2020 Explorer

[CaptRapt]

Just get a truck with a bed cover. My “dad mobile” is a gen 2 Raptor. It’s the bee’s knees. Hauls ok (lots of ass) super comfy, handles 2’ of snow, gets 20+ mpg ~70mph. The explorer ST we have on order will be our long trip people mover replacing my wife’s Jeep GC.

 

[Calicamper]

Just get a truck with a bed cover. My “dad mobile” is a gen 2 Raptor. It’s the bee’s knees. Hauls ok (lots of ass) super comfy, handles 2’ of snow, gets 20+ mpg ~70mph. The explorer ST we have on order will be our long trip people mover replacing my wife’s Jeep GC.

Too wide cant park it anywhere. Couple of buddies have them. They all drive their Porsche’s as daily drivers.

I’m going to go take a closer look at the Tahoe and Yukon. Its a little narrower than the Expedition

 

[peterk9]

Interesting article.
This Composite Part Makes The 2020 Ford Explorer Quieter

Peter

 

[Sgt1411]

Consumer Reports isn't very complimentary on the new design

2020 Ford Explorer Dinged For Poor Interior Quality

 

[blwnsmoke]

Consumer Reports isn't very complimentary on the new design

2020 Ford Explorer Dinged For Poor Interior Quality

Of all the editorials and magazines, CR is one of the last ones I ever take for recommendations.

In their article, they contradict their finds several times. They mention a 4 cyl doesnt belong in a $50k SUV yet they bought an XLT that starts in the mid 30s. The mention the engine and trans pairs well together but does not like the shifting.

I agree with the stiff ride, at least with my ST. You definitely feel every crack in the road but I chalked that up to 21s on low profile tires with stiffer Sport suspension.

Couldn't tell you the last time I looked over my shoulder when lane changing. With rear view and side view mirrors set properly (the way they are actually designed to be) and the blind spot monitoring, no reason to look out the "very small rear window".

Sorry, I just can't stand CR..

 

[Teledatageek]

Just get a truck with a bed cover. My “dad mobile” is a gen 2 Raptor. It’s the bee’s knees. Hauls ok (lots of ass) super comfy, handles 2’ of snow, gets 20+ mpg ~70mph. The explorer ST we have on order will be our long trip people mover replacing my wife’s Jeep GC.

Exactly our plans. I too have a Gen 2 Raptor - fun and practical. We have the wheels moving to dump my wife's '19 Jeep GC for an ST now that a bench can be ordered for middle row. Hoping we don't get hurt too bad on the transaction - live and learn.

 

[KMB505]

Of all the editorials and magazines, CR is one of the last ones I ever take for recommendations.

In their article, they contradict their finds several times. They mention a 4 cyl doesnt belong in a $50k SUV yet they bought an XLT that starts in the mid 30s. The mention the engine and trans pairs well together but does not like the shifting.

I agree with the stiff ride, at least with my ST. You definitely feel every crack in the road but I chalked that up to 21s on low profile tires with stiffer Sport suspension.

Couldn't tell you the last time I looked over my shoulder when lane changing. With rear view and side view mirrors set properly (the way they are actually designed to be) and the blind spot monitoring, no reason to look out the "very small rear window".

Sorry, I just can't stand CR..

I have the 2020 XLT with the 2.3L I4 Ecoboost and I'm quite pleased with the performance. This thing follows nearly 20 years in V6 vehicles, with the last being 2015 Explorer XLT. This thing gets the job done and unless you know it's an I4, you wouldn't know.

 

[DMG632]

Sorry, I just can't stand CR..

CR added $10,000.00 of options and then says it feels like it should be a around $40,000.00. I like Lucy's review much better (from the Peanuts cartoon) she says it should be around a 5 cents

 

[cpainter3]

Of all the editorials and magazines, CR is one of the last ones I ever take for recommendations.

In their article, they contradict their finds several times. They mention a 4 cyl doesnt belong in a $50k SUV yet they bought an XLT that starts in the mid 30s. The mention the engine and trans pairs well together but does not like the shifting.

I agree with the stiff ride, at least with my ST. You definitely feel every crack in the road but I chalked that up to 21s on low profile tires with stiffer Sport suspension.

Couldn't tell you the last time I looked over my shoulder when lane changing. With rear view and side view mirrors set properly (the way they are actually designed to be) and the blind spot monitoring, no reason to look out the "very small rear window".

Sorry, I just can't stand CR..

I’ve subscribed to Consumer Reports for years and love their reviews - for everything but automobiles. They have a strong bias in favor of small, foreign label cars.

I have the standard 20 wheels/tires and the ride is also stiff (“bumpy” as my wife describes it). I think it goes with the ST suspension. And of all the things to criticize, the rear window? I have no problem with visibility.

 

[blwnsmoke]

I’ve subscribed to Consumer Reports for years and love their reviews - for everything but automobiles. They have a strong bias in favor of small, foreign label cars.

I have the standard 20 wheels/tires and the ride is also stiff (“bumpy” as my wife describes it). I think it goes with the ST suspension. And of all the things to criticize, the rear window? I have no problem with visibility.

I agree with everything you said. Cr is bias and there have been ex employees of CR that has publicly admitted that CR sways their decisions based on advertisement dollars given by the manufacturers. To be blunt, their reviews are biased and bought.

With that said, I noticed the psi notification on the dash shows my tires bounce between 43-45psi. On the ford pass app, it says recommended is 33psi. I have not checked my door sticker or tire wall to see what each says. If they are over inflated, I can understand why it is so harsh/stiff on the smallest of bumps.

