2016 Ford Explorer: First Drive

Ford has redesigned its Explorer SUV, and the big news is the addition of a four-cylinder turbocharged engine as well as some needed changes to the interior.

I drove the XLT, Limited and Sport versions of the 2016 Explorer, sampling all three engines that are available on the SUV in the hills outside of San Diego. Ford also brought its new, highest trim of the Explorer — the Platinum — though it was not available for road tests.

Related: 2016 Ford Explorer: Base Model Price Unchanged, New Platinum Trim is $53,495

The updates Ford has made are subtle on the outside, but feel more significant when you get inside and drive … or just try to adjust the climate controls.

How It Drives

The new engine is a 280-horsepower, turbocharged (or EcoBoost in Ford speak) 2.3-liter four-cylinder that makes 310 pounds-feet of torque. It, like all other engines in the Explorer, is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and it’s well-executed.

The torque that the 2.3-liter engine makes is what keeps you from thinking you’re driving an SUV with too small of an engine. In our hilly test drives, the four-cylinder provided enough power to pull away from a dead stop and made passes fairly easily. The pairing with the six-speed transmission helps, too, as there aren’t as many gears to kick down through before the surge in power happens.

You do sense that it’s a turbo engine; there can be a slight lag and when the power comes on, it tends to rush on, rather than accelerate in a linear fashion. It’s not a bad sensation, but if you’re new to turbos, you’ll notice it. But for the most part it’s a smooth, quiet engine that’s enjoyable to drive.

Ford also pointed out at many times that the 2.3-liter not only can be had with all-wheel drive (unlike the previous four-cylinder), but it can also be equipped with a tow package. That’s a needed change, especially as most SUV buyers opt for all-wheel drive in the first place.

The 2.3-liter engine is a $995 option; the base engine is the 3.5-liter V-6 that carries over from the previous model. It produces 290 hp and 255 pounds-feet of torque. That V-6 provides decent power, pulls nicely away from stoplights and makes passes easily, but shoppers considering the Explorer would be advised to at least try the EcoBoost 2.3-liter engine and see if they enjoy the greater torque enough to shell out the extra money. 

For shoppers who want a bit more power, Ford is continuing to offer an Explorer Sport, with a 365-hp, turbocharged V-6 that makes 350 pounds-feet of torque. It also has slightly different suspension tuning and a quicker steering ratio than the other models. It was the most fun of the three on the really twisty roads, as you’d expect.

Interior

Ford largely nailed the updates here just by listening to consumer complaints and bringing back buttons to allow for adjustment of climate controls and so forth. What used to be a panel of touch-sensitive lines now has real buttons and knobs that mean you can actually have confidence that you have, in fact, turned on your cooled seat and not just left fingerprints on your dash.

And the trim pieces in the Explorer work well. There’s an aluminumlike finish in the XLT models, a carbon-fiberesque plastic in the Sport and wood trim in the Limited, and they all look pretty good.

This is especially true in the Platinum version. It looks upscale to the point that I wonder if Ford’s luxury Lincoln division will be cribbing notes on how the interior is done. Notably, the Platinum version features real wood and aluminum inlays, with the wood trim having a glossy finish instead of the Limited’s matte finish. It’s also a pricey way to go starting at over $53,000, more than all but the top trim in the Acura MDX, and about the same price as a fully loaded Infiniti QX60.

Cargo

As you’d expect with any three-row SUV, cargo-carrying largely depends on whether you’re using all three rows. With the third row up, there’s not a ton of space in back for cargo, though the cargo well is fairly deep. With the third row folded flat, there’s a nice flat floor to carry a number of large items.

Technology

New for 2016, Ford offers a front camera that provides a 180-degree view that comes in handy when pulling out of a parking space. In addition, both the front and rear cameras come standard with what Ford says is an industry first: a washer for the cameras. While those in warm San Diego might not appreciate the sheer amount of salt and crud that can accumulate on a lens, I suspect those of us based in Chicago will find the system welcome on the harsh days you would need it the most.

Summary

Ford didn’t reinvent the wheel with this version of the Explorer, but it has focused on fixing some things that needed it — like the climate controls — and improving in areas where it could do better, like replacing the old 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

Overall, it’s a promising revision. The final test, though, will come in the market against competitors that aren’t exactly standing still either. Look for a more in-depth comparison and more reporting on the various trim levels in an upcoming expert review.