Explorer 2020 or 2019

[mo bejarano]

Hi everyone. Newbie Here. Looking to buy an explorer but not sure if 2020 model or 2019. There's a huge difference in price and my concern is all the problems the 2020 model has reported. Anyways a little direction is much appreciated. Btw havent decided on the color either, white or silver.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
One of big advantages of the 6th generation 2020 is that it has an external water pump compared to an internal one on the 5th generation. Water pump failure leads to dead engine
Personally, I'd go with the 2020.

Peter

 

[northvibe]

Welcome to the Forum.
One of big advantages of the 6th generation 2020 is that it has an external water pump compared to an internal one on the 5th generation. Water pump failure leads to dead engine
Personally, I'd go with the 2020.

Peter

Wouldn't that matter on engine choice? From the looks the 2.3L has an "external" water pump, even on the 19. The NA 3.5L has an internal but I'm not sure on the 3.5EB engine.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
Yes, you are correct about the 2.3L having an external water pump. The 3.5L Ecoboost is internal. Water pump failure leads to dead engine

Peter

 

[northvibe]

Welcome to the Forum.
Yes, you are correct about the 2.3L having an external water pump. The 3.5L Ecoboost is internal. Water pump failure leads to dead engine

Peter

Thanks for confirming. I am also looking at the Explorer (although I can't find many 19's), edge and durango's. When I heard about the water pump issue I stayed up late last night trying to figure out which motors, but it seemed the 2.3 was "safe". I'm leaning 2020, but with the 2021's potentially being announced soon, I would imagine a price drop in 2020's in the next coming month(s). I feel like the early 2020's had the issues but ones made in the fall/winter and this year should have most the kinks worked out?

 

[peterk9]

see my post in this thread; 2021 order availability and lead-time?

Peter

 

[blwnsmoke]

Thanks for confirming. I am also looking at the Explorer (although I can't find many 19's), edge and durango's. When I heard about the water pump issue I stayed up late last night trying to figure out which motors, but it seemed the 2.3 was "safe". I'm leaning 2020, but with the 2021's potentially being announced soon, I would imagine a price drop in 2020's in the next coming month(s). I feel like the early 2020's had the issues but ones made in the fall/winter and this year should have most the kinks worked out?

Order banks open in April for 21.

• 04/13/2020 - 2021MY Order Bank Open Date
• 05/14/2020 - 2021MY Scheduling Begins
• 07/27/2020 - 2021MY Job #1 Date

 

[metroplex]

Last day to order 2020 is 3 APR 2020.
Looks like 14 week leadtime for 2021s, so if you order on 13 APR, you will get it around end of July/early August.

On the pre-2020s, if you get the 2.3L AWD, everything will be fine except your roof rails may pop up at the rear, door panels might be misaligned, and your hood might corrode. The 2.3L uses a different PTU than the 3.5/3.7 so you won't get the overheating issue. If I had to do it again, I'd have gotten the 2.3L engine with AWD. Plus you can tune that 2.3 to produce about 380 hp, whereas the N/A 3.5 is stuck at about 315-320 hp tuned (maybe up to 340 hp with ported manifolds). The 2.3 and 2.7/3.0 EcoBoost engines all use external water pumps. The 2.7 Transverse is 99% the same as the pickup truck engine, and the 3.0 on the 2020 ST is basically the same as the ones used on the Lincolns. The 3.0 can be tuned to around 550 hp. On the 4800 lb 2020 ST, that 550 hp basically translates to low 12s, same as a tuned Fusion Sport which is 700 lb lighter.