Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer at a glance

First and second generation (1990–2003)

The first Explorer shared its chassis with the 1983–1992 Ranger pickup, with Twin I-Beam front suspension on 4x2 models, Twin-Traction Beam on 4x4 models and a leaf-sprung rear axle. It was offered with three or five doors and a 4.0-litre Cologne V6 with 116 kW (155 hp), raised to 120 kW (160 hp) for 1993. Mazda sold a version as the Navajo, which won the 1991 Motor Trend Truck of the Year title.

The second generation arrived in November 1994 with short/long-arm front suspension on the new U1 platform. The 4.0 V6 was joined by a SOHC version with 157 kW (210 hp) in 1997 and a 4.9-litre V8 with up to 160 kW (215 hp). It was the first American-brand SUV with dual airbags. The Mercury Mountaineer twin arrived in 1997 and the Sport Trac pickup in 2001.

The Firestone tyre crisis

In May 2000 the US safety agency NHTSA contacted Ford and Firestone about the high failure rate of Firestone tyres on Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers and Mazda Navajos. Wikipedia attributes 240 deaths and 3,000 catastrophic injuries to the combination of early Explorers and these tyres. The crisis damaged the Explorer's reputation.

Third and fourth generation (2001–2010)

The third generation went on sale in January 2001 as a 2002 model, now only with five doors. It had a purpose-built frame with independent rear suspension, a 4.0 V6 with 157 kW (210 hp) and a 4.6 V8 with 178 kW (239 hp). AdvanceTrac stability control was optional and became standard as AdvanceTrac RSC for 2005.

The fourth generation entered production in July 2005 with a new frame from Magna International. Its 4.6 V8 produced 218 kW (292 hp). It was the last body-on-frame Explorer and the last with a Mercury Mountaineer twin; the last one was built on 16 December 2010.

Fifth generation (2010–2019)

Ford presented the fifth generation on 26 July 2010. It was the first unibody Explorer, built on the D4 platform shared with the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT at Chicago Assembly. It won the 2011 North American Truck of the Year award and introduced rear inflatable seat belts, a first for any vehicle.

The Police Interceptor Utility based on this generation became the most popular US police vehicle by 2013 sales, according to R.L. Polk.

Sixth generation (since 2019)

The current Explorer was shown on 9 January 2019 for the 2020 model year. It returned to a rear-wheel-drive-based layout on the CD6 platform of the Lincoln Aviator and is built in Chicago. The standard engine is the 2.3 EcoBoost with 224 kW (300 hp) and 420 Nm. The 3.3 hybrid V6 has 237 kW (318 hp) and 450 Nm, and the 3.0 EcoBoost V6 of the ST and Platinum has 298 kW (400 hp) and 563 Nm. The 2025 model-year facelift, revealed on 1 February 2024, reorganised the range into Active, ST-Line, ST and Platinum; the 2026 model year added Tremor.

The European plug-in hybrid (2020–2023)

Autonotizen.de drove it in June 2020. Seven seats in three rows were standard, the boot grew from 330 to 1,137 litres with the third row folded, and the long-term memory of the test car's on-board computer showed 12.8 l/100 km.

Generations compared

• The European PHEV has 2.9 times the power of the first Explorer.
• Its WLTP figure of 3.1 l/100 km compares with 12.8 l/100 km in the long-term memory of the Autonotizen.de test car, which shows how much the real figure depends on charging.
• Kerb weight per kW of the PHEV: 7.3 kg per kW (2,466 kg and 336 kW), by our calculation.

Prices in Germany (plug-in hybrid)

Since 2024 the Explorer name in Europe is used for a different car, a compact electric SUV, which the catalogue lists separately as the Explorer EV.

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