Rental review 2025 Ford Explorer XLT

[Hermann]

The Maverick is at the dealer for the plethora of recalls. The rental from the dealer paid by Ford is a nice new smelling Explorer XLT 4WD. First off it has the comfort package and a wheel/tire upgrade or downgrade depending on your view. Nice jaux leather interior and the nice very hi res 12 in screen. Just beautiful. Android Auto connected lickety-split. This update for '25 has a very nice interior and very comfortable seats. Too many toys to play with for me. Maybe the best leather covered steering wheel I've had my mitts on. Very nice faux leather seats. Nice and thick.

The engine is the 2.3L Ecoboost. Plenty of power driving me around but put 5 more people in it and their stuff and I would probably upgrade. The 10-speed auto is typical of these trannys that like to be in 4th gear before you cross the intersection. Around town the engine drones a lot, as it tries to constantly be in a higher gear. Fuel mileage has been meh at 25 mpg. Uses a lot of fuel when cold starting and it keeps it up for about 12 miles. On the interstate is was stable and composed and the tranny didn't hunt running at 70mph.

The exterior is very nice. Not a lot of body cladding. Beautiful light steel color with just enough blue in the mix. I just like the way it looks without a appearance package. Pics are useless unless I go wash it. Had to drive in the rain twice since Saturday morning.

The deal breaker for me is the bouncy suspension. Lots of body roll in low speed turns. Did not drive on curvy roads at speeds above 50mph. It is suspended softly but has a lot of head and body tossed when bumps and undulations make it shake. .

 

[fantastic]

Very good brief readout. Happy to hear the dealer is treating you w/a good rental while recalls are fixed. I've tried following along on all the recalls posted here. Was it anything major?

 

[Hermann]

Very good brief readout. Happy to hear the dealer is treating you w/a good rental while recalls are fixed. I've tried following along on all the recalls posted here. Was it anything major?

The early production 2022 hybrids have lots of niggly recalls. And a couple potentially serious issues.

 

[MNgopher]

Chuckling at complaining about 25 mpg out of a three row, 6 or 7 passenger SUV...

We have a 21 with the 2.3. Long term average with tons of short tripping and cold weather here is 22.7 mpg average. That compares to the 07 Explorer it replaced that got 14.5 mpg in the same duty...

Zero issues when fully loaded with full 7 adults in ours... Reminder that the 4 cylinder puts out more hp and torque (50 lb-ft more) than the 3.5l V6 (non-ecoboost) in the previous generations of Explorers...

Tow rating is the same too 4cyl or 6 cyl.

 

[ctechbob]

The early production 2022 hybrids have lots of niggly recalls. And a couple potentially serious issues.

Not much better for the non-hybrid 2022's. Mom has had something like 5 on hers. All super minor stuff. One was just a new sticker under the hood.

 

[CKN]

If you want a terrible ownership experience buy an Explorer. They are terrible for QC issues.

 

[tcp71]

Chuckling at complaining about 25 mpg out of a three row, 6 or 7 passenger SUV...

We have a 21 with the 2.3. Long term average with tons of short tripping and cold weather here is 22.7 mpg average. That compares to the 07 Explorer it replaced that got 14.5 mpg in the same duty...

Zero issues when fully loaded with full 7 adults in ours... Reminder that the 4 cylinder puts out more hp and torque (50 lb-ft more) than the 3.5l V6 (non-ecoboost) in the previous generations of Explorers...

Tow rating is the same too 4cyl or 6 cyl.

suspect even loaded up to max load capacity won't be an issue for the 2.3. Towing 7500lbs will be different, but not just people and stuff on the inside.

 

[ctechbob]

suspect even loaded up to max load capacity won't be an issue for the 2.3. Towing 7500lbs will be different, but not just people and stuff on the inside.

View attachment 250464

Even loaded down the 2.3 will put in the work. I'm at almost 10,000 miles towing about 6000#'s worth of travel trailer.

 

[ctechbob]

If you want a terrible ownership experience buy an Explorer. They are terrible for QC issues.

Show us on the doll where Ford hurt you.

Ever since you got rid of your F150 all you've done is crapped on every single Ford thread that gets posted. We get it, you didn't like yours, for cripes sake, move on.

 

[Hermann]

Chuckling at complaining about 25 mpg out of a three row, 6 or 7 passenger SUV...

We have a 21 with the 2.3. Long term average with tons of short tripping and cold weather here is 22.7 mpg average. That compares to the 07 Explorer it replaced that got 14.5 mpg in the same duty...

Zero issues when fully loaded with full 7 adults in ours... Reminder that the 4 cylinder puts out more hp and torque (50 lb-ft more) than the 3.5l V6 (non-ecoboost) in the previous generations of Explorers...

