Ford Explorer Sport
Ford Explorer Sport
Ford Explorer

2018 Ford Explorer

Pros: Broad range of available safety features; impressively quiet cabin; good fuel economy with EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine

Cons: Tight second-row seat; feels a bit cumbersome in close quarters; prices rise quickly as options are added

CG Says: Ford Explorer has freshened styling for 2018. Also, a Wi-Fi hotspot is newly available. Ford Explorer is a midsize crossover SUV with three rows of seating. Three engines are offered: a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, a 280-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder, and a 365-hp turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. All engines are paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Base, XLT, and Limited offer a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Sport and Platinum are exclusively all-wheel drive. Available features include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, hill-descent control, hands-free power liftgate, park assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Explorer is a very nice 7-passenger crossover that unfortunately competes with several other very nice 7-passenger crossovers. This Ford does a good job balancing the rugged attributes of an SUV with the more car-like dynamics expected of today’s crossover vehicles. The same is true for most of its rivals though, and they often cost less.

The Facts
Class Midsize SUV
Body Style(s) 4-door wagon
Passenger Count 7
Drive Wheels front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive
Manufacturer Ford
Nation of Manufacture USA
Base Prices Base: $32,985
AWD Base: $35,135
XLT: $35,015
AWD XLT: $37,165
Limited: $43,085
AWD Limited: $45,235
AWD Sport: $46,945
AWD Platinum: $54,935

Base Engine
3.5-liter V6 (Base, XLT)
Horsepower
290
Std. Transmission
6-speed automatic
Avail. Transmission
NA
EPA City Range (mpg)
16-17
EPA Hwy Range (mpg)
22-24

Optional Engine
turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder (Limited)
Horsepower
280
Std. Transmission
6-speed automatic
Avail. Transmission
NA
EPA City Range (mpg)
18-19
EPA Hwy Range (mpg)
25-27

Optional Engine
turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (Sport, Platinum)
Horsepower
365
Std. Transmission
6-speed automatic
Avail. Transmission
other trans.
EPA City Range (mpg)
16
EPA Hwy Range (mpg)
22

Ford Explorer
2018 Ford Explorer
NHTSA Ratings
Overall - 5
100%

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Crash - 5
100%
Side Crash - 5
100%
Rollover - 4
80%

For complete ratings click here.

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