Her + His Car Reviews
2016 Ford Explorer Platinum
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $54,760 | $52,970 With one option package, called Equipment Group 600A, the price climbed to $54,760 |
| Performance | |
| The 2016 revised Ford Explorer has power indeed with a 270 horsepower delivered with the 3.5 liter V-6 powertrain. With all this force and optimum acceleration, the handling is not as pristine in the '16. This full sized SUV climbed the hills of Pittsburgh and the mountainous turns of the Pa Turnpike with steady churn and ease. Braking felt even handed and steady. | No problem with acceleration, that's for sure! The 3.5-liter V-6 acquitted itself well on all counts. The Explorer also is a pretty steady SUV going down the road and in handling in general. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| The Explorer delivers 16 in city miles and 22 in highway. | Of course EcoBoost's real claim to fame is providing plenty of punch while delivering the goods when it comes to fuel economy. The government has it rated at 16 city and 22 highway with 18 miles per gallon overall. You will have to spend more for gas though. The government says that you will spend $3,500 more in fuel costs over a five year period compared with the average new vehicle. |
| The Car | |
| Roominess and lavishness are a combination well met in the Explorer. The third-seat is well done - not puny like others. The seats and even the side boards are quilted leather - all details are so well crafted and thought-out. Stitching is impeccable. Color choices are clean and sophisticatedly contrasting. Those passengers in the back (second row) are in luxury heated seats as well - console in between. It is a vehicle for bigger folks or for the long haul when you need that extra room. Driver seat and steering all customized for personalized and customized fit. Satin chrome handsome detailed finish. Wood-grain interior. 20" wheels to haul the vehicle. Privacy glass. Roof racks, and mega-moon roof. Critics mentioned the sight lines of the vehicle were tricky. |
Has there ever been an Explorer that looked this suave? Don't think so! I doubt that there has ever been an Explorer quite as luxurious and turned out as this one. The interior positively drips with elegance and status, and it is every bit as luxurious as Lincoln's Navigator in standard trim-maybe even more luxurious to some.
But don't worry. Plushness aside, this is still a Ford Explorer and not far removed from any you have driven or ridden in before. Ford Explorers, even the most basic of them, are quite comfortable and like a womb on wheels for most folks, even though they also are pretty rugged. They also are stable, more forgiving than most SUVs of driver error for those who are newbies to all-wheel driving, and they last till forever. |
| Safety | |
| Perimeter Alarm, Keyless Pad, SOS Post Crash Alert System, LATCH, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Airbags - Dual Stage Front and Seat Mounted Side Airbags. Front Knees, 180 Degree Camera, Hill Decent Control, Power Steering, Remote Start, Rear View Camera, Terrain Management System. Included is the 5 year or 50,000 Roadside Assistance Warranty. 4-Wheel ABS. 4-Wheel Disc Brakes. Brake Assist. | Not really anything outstanding over the requisites. But it's all there, from airbags to traction control. Safety features include an AdvanceTrac sysem with RSC, a wealth of airbags, individual tire pressure monitoring system, a perimeter alarm system, a SecureCode keyless keypad. |
| Technology | |
| No shortage of tech goodies on this bad boy. From the premium 500 watt exquisite Sony audio system to hear your favorite sounds on, to Adaptive Cruise Control to the Navigation and SYNC My Ford Touch and heated steering wheel. Lane Keeping Assist. And more. | Standard items that are exclusive to the Platinum include:
Other standard features include: satin chrome door handles, chrome exhaust tips, LED signature tail lamps, moon roof, body color rear spoiler, roof rack side rails; second row heated seats, dual zone electronic automatic climate control, heated and cooled driver and passenger front seats, heated leather wrapped steering wheel. Other standard features include a class two trailer tow package, adaptive cruise control, front 180 degree camera, remote start, a reverse sensing system, Sirius satellite radio, terrain management system, trailer sway control, and a voice activated navigation system. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| The overall look, design and palate of the 2016 Ford Explorer gets top notch marks. The front facade I and rounded contour of the hood s completely spot on and top of class. Hot, in a word. Inside, it is abit heavy and the visibility and sight lines are not congruent with the exterior. We would like the see the responsiveness of the vehicle tighten up, as have the mileage improve a tad. All to make it a more formidable and competitive beauty and beast. Its close, it just needs some refining. | First, this is a beautifully done product, inside and out. It looks rich inside and out too...which it should, given the almost $55,000 price tag. But even aside from that the Explorer is beginning to show its age around the edges, and some of its competitors already have had replacements. It's about that time for Explorer. Having said all that, everything inside blends as it should, and there is great intricacy in how everything on the inside door pattern flows together, too.
Since launch in September, Explorer Platinum has been available only with Medium Soft Ceramic for its seats, door panels, pillars and headliner. Other surfaces including the instrument panel and floor are Ebony Black, creating a high-contrast environment. The Ebony black option is literally done completely in black, making for a pretty sexy interior presentation. That includes Ebony Black seats, door panels, pillars and headliner. The new low-contrast Ebony Black color theme accentuates the brushed aluminum and satin chrome trim waterline around the dashboard and door panels. Both interior color themes also feature satin-finished ash wood appliques. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 Yr/36,000 Bumper to Bumper, 5 Yr/60,000 Powertrain, 5 Yr/Roadside Assistance. | Three year/36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty. Five year/60,000 miles powertrain warranty. |
