cpainter3
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- February 12, 2019
- Messages
- 186
- Reaction score
- 102
- Location
- Troy MI
- City, State
- Troy MI
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2020 Explorer ST
As some of you may know, I took delivery of an Iconic Silver ST on July 1. I’ve had it about 10 days now, so here are some random thoughts based on ~700 miles of driving, including local trips, interstates and rural two-lane highways:
- All-round mileage is 22.2; includes 80 mph and stop-and-go. I’m thrilled, as the 3.5L Flex it replaced would have returned a good 5 mpg less.
- Adaptive cruise control works great, even on two lane highways. The “intelligent” Copilot system picks up speed limit changes the moment you pass the signs. On busier interstates, in long lines passing trucks, I had to set the following distance at least to the second closest (of 4) to discourage tailgaters from attempting to whip around on the right and (trying to) squeeze in in front of me.
- OK, driving modes. “Normal” is the default at startup and is fine for all-around driving. I relied on “Eco” for a lot of cruising. Throttle response in Eco is quite docile and upshifts to the higher gears occur quickly. Acceleration is there if you need it but it’s understated. The dash display is sparse and the speedo is outlined with a green ring. A genuine “Dr. Jekyll” personality.
Turning the drive mode dial to “Sport” summons Mr. Hyde right now. The dash display switches to two rings, speed and tach, both outlined in red and the center of the tach shows the transmission setting (“D”, or the current gear if in manual shift mode). Throttle response (I believe the term is “tip-in”) is immediate. Upshifts are at way higher RPMs and are definitely firmer, almost abrupt (and believe me, this is not a criticism). The piped-in exhaust note lets you hear every change in RPM. You also feel and hear the transmission downshift firmly through the gears as you coast down from speed.
- In Sport mode, I tried a “brisk” standing start with a couple passengers and they were duly impressed. I have no doubt that a balls-out 0-60 (traction control off, brake torque and 93 octane) would be in the 5.0 range. Speedo reads to 160. I’ll probably use the Eco mode as much as possible to put off my first speeding ticket as long as possible.
- Engine start/stop is active in Normal and Eco modes and can be turned off with a button on the console (defaults back on with next startup). Engine will restart while stopped if it needs to, e.g. if it needs to run the AC. I’m OK with all that as we’ve had a Fusion Hybrid for 5 years, so completely used to engine stopping and restarting. The Explorer restarts immediately when you release the brake pedal before your foot can get to the accelerator. And here’s a tip: when at a stop, if you ease up on the brake slightly, there’s a sweet spot where the vehicle is still stopped but the engine will restart and stay running.
Start/stop is suppressed in Sport mode. I haven’t used the other modes (towing, slippery, etc.) to determine if start/stop is active in those modes.
- I did not get the Technology package and am quite content with the smaller standard landscape display screen. YMMV.
- I’m still working through the manual to understand and get everything dialed in the way I want. Some settings are done in the center dash screen (while stopped); others are done in the instrument display cluster, and some of those while in motion (like adaptive cruise following distance). The manual is not clear at differentiating how to get to a particular setting menu so it takes some hunting around (and memorizing new button icons).
- 2.3L and 3.0L engines use 5W-30 oil; 3.3L uses 5W-20. For “extremely cold” climates 0W-30 and 0W-20 respectively are recommended.
- Even though it’s an early production unit, I’m not finding any flaws or hiccups. That said, I’ll be buying an ESP plan through the connection in this forum.
All in all, I’m very happy and have no regrets whatsoever and I’m sure none of you will either.
- All-round mileage is 22.2; includes 80 mph and stop-and-go. I’m thrilled, as the 3.5L Flex it replaced would have returned a good 5 mpg less.
- Adaptive cruise control works great, even on two lane highways. The “intelligent” Copilot system picks up speed limit changes the moment you pass the signs. On busier interstates, in long lines passing trucks, I had to set the following distance at least to the second closest (of 4) to discourage tailgaters from attempting to whip around on the right and (trying to) squeeze in in front of me.
- OK, driving modes. “Normal” is the default at startup and is fine for all-around driving. I relied on “Eco” for a lot of cruising. Throttle response in Eco is quite docile and upshifts to the higher gears occur quickly. Acceleration is there if you need it but it’s understated. The dash display is sparse and the speedo is outlined with a green ring. A genuine “Dr. Jekyll” personality.
Turning the drive mode dial to “Sport” summons Mr. Hyde right now. The dash display switches to two rings, speed and tach, both outlined in red and the center of the tach shows the transmission setting (“D”, or the current gear if in manual shift mode). Throttle response (I believe the term is “tip-in”) is immediate. Upshifts are at way higher RPMs and are definitely firmer, almost abrupt (and believe me, this is not a criticism). The piped-in exhaust note lets you hear every change in RPM. You also feel and hear the transmission downshift firmly through the gears as you coast down from speed.
- In Sport mode, I tried a “brisk” standing start with a couple passengers and they were duly impressed. I have no doubt that a balls-out 0-60 (traction control off, brake torque and 93 octane) would be in the 5.0 range. Speedo reads to 160. I’ll probably use the Eco mode as much as possible to put off my first speeding ticket as long as possible.
- Engine start/stop is active in Normal and Eco modes and can be turned off with a button on the console (defaults back on with next startup). Engine will restart while stopped if it needs to, e.g. if it needs to run the AC. I’m OK with all that as we’ve had a Fusion Hybrid for 5 years, so completely used to engine stopping and restarting. The Explorer restarts immediately when you release the brake pedal before your foot can get to the accelerator. And here’s a tip: when at a stop, if you ease up on the brake slightly, there’s a sweet spot where the vehicle is still stopped but the engine will restart and stay running.
Start/stop is suppressed in Sport mode. I haven’t used the other modes (towing, slippery, etc.) to determine if start/stop is active in those modes.
- I did not get the Technology package and am quite content with the smaller standard landscape display screen. YMMV.
- I’m still working through the manual to understand and get everything dialed in the way I want. Some settings are done in the center dash screen (while stopped); others are done in the instrument display cluster, and some of those while in motion (like adaptive cruise following distance). The manual is not clear at differentiating how to get to a particular setting menu so it takes some hunting around (and memorizing new button icons).
- 2.3L and 3.0L engines use 5W-30 oil; 3.3L uses 5W-20. For “extremely cold” climates 0W-30 and 0W-20 respectively are recommended.
- Even though it’s an early production unit, I’m not finding any flaws or hiccups. That said, I’ll be buying an ESP plan through the connection in this forum.
All in all, I’m very happy and have no regrets whatsoever and I’m sure none of you will either.