British Columbia is a place that favours the explorer.
That’s lower-case explorer: we live in a big, wild province, and you can be out in the wilderness in about 30 minutes. What tourists fly halfway around the world to see, we have access to with just a short drive.
If you’re a family that likes a bit of adventure, you probably want something that reflects your affinity for brightly coloured outdoor gear. A seven passenger crossover that’s actually called the Explorer? Well, that’s just serendipitous, no?
We’ll leave the serious off-road antics to the likes of the Raptor for now, but to find out just how useful the Explorer is at a little light exploring, we loaded it up with kids and carriers, backpacks and snowshoes, and headed up the Sea to Sky Highway.
Design
Launched in 2011 and updated this year, the Explorer is more a refresh and facelift instead of an all-new model. That said, the refresh has created a handsome beast, infused with a bit of F150 and maybe Mustang. If you squint.
Among the changes, a new set of LED headlights and C-shaped lower foglights give the Explorer a bit of a sportier look. This being the Sport model, things get even sprightlier with a blacked-out treatment for the trim, 20-inch machined-face alloys, twin chrome exhausts, and even a bold all-caps Explorer script across the nose. It looks great on first blush, but if you’re the type to nitpick, some of the trim on my tester, particularly in the area of the window surrounds and door seals, wasn’t quite as well lined up as could be hoped for.
Environment
On the inside, the Explorer is again a refreshed version of an older platform. The centre stack is a profusion of buttons, and the Sync system is the previous generation model, not the improved version you get on the smaller Escape.
There is, however, a lot of content here. The Sport model is intended to be both a zippier version of the Explorer and an alternative to the top-end Platinum, so it comes with both a relatively lofty price tag and a truckload of options. Or crossover-load of options: whichever you prefer.
And along with your heated and cooled front seats and plenty of power outlets, there are a few clever little features here sure to please the modern explorer. From a practical standpoint, fitting child seats was very easy, thanks to well-thought-out hardpoints and Ford’s unique inflatable rear seatbelts. For an infant seat, the locking lower portion of the seatbelt was very easy to secure, and the twin captain’s chairs should be far enough apart to provide sibling rivalry with a demilitarized zone. The rear folding seats are smallish for adults (kids will be fine) and the push button folding feature is really useful. The trunk has useful depth to it, not unlike a minivan – wait, who said minivan? Don’t mention minivans!
For the driver, the Explorer offers plenty of cubbies to store all your pathfinding gear, including a very useful split-level rubberized bin for your smartphone. The Explorer swallowed all our gear with ease, and headed out.
Performance
The main reason to opt for the Sport version of the Explorer isn’t just the cosmetic upgrades, it’s the inclusion of the twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V-6 under that hood. Making 365 horsepower at 5,500 r.p.m. and 350 foot-pounds of torque from 3,500 r.p.m., it’s a forced-induction antidote to the tried-and-true V-8.
Paired to a competent six-speed transmission and standard all-wheel drive, the Explorer has more than enough shove for almost any circumstance. With the exception of one extra-curvy onramp that threw the traction control a curveball, the Explorer was surprisingly quick during our trip. It’ll run to 100 kilometres per hour in about the same time as a Volkswagen GTI, and through the quarter-mile considerably quicker than a Hemi-equipped Dodge Durango.
The Sport also benefits from several suspension upgrades intended to make this big horse gallop like a Mustang. It’s better than it used to be, and the confidence is there, however the Explorer still “drives big,” feeling bigger behind the wheel than it actually is. On the curvy Sea to Sky Highway, keeping a respectable pace up was easy, but this isn’t really a competitor to something like a BMW X5.
However, it’s not supposed to be. Further, the Explorer impresses with a quiet cabin and ride that’s very comfortable. Most vehicles shod with 20-inch alloys can’t help but be choppy any time the pavement is less than glassily smooth, but the Explorer’s big boots don’t seem to bother it. If it’s not an X5, then perhaps it’s a bit Range-Roverish, quietly capable on the road despite an impressive heft.
The Sport gets a quicker steering rack than other Explorers, as well as the aforementioned revised suspension tuning. Even so, the sport here is less about how you’ll drive this crossover and more about where you’ll drive it. Plenty of power for passing, a good ride for the family, and a bit more zip inside and out than your average kid-hauler, this Ford is more Explorer than Sport, but that’s no bad thing.
Features
With a price tag north of $50K before options, one would hope the Explorer Sport came with pretty much everything you needed out of the gate. And it does, from dual-zone climate control to parking assist to voice-activated satellite navigation. The only real extras are the dual-panel sunroof, and the adaptive cruise control, twinned with forward collision warning.
Fuel economy estimates for the Ecoboost can be hard to match in the real world, depending how much emphasis your particular driving style places on Boost over Eco. Official figures hit 10.4 (litres/100 kilometres) on the highway and 14.4 in the city. Premium fuel is not required, but real-world results tend to be closer to the city figures, even in mixed driving.
Green light
Quiet, comfortable ride; excellent passing power; usefully sized interior; fresh new look.
Stop sign
Some trim issues; feels big on the road; turbocharged engine can be thirstier than advertised.
The checkered flag
Plenty of Explorer with just enough Sport sprinkled on to be interesting.
Competition
Honda Pilot ($35,490): Surprisingly light on its feet, the Honda Pilot is a proper seven-seater crossover that drives a bit like the Honda Accord does. Unlike the Explorer, the Pilot leaves the twin-turbo stuff to supercars like the NSX and makes do with a tried-and-tested V-6 and a relatively light curb weight.
It’s a little less aggressive looking than the Ford, and slower in a straight line, but the Pilot is quicker than you’d expect. Nimble Honda or fast Ford? It’s a question we’ve asked before.
