The
Ford Explorer has long been accused of being a colossus, a gas guzzler and not an environmental friend. It was even called dangerous at some point, due to its unfortunate tendency to flip over.
Today, Ford is showing us a whole new side of its big SUV. It returns longer and wider, to be sure, but also greener,
safer, smarter and boasting unparalleled quality.
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| Today, Ford is showing us a whole new side of its big SUV. (Photo: Ford) |
Oh, and by the way, despite its reputation as a large fuel sponge, over 6 million Explorers have been sold over the years. Not surprising then that this hefty SUV is renowned.
Downplaying its size
Ford’s engineers worked hard to please the Explorer’s fans, whose needs have evolved. They rethought the SUV and toned down its sense of vastness, and you only really appreciate the size of this behemoth once you’re inside the spacious, inviting cabin.
It’s the comfort level that truly sets this vehicle apart. Cushy heated and cooled seats, impressive soundproofing and a smooth ride are all accounted for, and you drive for hours on end without tiring. And while the third row of seats isn’t restful, it will allow you to haul the family around with ease.
Like in the Edge and Ford’s other models, SYNC and MyFord Touch allow driver and passengers to vocally control the multimedia interface, and the improved system now recognizes up to 10,000 voice commands.
You guessed it, Ford is really banking on this technology and has a distinct advantage over its competitors here. There’s a bit of a learning curve involved in getting the car to fulfil your wishes, A/C-, navigation- and radio-wise (you might be forced to listen to a little opera instead of your daily dose of rock a few times), but the system literally learns to recognize the sound of your voice. You’ll get used to it very quickly.
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| You only really appreciate the size of this behemoth once you’re inside the spacious, inviting cabin. (Photo: Ford) |
