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Writer's Notes
2002 Ford Explorer
Base-price range, including $600 destination charge: $24,620 - $32,690
Engine: 210-hp 4.0-liter V6; optional 240-hp 4.6-liter, V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic; two- or four-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 113.7 in.
Length: 189.5 in.
Width: 72.1 in.
Height: 71.9 in.
Curb Weight: 4,094 - 4,344 lbs.
Fuel economy, EPA cty/hwy: 4.0L 4x2: 16/22; 4.0L 4x4: 15/20; 4.6L 4x2: 15/20; 4.6L 4x4: 14/19.
Safety equipment: Dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, side-impact curtain airbag system, electronic stability control, Ford Personal Safety System.
Major standard features: anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), 40/20/40 second-row seating.
Warranty: 3-year/36,000 miles
More than 3.6 million Ford Explorers have been sold since this popular model was introduced in 1990. As a result, this mid-sized SUV is often viewed as the vehicle that put Ford back in the limelight in the 1990s. But, as Ford hopes to sell over 400,00 Explorers this year...
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Sedona, Arizona: It's a day made for motoring fun and for a true evaluation of the all-new Ford Explorer. I start my drive in Phoenix in the previous generation Explorer and, after some quality drive time in it, I switch to the 2002 version. My biggest question- as I compare the old and the new- is whether Ford can maintain its status quo with its next-generation, mid-sized SUV.
I'm immediately pleased. Noticeable is the lower step-in height, the upgraded interior, the quieter ride and greatly improved handling. I start out on a graded dirt road, with washboard, making note of the way the new suspension smoothes out the bumps, and then head north to the canyon lands and backcountry of the Sedona region on freeways. I am particularly aware of the increased horsepower and torque on the long uphill grades ( the needle has moved on Ford's V8 from 215 to 240 hp., and while its peak torque is 280 lb.-ft. at 4000 rpm., there is 215 lb.-ft. available from 1500 and 5000 rpm.). There's plenty of power on tap to cruise and to overtake slower-moving vehicles with confidence.
The best part of the ride and drive comes in the high country, where I am able to evaluate the Explorer's 4 x 4 capability. While it's not meant for the truly tough stuff, it shows capable performance through snow and mud, over traction-reduced surfaces, and while traversing rutted tracks. Here, I'm aware that the Explorer's new architecture has increased both approach and departure angles (from 28 to 31 degrees in the front and from 19 to 24.5 degrees in the rear) despite the flatter, lowered load floor.
Designing a new version of a best-selling vehicle can be a recipe for disaster. Success can make a manufacturer too conservative, with fears that too much change could alienate loyal buyers.
Designing a new version of a best-selling vehicle can be a recipe for disaster. Success can make a manufacturer too conservative, with fears that too much change could alienate loyal buyers. Yet, the point of a new generation should be to instill some of time's perspective into an old idea. So, as Ford's designers set out to redesign the popular Explorer, the challenge was to figure out what direction to take.
Fortunately, it was the perfect time to introduce a new Explorer. With the news of rollover accidents last summer resulting from questionable tires, consumer confidence in Ford's mid-size ute had taken a concerned step back. Monthly sales figures fell, but, in fact, were very much in line the trend that's been hitting the auto industry in general. So, with the 2002 Explorer, Ford had a lot to lose, but much to gain back, as well.
This modernized version shows that Ford wants foremost to re-instill confidence in its buyers. The newest-generation Explorer is noticeably wider, making it appear more stable than its predecessor, and it comes with many new features that emphasize safety. Its exterior, though, has stayed true to the Explorer's basic look, retaining recognizable design cues, while its updated interior is filled with a generous equipment list. Of note is the fact that its sibling, the Mercury Mountaineer, which shares all of the Explorer's technology changes, has pushed the exterior styling envelope more and wears a more edgy look, with faux brushed aluminum accents.
Priced between $24,620 for the base model and $32,690 for the upscale Eddie Bauer and Limited editions (including destination charge), the 2002 Explorer offers a much nicer package than the comparably-priced previous generation. There's an all-new, bigger V8 engine; a new independent rear suspension that gives better handling; and an advanced Control Trac four-wheel-drive system. Just about everything on this vehicle is new, from the transmission (both auto and manual) systems to the new base engine--an improved 4.0-liter V6.
