The 2016 Ford Explorer is the latest iteration of the best selling SUV in America, it’s also pretty popular in Canada too. The new Explorer keeps the same overall shape as the previous generation Explorer, which we reviewed a few years back, there are however major differences at the front of the vehicle, under the hood, and a refreshed interior.
The new Ford Explorer has a much sharper look at the front, there are more straight lines in the front bumper and headlights, making it look more athletic look. Some people say it looks like a Range Rover, to me it looks more like a blend of the old Explorer and the LR4. I think it looks pretty good and the design is quite eye catching.
In Canada, the 2016 Ford Explorer is offered in 5 trims. The base Explorer has a starting price of $32,999, step up to the XLT and starting price jumps to $39,999, the Limited starts at $47,899, the Sport starts at $50,999, and the new for 2016 trim, Platinum, has a starting price of $58,599. These prices do not include Freight & PDI.
Our week long review car was the 2016 Ford Explorer Limited, with a final price tag of $57,239 (before taxes). The final price included quite a few options like the Equipment Group 301A for $2,250, which included the following equipment:
- Active Park Assist
- Lane Departure Warning & Lane Keep Assist
- Blind Sport Monitoring
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Automatic Highbeams
- Rear Inflatable Seatblets
Other options included 2nd row captains chairs ($500), dual panel moon roof ($1,750), adaptive cruise control with collision warning ($1,500), second row console ($150), trailer tow package ($500), 20” aluminum wheels ($650), and destination & delivery charges of $1,690.
The 2016 Ford Explorer is offered with three engine options: a 3.5 liter V6, a new to the Explorer 2.3 liter EcoBoost inline-4, and a 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6. The naturally aspirated V6 engine produces 290 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 255 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The turbocharged 4-cylinder produces 280 horsepower at 2,500 rpm and 310 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm. The top of the line twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 produces 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. All three engines come with 6-speed automatic transmission.
Our review Explorer was equipped with the naturally aspirated V6 engine, which had plenty of grunt for city and highway driving. The engine is very smooth and performed well in every driving condition we were able to throw at it, except for off-roading. Not that this vehicle would perfrom badly at off-roading, we just didn’t bother taking it off road because most people never take these types of SUV’s off the beaten path. The Explorer does come with a Terrain Management System, with settings for mud, snow, gravel, rocks etc.
The V6 engine is very smooth and quiet, delivering the right amount of power needed through the 6-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer is a big heavy car but it moves with a purpose. It’s also pretty thirsty, but not as bad as you’d think considering how big it is. According to Ford, the naturally aspirated V6 with AWD should consume 14.4 L/100 km in the city and 10.4 L/100 km on the highway. I was able to manage a close number to Ford’s, with the on board computer showing 14.2 L/100 km, with mostly city driving (85/15 c/h).
People buy vehicles like the Ford Explorer because they need lots of space, and the Explorer delivers lots of interior space for all the passengers and cargo, and it’s also very luxurious. The interior is up there with high-end luxury vehicles, it’s comfortable, spacious, and very quiet. A perfect place to spend time in on long road trips. The Explorer also offers all the latest gadgets that make life more comfortable, driving safer, and parking easier.
The front seats are very comfortable, they come with power adjustments and are heated and cooled. The steering wheels is power adjusted and so are the pedals, making it very easy for any size driver to find the perfect driving position.
Our test vehicle was equipped with the optional 2nd row dual captain’s chairs, these seats are aslo very comfortable and come with two-level heating. There’s lots of head and leg room for the 2nd row occupants. The Explorer also comes with 3rd row seating, which are fairly easy to get in and out of for healthy people, getting in and out might be a little challenging for older people. The 3rd row seas have good head room but lack leg room for adults, they’re best left for emergency situations or children.
When it comes to technology, the 2016 Ford Explorer doesn’t disappoint. This is a big SUV, so driving in the city would seem like a daunting task for inexperienced drivers, but this task is made easy with the available technology for ease of use, safety, and convenience.
The highlight of the tech package is the semi-autonomous parking system; parallel parking this big vehicle might be problematic for some, but thanks to the car’s parking system, all you have to do is control the throttle and brake and shift between drive and reverse (and follow instructions), the Explorer will take care of the rest. It is pretty impressive how the system can park the vehicle in some very tight spots. The 2016 Explorer is now also offered with perpendicular park assist, which backs up the vehicle into a parking spot, this system also uses the same sensors and works the same as the parallel parking feature.
Below is a list of some of the convenience and safety tech available on the Ford Explorer.
- Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start
- Remote keyless/illuminated entry
- Remote Start
- Foot-Activated Hands-Free Power Liftgate
- Heated and cooled front seats
- PowerFold 3rd-Row Seat
- Dome/map lights in all three rows
- Heated steering wheel
- Rear auxiliary climate control
- SYNC with MyFord Touch
- Media hub with 2 USB ports and SD card reader
- Premium Audio System from Sony® with 12 speakers
- SiriusXM Radio
- Voice-Activated Navigation System
- 110V power outlet
- 12V power points, 4 total (2 first row, 1 second row and 1 cargo area)
- Ambient Lighting
- Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
- LED taillights
- Automatic LED Low-Bean Headlights
- Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support
- Front 180-degree Camera with Washer
- Rear view camera with washer
- Reverse Sensing System
- Terrain Management System
- Hill Descent Control
- Hill start assist
- Trailer sway control
- Enhanced Active Park Assist with Park Out Assist, Perpendicular Park and Side Park Sensors
- Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
- BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Inflatable rear seatbelts for 2nd-row outboard seats
- Multi-contour front seats
- AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
- Belt-Minder
- Front Passenger Knee Airbag
- SOS Post-Crash Alert System
- Traction control
- Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Overall Impressions
The Ford Explorer has been the best selling SUV in the United States, with over 7 million units sold in the last 25 years. It’s a best selling SUV because it offers a lot of space, comfort, and technology. There are a wide range of options available, you can buy your Explorer with the basic features or load it up with the latest tech gadgetry to rival some of the higher-end luxury SUV’s for a considerably less money.
For more information on the Ford Explorer Limited and other trim levels, check out ford.ca
