Ford Explorer Blew Me Away, Beat My Expectations

by Brian K. White

I'm a Ford owner myself, but more out of necessity than choice. It isn't my first Ford either, and everyone from my mother to my brother has had them, so driving one is nothing new to me. What seems new is the pretty rough run of things Ford's suffered in recent years, so I decided to rent one and find out what all the fuss is, or is not, about. I have to tell you from experience, these cars have more going for them than I expected, and I'm awfully critical.

I had mixed expectations going in to it and wasn't planning to write an article about it. It's like my research in to so many other things, like LASIK and much of the travel I do. Life is a journey and I've got good miles on my frequent flier card, but what I got from having driven a Ford lately was quite precisely something to write home about.

I have my own (aging and admittedly tired) Ford van, and it was a fancy and expensive vehicle when it was new. Ford has struggled with sales in recent years, and I even sold cars myself for a (very short, very painful) time, so I didn't know what to expect, but I'll admit I didn't expect much from it. It's a rental, after all, so my risk was minimal.

I took out a 2007 Eddie Bauer Edition Ford Explorer. It's a beautiful ride for sure, and it was trimmed out tremendously, but that doesn't always mean it's a good car, as any driver will hastily agree, specifically when the first payment or two comes in on their new auto. But let's cut to the chase and my summary as well; this car blew me away. I hadn't driven a new Ford in over ten years, and somehow I had it in my head that technology hadn't evolved in that time.

So what is the Ford Explorer, anyhow? It's a working man's SUV that's available in pretty basic ways or trimmed out to the gills, even though it doesn't technically have gills (as it's an air breathing beast) at the discretion of your own personal taste to budget ratio.

It's big enough that you can put three car seats in the back (even without using the optional third row of seats) while still comfortably seating the two adults needed up front to keep the car safely in motion and the numerous backseat kids in check. Beyond that there's enough cargo space to pack a thousand bucks in groceries or an oversized purchase from your favorite thrift store. In short, it's a full-sized car, but it's not bulky like a van.

But what surprised me was the Trump-style luxury of it all. It's not as quiet as a Lexus, sporty as a BMW or surreally intelligent as a Mercedes Benz, but the strange thing that should strike you (as it struck me) is that I can mention a working man's car in the same sentence with luxury imports, and at half the price. The Explorer doesn't claim to be a luxury automobile, but it surely felt like one to me, and I've had some pretty fancy cars in my time.

It has quiet power, a nimble feel, and gas mileage that you can determine yourself based on your passion for raw power as you weigh it against your desire for fuel economy. If you want a monster V8, you can have it, but if you want a more economical V6, that's still on the table too. The mileage will not be exceptional no matter what engine you choose, but that's because it's a car big enough to fit your lifestyle with room to grow. If what you really want is 50mpg, buy a Spree Scooter. You won't land any supermodels on a Spree and you'll be hard pressed to take home more than a dozen eggs, but it's a decision we all need to make.

But it's the little things that impressed me the most. The cargo tie-downs in the back, the intuitive controls, antilock brakes and other unassuming safety and convenience measures all made it an effortless car to drive. The abundance of cup holders didn't surprise me, but that there was a place in the doors carved out for two more water bottles was a pleasant discovery. You see, it is indeed the little things that mean the most. It just goes to show that the car has been considered, engineered and built taking absolutely everything in to account that can possibly be considered.

So you know it's a solid car, you know it's priced for better value than imports and you know it's as smart as any car on the road, let's talk a bit about the goody options available. Don't worry, I'll tell you which ones you can't live without.

The leather and seating configuration is all a matter of taste, you know, like way you're still free to pick your own color schemes. But I've never had a car with GPS navigation or a DVD player before, and this has changed my outlook for the road ahead. I already mentioned the three car seats in the back, so consider that keeping a kid happy on a long drive (which can be as short as ten minutes, though it's still long to them,) but keeping all three happy can be an exercise in teeth pulling exasperation, especially when you're trying to find an address.

If you combine the DVD that shuts off the kids' distaste for being bound to a restrictive plastic chair with the GPS navigation system that tells you where to turn and how soon you'll be there, you've got more than a ride that's safe, you've just gotten back your precious peace of mind. Tack on to that the Traction Control (which keeps you from sliding up or down hills) and Backup Assist (which tells you when you're about to blindly back in to anything from a garbage can to a few strands of wayward bamboo planted for decoration,) and you've freed up half of your brain power to think about other things that may be more important than the screaming behind you or the crazy curves ahead.

Ford makes most all their cars with most all the options available, so don't be afraid to ask for the configuration you really want, even if it means you'll have to wait a week or two. It turns out that automobile technology has come a long way in the past decade. If you can appreciate the styling, which is easy to assume, give them a shot. You know you're looking for a new car and it can't hurt to give the American's a chance. I'm not telling you what to buy, if I was doing that I'd tell you to buy something of mine.

I'm just suggesting that before you buy your next ride, give the Ford guys at least a test drive. You're smart enough to know what a good value is. Just take a second gander at the Ford lineup. You might not find what you're looking for, but you won't be disappointed and you may be pleasantly surprised, if not outright blown away.

Think of it this way, the styling from ten years ago is gone, replaced with outlandishly progressive lines and features. Then consider that what you see on the surface is only a taste of the advancements that lie beneath the supple, rippling waves.

Maybe it's my patriotism getting in the way, because I can admit that this is arguably the strongest endorsed I've ever issued for a product. I haven't even been paid for it (not even indirectly,) Ford doesn't advertise on any of my sites and hasn't offered me a nickel to be nice to them.

The American car makers are having a rough go of things financially in no small part due to rising worker costs, pensions and medical expenses. With all things being equal, I'd say you will want to help out the very inventors of the mass produced automobile. Of course, having driven the car, I'd argue all things aren't equal, and that these are indeed the best value in mid-sized SUVs.