer can seat up to seven people in three rows. All-wheel drive with Ford’s Terrain Management System is optional. The MyFord Touch system, with touch-sensitive and voice-activated controls, is also optional.
Base, XLT, Limited and Sport trim levels are offered. All three come with V-6 power; the turbo four-cylinder is optional on front-wheel-drive models.
(Skip to details on the: Explorer Sport)
New for 2014
Automatic headlights are now standard, and the Limited trim level can have second-row heated seats and adaptive cruise control. Ford says a new electric power-steering rack and larger brakes from the Explorer Sport offer improved steering feel and shorter stopping distances, respectively.
Exterior Highlights
- Grille finish based on trim level
- Standard 17-inch steel wheels and black plastic side moldings
- XLT models have body-colored door handles, painted black mirrors and 18-inch alloy wheels
- Limited trims have body-colored mirrors and 20-inch alloy wheels
Interior Highlights
- Seats seven with a second-row bench seat, or six with optional second-row captain’s chairs
- 50/50-split folding third row with optional power folding
- Standard cloth upholstery; optional leather seats
- CD stereo with MP3 jack
- Air conditioning
- Optional MyFord Touch with touch-sensitive controls and LCD gauge screens
- Optional heated and cooled front seats
- Optional dual-panel moonroof
- Optional Sony premium stereo
- Optional navigation system
Under the Hood
- Standard 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine
- Available 240-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder
- Both engines drive a six-speed automatic transmission and can run on regular gas
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- Available Terrain Management System adapts drivetrain settings to suit one of four environments: pavement, snow, sand or mud
- V-6 towing capacity is 5,000 pounds; four-cylinder’s is 2,000 pounds
Safety Features
- Antilock brakes
- Electronic stability system with Roll Stability Control and Curve Control
- Side-impact airbags for the front seats
- Side curtain airbags
- Optional adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning
- Optional blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert
- Optional backup camera
- Optional inflatable rear seat belts, which aim to spread crash forces across the body by deploying an airbag-like inflation device during a forward collision
Explorer Sport
The Sport model is a high-performance variant of the Explorer. It’s powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 365 hp and 350 pounds-feet of torque.
- Six-speed automatic transmission includes steering-wheel paddle shifters
- All-wheel drive
- Sport suspension
- Exterior is distinguished by a gray and black grille and 20-inch wheels
- Two-tone leather upholstery available
- Newly available second-row console