 

[peterk9]

I believe I read in the 5th gen. Forum that tires are purposely over inflated at the factory and that it is part of the dealer's pre-delivery inspection to inflate them to the proper PSI.

Peter

 

[Flying68]

I agree with everything you said. Cr is bias and there have been ex employees of CR that has publicly admitted that CR sways their decisions based on advertisement dollars given by the manufacturers. To be blunt, their reviews are biased and bought.

With that said, I noticed the psi notification on the dash shows my tires bounce between 43-45psi. On the ford pass app, it says recommended is 33psi. I have not checked my door sticker or tire wall to see what each says. If they are over inflated, I can understand why it is so harsh/stiff on the smallest of bumps.

43-45 seems awfully high. 5th gen is 35 psi.

 

[RhinoQuartz]

43-45 seems awfully high. 5th gen is 35 psi.

5th gen recommended psi is 35. Factory tires on my base are Michelin latitude tour hps and have a max psi of 44. 43-45 psi seems about right.
They over inflate to prevent flat spotting while in transit.

 

[Michael Lopour]

I run around 37-38 PSI cold in my 5th gen, pretty much since I bought it and watch the treads like a hawk to make sure I didn't get some defective Hankooks. Keeps the flat spotting at bay and maybe gives me a slight PSI boost. Ride is only slightly worse and not seeing anything adverse otherwise. When I go to Costco I just have them add nitrogen up to 41 PSI all around and that seems to work well, YMMV on whatever PSI you settle on. If I was riding something known as a quality tire I'd stay closer to the manufacturer's recommendation.

Also I don't subscribe to Consumer Reports but I watch their podcast. It varies in entertainment level to be sure. However they don't accept any advertiser money. That being said the only biases available could certainly be personal ones. The most important thing with their reviews is not to simply read as a higher total score means that vehicle is better. They value some traits higher than others so you need to go in depth and make sure that what you value the vehicle scores highly on. Basically, Subaru Foresters are their perfect vehicle based on the things they value - while it's a highly competent car, it's certainly not perfect for everyone. One thing they do that they never did when I was a kid (at least as far as I know) was accept press cars - even though they "pay" for them and don't do full reviews on them I feel like they underestimate the subconscious effect of that practice. They need that early look for clicks but I think it's not a good look for them.

 

[cpainter3]

ST door label says 33 all around. I’m kind of OC when it comes to tire pressures and noticed mine were way overinflated as delivered, so dealership missed that. I try to keep them at 35 cold and the display will show 37-40 while driving (ie hot) and that seems about right. Anything higher than 38 cold would be too rough a ride IMO.

 

[blwnsmoke]

ST door label says 33 all around. I’m kind of OC when it comes to tire pressures and noticed mine were way overinflated as delivered, so dealership missed that. I try to keep them at 35 cold and the display will show 37-40 while driving (ie hot) and that seems about right. Anything higher than 38 cold would be too rough a ride IMO.

Thank you, I will check mine when my wife gets home and adjust.12 psi more is a hell of a lot extra in there and would obviously be a big cause of the rough/harsh ride.

 

[Michael Lopour]

Early review from CR. Content starts around 5:45. All of their criticisms seem fair to me except the shifting - way too early to judge a vehicle on that in my opinion. When XLT trim costs as much as top line for other competitors I feel like that criticism is fair, although they should have mentioned what they bought was not top line trim, it does improve in higher trims. Also understand that some of the other criticisms fall on deaf ears. They generally skewer Jeep products, including the Wrangler, but we all know how much people love those. Ford's redesign of the Explorer is brilliant because it's already a market leader. They fixed only what was broken, in my opinion. Keep the brand loyalty and make improvements to bring on new customers, don't swing for the fences to steal Pilot/Highlander market share and just come off as a bad knockoff.

 

[blwnsmoke]

Early review from CR. Content starts around 5:45. All of their criticisms seem fair to me except the shifting - way too early to judge a vehicle on that in my opinion. When XLT trim costs as much as top line for other competitors I feel like that criticism is fair, although they should have mentioned what they bought was not top line trim, it does improve in higher trims. Also understand that some of the other criticisms fall on deaf ears. They generally skewer Jeep products, including the Wrangler, but we all know how much people love those. Ford's redesign of the Explorer is brilliant because it's already a market leader. They fixed only what was broken, in my opinion. Keep the brand loyalty and make improvements to bring on new customers, don't swing for the fences to steal Pilot/Highlander market share and just come off as a bad knockoff.

The thing is.. if one is going to say the XLT is $50k (which they are talking MSRP, not what one pays), then someone who actually knows what they are talking about will say, why not spend $52-$53k on a base ST with far more options (stickers at $56k).

They are playing with numbers pure and simple. I just don't like how they spin things. Especially one of CR's 1st comments saying the engine and trans pairs together really well.. but then says the engine is loud and there are harsh shifts between multiple gears. They are contradicting themselves...

I personally like TFLtruck's reviews. I think they are very fair and their tests are done exactly the same between models. I don't see any type of bias between them and manufacturers either.

 

[neocvera]

Holy crap! Never paid attention the tire pressure.
Been parked for like 30min waiting to pickup daughter from school.

ST, too high?

 

[blwnsmoke]

Holy crap! Never paid attention the tire pressure.
Been parked for like 30min waiting to pickup daughter from school.

ST, too high?

View attachment 172829

Damn, and I thought my 45 was too high. Yes, drop it to what the door sticker says when tires are cold.