It’s the best-selling Sport Utility Vehicle in the world – a record held for 15 years in a row. To date, nearly 5.5 million Ford Explorers have been sold since debuting in 1990. But that’s not enough for the leader of the pack. For 2006, the Explorer gets revamped with more power, improved fuel economy, better safety devices, and a fresh, new look. Plus, most of the models are cheaper than the 2005 versions – some by as much as $2,100. So, when the new Explorer rolls into dealers in a few weeks, it will likely rule the road for another year. The 2006 Ford Explorer is available in three trims: the base XLT (starting at $41,045), the Eddie Bauer (starting at $47,045), and the top-of-the line Limited (at $52,345). Prices for a comparable 2005 Explorer XLT start at $42,795 and the Eddie Bauer at $49,215. The savings add up on both those trims; but the fully-loaded Limited costs slightly more compared to last year’s $50,745 price tag (all prices include freight, but not taxes). The Explorer is all new from the windshield forward. Head on, it actually looks strikingly similar to a Ford F-150 truck. New geometric headlamps and tail lamps are distinguishing; side mirrors are larger for increased visibility. Inside, the dashboard layout is clean and uncluttered with attractive wood grain and chrome accents throughout the cabin. Everything is at your fingertips, including audio and cruise control buttons mounted on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Extras on the Limited like a 6-disc in-dash CD, MP3 player, dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control, power heated side mirrors, and heated front seats make the ride extra comfy, especially on long distances. The new centre stack also houses Explorer’s first available DVD navigation system, which takes some time to program street names and destinations. Storage compartments are plentiful in the cabin. A deep centre console in between the front-row seats and another between the second-row seats provide extra storage space for items like CDs and cell phones. My one beef about the interior – the door handles are positioned too low, making it hard to get a good grip when closing the door. You need a lot of strength to close the door, especially if you’re on an incline. I also missed having a sunroof on my fully-loaded tester – it always makes the interior feel more spacious and airy. Six people fit comfortably in my tester; even the last row had decent head – and legroom. The first, second, and third row seats are new and improved. The front leather-trimmed driver’s seat is 10-way power adjustable and provides firm support. The camel leather colour is nice, but almost too light – it wouldn’t take long for kids to get it dirty. The second-row seats easily fold flat for more cargo space. The third-row seat with 50/50 split allows for even more versatility. A power-fold option on the third-row seat is fantastic – there’s no struggling to flip seats. Just press a button in the cargo area and presto! The seats fold perfectly flat in a matter of seconds. The Explorer has more safety equipment than ever before. It comes with 10 standard advanced safety systems – seven are new to the mid-size SUV class, including adaptive air bag venting, five-level front-passenger sensing system, and an adaptive energy-absorbing steering column. AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control and side-seat air bags are also standard. Anti-block brakes, electronic brake distribution, electronic brake assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system add more security on the road. An optional reverse sensing system is handy when parking in tight spots and power-adjustable pedals with memory are also convenient for shorter drivers. It’s no wonder the Explorer is still going strong after 15 years. With the facelift for 2006, there’s no stopping Ford from keeping its reigning title.
Photo Credit: Autos.ca
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