Ford Explorer 2011-2019

Exterior
Although its overall shape and scale carry over, the fully restyled 2011 Ford Explorer boasts a cleaner and classier appearance - along with 12-percent better aerodynamics. Slightly longer and lower with a significantly wider track, it displays a more assertive stance and more prominent body sculpting. A broad grille with wraparound headlamps gives it a commanding look to some but others are less complementary. A high beltline, pronounced wheel well arches and boomerang tail lamps add definition.

The base Explorer has roof rack side rails, 17-inch steel wheels, a rear spoiler and dual exhaust tips. Available features include automatic headlamps, fog lamps and heated side mirrors. Ford also makes available 18-inch painted aluminum wheels and a dual-panel moon roof.

Interior
Wide bucket seats in the first row are followed by a three-seat tilt-and-fold bench seat in the second row. The third-row seat offers a 50/50-split layout. The entry models have cloth seats. Ford uses soft-touch materials throughout the cabin, with some plastics found in out-of-the-way places or serving as trim. Opinions vary on the quality and look of the interior materials vis a vis the competition so judge for yourself.

The Explorer's dashboard can come outfitted with touch-sensitive controls and LCD gauge screens. It's part of a MyFord Touch package that's optional on the XLT and standard on the Limited. MyFord Touch puts, among other things, an LCD screen on each side of the speedometer. Drivers can configure what information — from a virtual tachometer to music and navigation information — goes on those screens. There have been mixed reviews of the MyFord touch interface with some calling it “finicky”. Ford replaced it in 2017.

The 7-seater Explorer’s cabin is spacious and generally comfortable by most reports. Second-row captain's chairs, optional on the Limited, reduce capacity to six.  The center console is neatly organized; a deep descent sized compartment is found between the front seats under the armrest and there is a two-tier glove box and large door pockets. The second row seat is fixed limiting flexibility in leg room for passengers sitting there.  Additionally, third row seat accessibility is reportedly cumbersome and space is roomier in some competitor offerings.  Again, space needs are unique to each family so make the determination based on your individual family make up.  There are always trade offs in vehicle purchases.

Of note, the driver's seat powers back every time the engine is turned off. This is not typical in this class, so perhaps Ford realized that it can be uncomfortable for some individuals to get in and out of the vehicle as the floor height is above knee level. There's also a dip from the doorsill to the interior floor. 

Yet another way the new Explorer improves on the old is its reduced noise, with less sound from the road entering the cabin, allowing for occupants to more easily hold a conversation.  With either engine, there’s impressively little coarse-surface tire hum, and wind noise is also very well suppressed.

Cargo space is limited to 595 litres (21 cu. ft.) with all three rows in place in a well behind the third row, while dropping the third row (power-operated in Limited models with the Luxury Seating Package) increases capacity to 1,240 litres (43.8 cu. ft.). Folding the second row makes for 2,285 litres (80.7 cu. ft.).  Maximum cargo volume is down 3 cubic feet from 2010. Competing crossovers have more space. For example, the Traverse offers 24.4/116.4 cubic feet and there's 17.2/100.7 cubic feet in the CX-9, but both of those are larger vehicles. Some complaints of a high load-in height in the cargo area made clearing the bumper for heavier items more difficult.

Performance
All models initially came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This V6 produces 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, numbers in line with the V8 it replaced from the previous year. Power certainly isn’t lacking and fuel economy is best-in-class with US estimates of 25-mpg on the highway for front drive models and 23-mpg highway for AWD versions, with both getting 17-mpg city. Canadian estimates from Natural Resources Canada are 12.5 city/8.8 hwy L/100 km.

Ford offered an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that churns out 237 ponies and 250 pound-feet of torque in 2012 (limited to front-drive models).  Ford claims the lighter-duty alternative delivered 30-percent better fuel economy that the old V6. All models use regular unleaded fuel.

Other technologies that reduce fuel consumption include electric power assisted steering (EPAS), a variable displacement air conditioning compressor and a transmission that provides lower initial gears for improved acceleration from a standstill, and lower engine speeds when cruising.

It’s smooth on the highway and composed in the corners although some reviews felt there was a bit too much “lean” in some situations. The Explorer is quick to react in car-like fashion, the steering is direct and the vehicle follows through with far less roll (not withstanding the previous comment) that one would expect by looking at the size of it. Standard with the Explorer's all-wheel drive is Ford's new Terrain Management System. Similar to systems employed by Land Rover, the Terrain Management System adapts drive train settings to suit one of four environments: pavement, snow, sand or mud. Drivers simply pick the icon on a console knob that matches the conditions outside.

Reliability/Service
Overall, the Explorer has proven to be about average in reliability.  There have been a few glitches in the areas of electronics (not uncommon these days), trim, and minor mechanical issues. As one would suspect, both quality and reliability seems to have increased over the model's run, with the later years showing few issues. So while not at the top of the pack, the Explorer's track record here shouldn't prevent you from considering it for your garage. 

The Explorer's resale value tends to migrate to the average for most models. The exceptions are the Sport and Platinum models, which are in demand as used vehicles and often bring healthy premiums above their more pedestrian siblings.  Always a big seller, the lesser models are out there in abundance and can be bought at reasonable prices. Current Explorer values.

Safety
The 2011 Ford Explorer is a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the group's highest designation. That means it earned top scores of Good in front, side and rear crash tests, as well as in a roof-strength test.

Inflatable seat belts are an option for the second-row seats in the XLT and Limited, at $195. These are the first ever offered on any vehicle, and will cover just outboard second-row passengers. The concept of the belts is to control head and neck movement in a crash, as well as to reduce pressure on the chest from the belt itself — a common safety risk for smaller passengers in crashes.

Another important safety feature added to the 2011 Explorer is Curve Control, which acts like a more extreme version of stability control to detect when a vehicle is entering a corner too fast and applies the brakes five times quicker and harder to drop speed by as much as 10 mph in under a second.

Optional safety features can also be had, including a collision warning system as part of Adaptive Cruise Control; a Blind Spot Information System, Cross Traffic Alert, a Back-Up Camera and MyKey, that lets a key be programmed to limit things like speed and stereo volume while ensuring traction control can’t be turned off.

Front Impact Test
Driver Injury - 4
Front Passenger Injury - 4

Side Impact Test
Driver Injury - 5
Rear Passenger Injury – 5

Rollover - 4


Key Competitors

Toyota Highlander, 4Runner
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Equinox, Traverse
GMC Acadia
Dodge Durango
Honda Pilot
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hyundai Santa Fe XL
Kia Sorento
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Pathfinder