2014 Ford Explorer Review

[badtlc]

My house has had a renal Explorer (3.5L AWD) due to a wreck. I was glad we got this for a rental as we are considering a 3rd kid and the Explorer was on the list of vehicles to check out because of the 3rd row seating. I was really excited.

I wanted to come here and provide this long in depth review but I just can't. This vehicle is the biggest waste of money I have ever driven. It feels like a bus, drives like a bus and doesn't have great sight lines. All this thing is, is a Ford Escape with more cargo room. There is very little extra room in the front 5 seating areas of the Explorer compared to the Escape. How do i know this? Because I have to install and use 2 car seats in our vehicles. The explorer was just as big of a pain in the butt as my Dad's 2013 Ford Escape. Don't even waste your time with these vehicles if you have a rear facing car seat. I wouldn't waste time with them at all if you have any car seats.

The previous generation Escapes weren't as pretty but man, they are the most carseat friendly interiors I have found. I might just keep the 2007 Escape until I can't drive it anymore.

Anyway, completely unimpressed with this bloated boat. The new Escapes are at least super fun to drive. The explorer is blah to drive but it does look nice. No complaints about dash, climate controls or any of that stuff.

 

[UNC151]

We have had one for over a year and have none of the complaints that you have experienced/perceived. I find that it has plenty of room (we have 1st and 2nd row bucket seats)--but I am past the car seat point in my life so I cannot comment to that.

However, it does not feel or drive like a bus, which IMHO, would be rough riding and underpowered. We have taken very long trips in it (Houston to St. Louis) and it rode/drove very nicely and managed about 24MPG at the high point of the trip.

I suppose this is why there are so many different vehicles available...

 

[AirgunSavant]

Next time I buy a car I will try to rent one like it first.
I never had an Exploder but I have been disappointed by paying for a luxury car and getting a bloated econo car instead

But I hated cars and others loved them. Just different strokes I guess. Good for you as a simple test drive gives you very little idea of what you will be actually getting.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant
Next time I buy a car I will try to rent one like it first.
I never had an Exploder but I have been disappointed by paying for a luxury car and getting a bloated econo car instead

But I hated cars and others loved them. Just different strokes I guess. Good for you as a simple test drive gives you very little idea of what you will be actually getting.

So true !

I love car and hate CUV/SUV and Minivan.

 

[NHGUY]

The Explorer is basically a Taurus wagon.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

Just be careful with a rental; these are Fleet Sales vehicles whose equipment list can vary from what the Consumer Sales version offers.

 

[spk2000]

I drove a company Explorer a few years back and was going down the highway noticing the hood rattling. I thought the latch was holding it down and someone released the hood. It was actually the foil thin metal that was flexing and it wasn't even windy. I was not at all impressed with the way it drove either. I would not get or recommend one.

 

[Srt20]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
My house has had a renal Explorer (3.5L AWD) due to a wreck. I was glad we got this for a rental as we are considering a 3rd kid and the Explorer was on the list of vehicles to check out because of the 3rd row seating. I was really excited.

I wanted to come here and provide this long in depth review but I just can't. This vehicle is the biggest waste of money I have ever driven. It feels like a bus, drives like a bus and doesn't have great sight lines. All this thing is, is a Ford Escape with more cargo room. There is very little extra room in the front 5 seating areas of the Explorer compared to the Escape. How do i know this? Because I have to install and use 2 car seats in our vehicles. The explorer was just as big of a pain in the butt as my Dad's 2013 Ford Escape. Don't even waste your time with these vehicles if you have a rear facing car seat. I wouldn't waste time with them at all if you have any car seats.

The previous generation Escapes weren't as pretty but man, they are the most carseat friendly interiors I have found. I might just keep the 2007 Escape until I can't drive it anymore.

Anyway, completely unimpressed with this bloated boat. The new Escapes are at least super fun to drive. The explorer is blah to drive but it does look nice. No complaints about dash, climate controls or any of that stuff.


This review is pretty close to our thoughts on it as well. It is by far the worst for interior room of the 3 row CUV's.

If you are looking for these, the ones with the most room are Highlander, Lambda triplets, and the Durango. The highlander has the smallest 3rd row of any of them, but the second row is the biggest of all of them. The Durango has the most 3rd row room of all, and really good second row, though a rear facing does require a front row seat to be moved up some. Not enough to be uncomfortable for a 6' guy, but not as far back as I would usually have it.
The Lambdas had acceptable room in all three rows, but IMO had [censored] interior.

 

[itguy08]

You guys are forgetting the Flex. If you like the styling (I tend to), it's got tons of room and is a very nice drive. I'm 6'2" and the 3rd row was comfortable for me.

 

[cptbarkey]

Having children changes perspectives on many things. I have little patience for SUV's or CUV's and do not recommend them at all. If you want any inkling of utlity and comfort at the same time, buy a minivan. The image of yourself as a parent is no longer important, and your children could care less.

 

[Srt20]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
You guys are forgetting the Flex. If you like the styling (I tend to), it's got tons of room and is a very nice drive. I'm 6'2" and the 3rd row was comfortable for me.


Yes, I did forget about the flex. We never drove one. No way I would be seen in public in a Flex, or any of the other boxed vehicles like that.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: Srt20

Yes, I did forget about the flex. We never drove one. No way I would be seen in public in a Flex, or any of the other boxed vehicles like that.


The styling is definitely polarizing. But you can't beat the utility of the box.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
Having children changes perspectives on many things. I have little patience for SUV's or CUV's and do not recommend them at all. If you want any inkling of utlity and comfort at the same time, buy a minivan. The image of yourself as a parent is no longer important, and your children could care less.


Eh, my kids really like our mild offroading adventures... And they aren't that thrilled with the CRV as its not much better than a minivan offroad, and we can't do the fun trails with it.
We live out in sticks though and often do some trails on the way home from daycare, so our situation is a bit different than the average I guess.