Exterior changes are subtle, but smart. The newcomer has a two-inch-longer wheelbase and is two-and-a-half inches wider, yet stays the same height. Its extra width and shorter front overhang give it the look of a more nimble, hybrid-type SUV. And, its bumper has been lowered to match up with shorter vehicles.
Explorer's grille has been refreshed with a larger version of Ford's egg-crate insert, bolder headlamps and distinctive fog lights recessed within the front bumper. The rear end features a fully integrated, sleeker bumper shelf and enlarged taillights. The two-piece liftgate has a larger, lower and more convenient handle and a unique rear glass window with a hatch-within-a-hatch to improve rear access.. All four passenger doors are lower and wider.
On the inside, the entire instrument panel has been updated, starting with simplified white-on-black lettering on the gauge cluster for easy nighttime viewing. Buttons and controls are thoughtfully laid out, with the more-often-used stereo settings located highest on the instrument panel, making them easier to access. Stereo and cruise control buttons are also duplicated on the steering wheel, which itself has been refined for better grip and has a smaller diameter for a more sporty feel. Customers can choose between an in-dash 6-disc CD changer, a single CD player or a cassette/CD combination.
The enlarged cabin has been revised for convenience and adaptability. Adjustable pedals suit drivers of different heights, the glove box and center console are larger and second-row seating folds to a 40/20/40 configuration for optimum stowage flexibility. Most notably, the Explorer has jumped up from five- to seven-passenger status, thanks to a uniquely-designed independent rear suspension that provides the rear space for an additional third row of seating.
State-of-the-art SUV safety is tantamount. . The all-new side-impact curtain airbag system is available from launch, and rollover protection sensors will be available later in 2001. The Ford Personal Safety System, which includes driver and front-passenger dual-stage airbags with tailored deployment characteristics, will also be available in late 2001.
Replacing the 5.0-liter pushrod V8, offered as an option last year, is a smoother 4.6-liter, 240-horsepower single-overhead-cam V8. This all-aluminum engine weighs significantly less than its predecessor and produces 25 more horsepower, increasing the Explorer's overall tow rating while reducing emissions. Thanks to the smoother engine, but also to a stiffer bodyshell, the new generation's NVH levels (noise, vibration and harshness) are significantly reduced.
Towing capacity with the V8 engine is a respectable 3,500 pounds; for heavy-duty needs a towing package upgrades the Explorer to move 7,300 pounds, thanks to a limited slip rear differential with 3.73:1 (standard is 3.55:1) axle ratio.
Adding on-pavement security is the all-new Advance Trac interactive dynamics system, which includes both traction control and electronic stability control. Seen previously on luxury cars, this system maintains vehicle stability through a combination of sensors that compare driver inputs to vehicle response. The system can then instantaneously slow individual wheels to keep the vehicle on course.
Explorer's popular Control Trac four-wheel-drive system has been refined to make it more "transparent" to the driver when navigating on limited traction surfaces. Electronic technology fine tunes the system to be more responsive to different driving habits, road conditions and speeds. As before, a simple pushbutton switch allows the driver to select Automatic, 4x4 High or 4x4 Low modes.
Completely redesigned manual and automatic transmissions improve operation and increase gas mileage. The new wide-ratio, 5-speed automatic transmission noticeably increases smoothness and performance, eliminating harshness during quick accelerations. The five-speed manual transmission will not be available until later in 2001.
More than 3.6 million Ford Explorers have been sold since this popular model was introduced in 1990. As a result, this mid-sized SUV is often viewed as the vehicle that put Ford back in the limelight in the 1990s. But, as Ford hopes to sell over 400,00 Explorers this year, this Detroit-based automaker has two new challenges: to revive consumer confidence after the rollover debacle; and to stay competitive as greater numbers of import-manufacturers have success with their SUVs in the North American market. Only time will tell whether customers stay loyal to the Ford nameplate, but there's no question that the new Explorer is the right vehicle, at the right time.
--Story by Sue Mead
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