Halwg
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- February 5, 2012
- Messages
- 900
- Reaction score
- 41
- City, State
- WV
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2018 Explorer Base 2.3L E
They point out a lot of things members of this forum have complained about.
Ford retuned the suspension, but this family bus still feels rather big to drive with reluctant handling. Most rivals are much more sedan-like in their reflexes, particularly the Dodge Durango, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Toyota Highlander. To its credit, ride comfort remains mostly settled and the cabin is quiet, except for the raspy engine.
An update can only go so far given the basic architectural shortcomings, and there are lots of them on this dated platform. Outward visibility is problematic, with massive front windshield pillars and a small rear window. It doesn’t help that it feels like you’re sitting deep in a pit inside, surrounded by high door sills. There’s tons of wasted space between you and the door. With all of that room, you’d think the narrow-feeling seats could have been made wider. The left foot rest is pushed so far inboard that it makes you sit crooked, and over time, you begin to feel that in your lower back.
This Explorer has the MyFord Touch infotainment system, which is convoluted and can be frustrating to use. Explorers fitted with the simpler Sync 3 system most likely won't be on sale until later in the 2016 model year. Either way, the Sony stereo now gets regular buttons to replace the horrible touch-sensitive flush switches from before, but did they have to cram all of these buttons into a two-inch high strip?
Ultimately, even with the updates, it feels like Ford is buying time with this late-life update until a complete redesign arrives, likely based on the much more modern Fusion-based platform.
Ford retuned the suspension, but this family bus still feels rather big to drive with reluctant handling. Most rivals are much more sedan-like in their reflexes, particularly the Dodge Durango, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Toyota Highlander. To its credit, ride comfort remains mostly settled and the cabin is quiet, except for the raspy engine.
An update can only go so far given the basic architectural shortcomings, and there are lots of them on this dated platform. Outward visibility is problematic, with massive front windshield pillars and a small rear window. It doesn’t help that it feels like you’re sitting deep in a pit inside, surrounded by high door sills. There’s tons of wasted space between you and the door. With all of that room, you’d think the narrow-feeling seats could have been made wider. The left foot rest is pushed so far inboard that it makes you sit crooked, and over time, you begin to feel that in your lower back.
This Explorer has the MyFord Touch infotainment system, which is convoluted and can be frustrating to use. Explorers fitted with the simpler Sync 3 system most likely won't be on sale until later in the 2016 model year. Either way, the Sony stereo now gets regular buttons to replace the horrible touch-sensitive flush switches from before, but did they have to cram all of these buttons into a two-inch high strip?
Ultimately, even with the updates, it feels like Ford is buying time with this late-life update until a complete redesign arrives, likely based on the much more modern Fusion-based platform.
