Verdict
B
Mid-size SUV · USA · 1996-present
Ford Explorer
America's first SUV phenomenon. The Firestone era is over.
Years
1996-present
Generations
1
Segment
Mid-size SUV
The Explorer popularised the SUV in America — by 1995 it was outselling every sedan. The 2nd gen (1996-2001) had the Firestone tyre rollover scandal that nearly killed the nameplate. The 5th gen (2011-2019) was a unibody crossover on car-derived architecture and the Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost was a 365bhp sleeper. The 6th gen (2020-) returned to rear-wheel-drive on the CD6 platform shared with the Lincoln Aviator. ST trim is the modern halo at 400bhp. Reliability has been mediocre throughout.
Generations
Click any generation for the deep dive
2020-present
6th Gen · CD6
Back to RWD-based platform. ST is the genuine performance SUV in segment.
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Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
2020-present · 6th Gen · CD6
- 10-speed transmission harsh shifts (TSB)
- Multiple early-build recalls
- Sync 3 freezes
- Steering rack bushings
Rivals
Chevrolet Traverse · Toyota Highlander · Honda Pilot · Jeep Grand Cherokee