cbFL
Member
- Joined
- June 20, 2019
- Messages
- 27
- Reaction score
- 10
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2020 Ford Explorer ST
So looking at the order guides posted on this forum, as well as the build & price tool, it appears if Platinum is out of your able or willing price range, you still have to get at least the 202A option group to be able to add in the bench seat option (17U).
Well that option group is $5,140 MSRP ($4,140 after option group discount), and all that it seems to add is this (according to what I can find in the order guide and B&P tool):
I really need three seats in the middle (with three children, having at least one always forced to the third row is impractical). But it's extremely frustrating to have to price the vehicle up so much just to be able to add the middle bench.
In Alex on Auto's "2020 Ford Explorer 2.3L Review | Base Engine Perfection" (YouTube, at time 7:24), he does claim, "Ford told me that at the moment it may not be possible to add the second row bench seat on the online configurator in some trims, but that that will be coming soon". Does anybody here know if there's truth to that, and/or if it will include the base XLT?
Other than the difficulty in getting 7 passenger seating, I really like what I've seen about the 2020, so I really hope Ford fixes this situation.
As a side note (sorry for more gripes), just as comparison, my wife's 2016 Murano SV (which is one trim up from the bottom) has remote start, and so have cheaper cars I've owned. It's sort of insult to injury that something that should be standard in today's market at the XLT's price level is bundled with such a high-priced package.
Well that option group is $5,140 MSRP ($4,140 after option group discount), and all that it seems to add is this (according to what I can find in the order guide and B&P tool):
- 8-Way Power Passenger Seats (includes Power Lumbar and Power Recline)
- ActiveX™ Seating Material
- LED Fog Lamps with Skid Plate Elements, Front — Silver-Painted
- Remote Start System
I really need three seats in the middle (with three children, having at least one always forced to the third row is impractical). But it's extremely frustrating to have to price the vehicle up so much just to be able to add the middle bench.
In Alex on Auto's "2020 Ford Explorer 2.3L Review | Base Engine Perfection" (YouTube, at time 7:24), he does claim, "Ford told me that at the moment it may not be possible to add the second row bench seat on the online configurator in some trims, but that that will be coming soon". Does anybody here know if there's truth to that, and/or if it will include the base XLT?
Other than the difficulty in getting 7 passenger seating, I really like what I've seen about the 2020, so I really hope Ford fixes this situation.
As a side note (sorry for more gripes), just as comparison, my wife's 2016 Murano SV (which is one trim up from the bottom) has remote start, and so have cheaper cars I've owned. It's sort of insult to injury that something that should be standard in today's market at the XLT's price level is bundled with such a high-priced package.