
Sport Utility
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4-5 Seats
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17-20 MPG
(Combined)
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Key specs of the base trim
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Compare 5 trims
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Overview
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2000 Ford Explorer Review
from the Cars.com expert editorial team
Vehicle Overview
The most popular SUV is a carryover from 1999, when it was among the top five vehicles in sales. The Mercury Mountaineer is a clone of the Explorer but comes only in a four-door body style, while the Explorer also comes as a two-door sport model. Explorer buyers can choose from three engines and Mountaineer buyers from two.
This spring, the 2001 edition of the Explorer Sport two-door arrives with new styling, a redesigned interior and other changes, and Ford adds the 2001 Explorer Sport Trac, a four-door model with a 4-foot long open cargo bed like a pickup truck’s.
New versions of both the Explorer and Mountaineer are expected during the 2001 model year, and the new ones will not share the same styling.
Interior
All models have front bucket seats, but fancier captain’s chairs and leather buckets are available. The two-door model comes in a sport trim and seats four. The four-door models hold five, with a three-place rear bench providing the additional position. The rear seatbacks are split and fold for extra cargo room on all models.
Exterior
The slow-selling two-door Explorer is shorter by about 10 inches, both in wheelbase and overall length, than the four-door. Both are available with either 2WD or 4WD, and both are regarded as compact SUVs.
Under the Hood
The two-door Sport and four-door XL and XLT models come with a 160-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6, an overhead-valve engine that has been in the Explorer lineup since the vehicle debuted as a 1991 mo...
Vehicle Overview
The most popular SUV is a carryover from 1999, when it was among the top five vehicles in sales. The Mercury Mountaineer is a clone of the Explorer but comes only in a four-door body style, while the Explorer also comes as a two-door sport model. Explorer buyers can choose from three engines and Mountaineer buyers from two.
This spring, the 2001 edition of the Explorer Sport two-door arrives with new styling, a redesigned interior and other changes, and Ford adds the 2001 Explorer Sport Trac, a four-door model with a 4-foot long open cargo bed like a pickup truck’s.
New versions of both the Explorer and Mountaineer are expected during the 2001 model year, and the new ones will not share the same styling.
Interior
All models have front bucket seats, but fancier captain’s chairs and leather buckets are available. The two-door model comes in a sport trim and seats four. The four-door models hold five, with a three-place rear bench providing the additional position. The rear seatbacks are split and fold for extra cargo room on all models.
Exterior
The slow-selling two-door Explorer is shorter by about 10 inches, both in wheelbase and overall length, than the four-door. Both are available with either 2WD or 4WD, and both are regarded as compact SUVs.
Under the Hood
The two-door Sport and four-door XL and XLT models come with a 160-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6, an overhead-valve engine that has been in the Explorer lineup since the vehicle debuted as a 1991 model. A newer 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-6 and overhead camshafts are standard on the Eddie Bauer and Limited models and optional on the Sport and XLT. A 5.0-liter V-8 with overhead valves is optional on the Eddie Bauer and Limited.
Consumer Reviews
What drivers are saying
Read reviews that mention:
Super reliable and safe
Loved the drive and feel of SUV over a small car, rear wheel drive was great in summer, no issues in the winter, great weight distribution Read full review
My best car was 72 Fury 111 400 eng auto trans
This car was better than fords i ownedat least 12,cars & trucks,Best ford truck was a 1950 1/2 ton Flat head v8my second car was a 1950 merc.the fastest a 1956 Merc 312 eng purrredat 120 mph Read full review
Safety
Recalls and crash tests
Recalls
The 2000 Ford Explorer currently has 15 recalls