2023 Ford Explorer 2.3 rental review.

[ls1mike]

Another trip back east another rental car. 2023 Ford Explorer 2.3 turbo. 36,900 miles. 3 row seating. Leather and a few other options.

Engine has plenty of power for this vehicle, actually surprised me. Shifts are eh, it is better in sport mode. Could just need a relearn. Certainly not the worst shifting transmission I have driven.

Nicely equipped. Leather was nice, but fit and finish could use some work. My 24 Silverado, even the 15 Malibu is better. Not a deal breaker for what I believe its intended purpose is and that is move a bunch of people comfortably.

Gauges were nice, radio is very good. Ride was way better on these Northeast roads than I expected. 2.3 is loud when you hit the go pedal. it does ok on the petrol for its size. Looks to be about 25mpg. I would like to drive a 3.0.

Steering was pretty nice. My son drove it and we both felt the steering was very good, nice and tight.

I want to add it handled pretty dang well for an SUV.

Brakes could have a liitle more stopping power, but got the job done.

Biggest complaint is the dial shifter, but to be fair I don't like those in anything.

Overall very comfortable and drives much smaller than it's actual size. Not a Ford guy, but really not a bad vehicle to live with if you have to move a bunch of people.

 

[ls1mike]

I want to add GM guy as is the boy, but we both see why people like them.

 

[Oillover]

Do they still offer those with massaging front seats?
If so, that's the one I'd choose.

 

[ls1mike]

Do they still offer those with massaging front seats?
If so, that's the one I'd choose.

I'm not sure. This one does not have that option

 

[AZjeff]

Like the not all black interior.

 

[ls1mike]

Like the not all black interior.

Surprisingly I liked it also.

 

[Nick1994]

Pretty basic interior, looks like seats out of a Uhaul?

 

[ls1mike]

Pretty basic interior, looks like seats out of a Uhaul?

The seats were very comfortable. The wife even mentioned that

 

[ctechbob]

I've really come to like the 2.3 ecoboost motors. They really seem to get the job done even when worked hard. I may be a bit biased there though.

They sound like a sewing machine that hasn't been oiled though.

 

[CKN]

I've really come to like the 2.3 ecoboost motors. They really seem to get the job done even when worked hard. I may be a bit biased there though.

They sound like a sewing machine that hasn't been oiled though.

The 3.5 EcoBoost sounds like a bigger sewing machine-but can out run most other vehicles on the road-pickups or not.

 

[ctechbob]

The 3.5 EcoBoost sounds like a bigger sewing machine-but can out run most other vehicles on the road-pickups or not.

Yea, Direct Injection really is a unpleasant sounding system, but you can't argue that it is an advancement in fuel delivery, even with all of the sometimes drawbacks.

If the 2.3 had the dual injection it would very very good, especially since Ford graced it with a gear driven oil pump instead of belt.

 

[2019CRVlx]

I want to like the current gen Explorer but every review I read is abysmal.

 

[Oillover]

I want to like the current gen Explorer but every review I read is abysmal.

I agree, but sometimes you just have to go with your gut.
Combined with reviews from others who've owned them, I'm sure you'll get a good feel for what it's like.

 

[kam327]

I want to like the current gen Explorer but every review I read is abysmal.

So what? Think for yourself. The differences between modern cars are so small that the organizations paid to critique them really have to dramatically accentuate the differences in order to sell advertising. IMHO.

Aside from our Explorer I've driven a Palisade, CX-90, Grand Cherokee, Highlander and 4-Runner in the recent past. They all have their pros and cons. None of them made me want to trade in the Explorer when I got back home.

 

[ls1mike]

I turned it in today. 480 miles. Again not a Ford guy and won't own because at this point I could never live it down. HA! Not sure why the dislike of the vehicle. We all liked it. Three biggest issues were the dial for the shifter, the transmission tunning and the parking brake had to be turned off at each startup. Overall it did well and I was surprised at how well it did on the gasoline. I could live with this thing. My sister bought a 2023 X5 while I was visiting and it is pretty awesome but for what she paid used I'm probably picking up the 2.3 Explorer, because the stuff I mentioned is not a deal breaker for me.