Why the Ford Explorer Is Still One of America’s Favorite Three-Row SUVs

Since its introduction in the 1991 model year, the Explorer has been one of the most popular models in Ford’s lineup, offering dependable performance, practical utility, and unmistakable style. Now in its sixth generation, the Explorer was one of the keystone models in the SUV revolution that overtook the American auto market over the last 30+ years. The Explorer provides owners with a unique driving experience that has since led to a proliferation of SUV models across the auto industry to satisfy an ever-increasing customer demand for versatile vehicles.

Though many other models and trends have come and gone in the decades since the introduction of the Explorer, this mid-size, three-row SUV from Ford remains one of America’s favorite vehicles. Many drivers want to find a Ford Explorer for sale near Lenoir City because of its large, comfortable interior, its smaller footprint, and its wide array of advanced technology inside and out. With all of these positive traits and many more, it’s easy to see why the Ford Explorer’s popularity continues to grow.

Impressive Power and Performance

Ford’s reputation for performance has always been part of the Explorer’s identity, with early models featuring V6 power that delivered potent performance on the road and off. The first Explorer models had the indomitable 4.0-liter Cologne V6. It was also part of the engine lineup in the second-generation Explorer, though the 1996 model year saw the addition of a more powerful 5.0-liter Cologne V8.

Third-generation Explorers built between 2002 and 2005 offered the tried-and-true 4.0-liter V6 along with a 4.6-liter modular V8 that replaced the 5.0-liter engine in the previous run, offering more refinement and equivalent power.

While the fourth-generation offered slightly tweaked versions of the third-gen engines, the fifth-generation Explorer, made between 2011 and 2019, expanded the lineup of powerplant options to give drivers performance tailored to their needs. For example, drivers seeking maximum efficiency could opt for the 2.0-liter or 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged inline 4-cylinders, and those who wanted performance could opt for the 3.5-liter Duratec V6 or the more powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6.

Sixth Generation Explorer’s Performance

The current sixth-generation Explorer features a range of EcoBoost options, as well as the newly introduced 3.3-liter V6 Hybrid, for maximum fuel efficiency without sacrificing capability.

One common thread throughout every generation of the Explorer is that Ford incorporated engines that struck a balance of the qualities important to drivers of the time. For example, early engine options stressed power and reliability. At the same time, the most recent additions to the Explorer powerplant lineup offer drivers smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, and the current model even offers an electrified option, showing an increased focus on efficiency.

Part of the reason the Explorer has enjoyed such long, fervent devotion from American auto consumers is that it has always been equipped with durable, capable engines that provide light-duty towing and off-road capability while also offering top-shelf comfort and impressive fuel economy.

Rugged Capabilities and Practical Utility

Another aspect of the Explorer’s continuing popularity among Lenoir City drivers is that it offers the best of both worlds. While it has always been a rugged, capable vehicle that can carry cargo and people with ease, it also offers the practical benefits of SUV design. While it performs like a mid-size vehicle, it has the towing capacity to pull a boat or a camper and the cargo capacity to haul larger loads than an average sedan or station wagon.

The Explorer has historically helped drivers split time between the demands of city driving and urban commutes, with weekend warriors jumping into the great outdoors. Drivers who spend a lot of time commuting could opt for the efficiency of full-time rear-wheel drive (RWD), while those who pursue adventure beyond the beaten path could choose four-wheel drive (4WD/4×4). Though Explorers made between 2011 and 2019 shifted the two-wheel drive option from RWD to front-wheel drive (FWD), the current generation restored RWD as the primary base drivetrain for better towing performance and efficiency.

Passenger and Cargo Space

Like most modern SUVs, the Explorer has always offered interior versatility. While early models had four doors, two rows of seating, and a capacity for five adults, the Explorer has been a three-row SUV since the 2002 model year. It can accommodate six or seven adult passengers, depending on the configuration and generation.

In all Explorer generations, the rear seat row can be folded down to expand the dedicated rear cargo area, providing the cargo volume to move oversized loads and giving drivers the carrying capacity of the average pickup with the weather-defying sheltered interior of a sedan or wagon. That practical versatility is a major selling point for American drivers who have fallen in love with the Explorer over the last three decades.

Innovative Technology and Trend-Setting Design

Another aspect of the Explorer’s design that has inspired devotion among drivers in Lenoir City is the availability of Ford’s cutting-edge technology at every step of its evolution. For example, the first Explorers included the innovative Touch Drive electronic transfer case on 4WD models, giving drivers true shift-on-the-fly capability.

Also, its four-door configuration helped reset the perception of SUVs from adventure-seeking vehicles for outdoorsmen to versatile, family-friendly vehicles that were equally at home on the road and beyond the end of the pavement. It was also one of the first Ford models to include new-at-the-time amenities like keyless entry and a premium JBL audio system.

Screens & Displays

Fast-forward to the current generation, and that same commitment to cutting-edge tech and design trends is apparent. The current model-year Explorer offers a new Ford Digital Experience infotainment platform, which includes advanced hardware such as a 13.2 in digital touchscreen infotainment display, a 12.3 in digital instrument cluster, seamless connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 5G Wi-Fi, and Google built-in capabilities.

The current Explorer’s design also sets the trend for modern SUVs that are less boxy and rugged and more refined in their appearance. With a smaller footprint and improved efficiency, the Explorer remains a viable option for professionals seeking a practical SUV and families looking for an efficient vehicle with versatile interior space and exemplary comfort.

Ford’s continuing commitment to trend-setting design and top-tier technology also displays an understanding of customer preferences and needs. The Explorer’s ever-evolving design and features are indicative of Ford’s desire to meet customers where they are and lead the way by providing systems and hardware that enhance the driving experience for any era.

The Ford Explorer Sets the Standard for Three-Row SUVs

The enduring popularity of the Ford Explorer among drivers in Lenoir City and beyond is largely driven by the automaker’s commitment to delivering what customers want and need in a midsize SUV. With a long history of innovation, the Explorer continues to lead the way with an overall design that offers a glimpse of the future while providing drivers with the features they need to enjoy today’s driving experience. The lasting legacy of the Explorer line is one of reliability, performance, and comfort, and regardless of the generation, every incarnation of the Explorer has lived up to that commitment.

While the Explorer has evolved significantly over the course of more than three decades and six generations of production, Ford’s dedication to offering customers the best midsize SUV on the market has never wavered. For that reason, the Explorer continues to be one of America’s favorite three-row SUVs, and its popularity has never been greater.