Tow rating is the same too 4cyl or 6 cyl.

Not sure I was complaining with 25mpg just mentioning that IMW it's Meh. Driving home from the dealer when it was already warmed up, it got close to 30mpg going 14 miles back home. I was also talking about the upgrade 3.5L Ecoboost not the N/A 35.L

If you want a terrible ownership experience buy an Explorer. They are terrible for QC issues.

We'll see if Ford is improving the quality on this refresh. This one is screwed together well as I heard no rattles on the interior. Have not looked under the hood, since the rain started late Saturday. Myself I won't buy a Ecoboost. To many issues plus cam chains and phazers.

 

[MNgopher]

Ecoboost #1 (2.7 in the 16 F150) 130,000 trouble free miles (one warranty item to replace a check valve in a turbo oil feed line that I probably never would have noticed except for the pandemic that parked the truck for long periods of time). Regular maintenance items like Plugs, etc...

Ecoboost #2 (2.3 in 21 Explorer) is at 53,000 trouble free miles. Only issue to date has been a leaking rear shock (easy replacement of the pair).

The first year 2020 Explorers were not good. Our 21 Explorer is the best snow and ice machine we've ever owned on a set of winter tires. Very competent family hauler on road trips too.

 

[TheOilWizard]

2020 Explorer owner here (current gen) with about 50k miles. Overall, great vehicle.

It's interesting you mentioned the handling.. I always thought it handled exceptionally well relative to other 3-row crossovers.

Only downside to mention is the comically cheap interior plastics. The center console drink holders literally had the bottom fall out and are completely unusable now. Of course it was a couple months after the 36-month warranty.

 

[dishdude]

Show us on the doll where Ford hurt you.

Ever since you got rid of your F150 all you've done is crapped on every single Ford thread that gets posted. We get it, you didn't like yours, for cripes sake, move on.

We used to have a guy that would crap in every Mopar thread complaining about his 1965 Dart...now that was holding a grudge!

 

[Hermann]

2020 Explorer owner here (current gen) with about 50k miles. Overall, great vehicle.

It's interesting you mentioned the handling.. I always thought it handled exceptionally well relative to other 3-row crossovers.

Only downside to mention is the comically cheap interior plastics. The center console drink holders literally had the bottom fall out and are completely unusable now. Of course it was a couple months after the 36-month warranty.

Was not talking so much about driving down the road at speed, but in low speed situations the suspension loses control of body motions on turns with bumps and poorer roads that undulate. The head toss IMO is severe. If it was a Sarah-n-Tuned video you would be entertained not aggravated. Thinking the optional 20" wheels and low profile tires may have something to do with that.

 

[fantastic]

Chuckling at complaining about 25 mpg out of a three row, 6 or 7 passenger SUV...

We have a 21 with the 2.3. Long term average with tons of short tripping and cold weather here is 22.7 mpg average. That compares to the 07 Explorer it replaced that got 14.5 mpg in the same duty...

Zero issues when fully loaded with full 7 adults in ours... Reminder that the 4 cylinder puts out more hp and torque (50 lb-ft more) than the 3.5l V6 (non-ecoboost) in the previous generations of Explorers...

Tow rating is the same too 4cyl or 6 cyl.

For another comparison on my 08' Volvo I6 w/90% highway barely cracks 20 MPG avg. Since cooler air started it's been 19.8 mpg for last 10 fuel ups. Seems yours & OP rental is quite good for the 4 banger.

 

[ctechbob]

Was not talking so much about driving down the road at speed, but in low speed situations the suspension loses control of body motions on turns with bumps and poorer roads that undulate. The head toss IMO is severe. If it was a Sarah-n-Tuned video you would be entertained not aggravated.

Yea, not sure who is in charge of Ford's suspension tuning these days. They screwed up the Ranger as well. There's not a single factory shock package that's worth a toss on them. I suppose it is to make them more carlike or something, but it sucks if you want to use them to haul things.

Mr. Bilstein fixed that right up for me.

 

[TheOilWizard]

Was not talking so much about driving down the road at speed, but in low speed situations the suspension loses control of body motions on turns with bumps and poorer roads that undulate. The head toss IMO is severe. If it was a Sarah-n-Tuned video you would be entertained not aggravated. Thinking the optional 20" wheels and low profile tires may have something to do with that.

You might be onto something. Mine is the base model so has the smaller rims and tires with higher sidewalls. I appreciate the review and it was an interesting read.

 

[Rand]

50k for a car you dont love.. ugh.

 

[MParr]

I had a 2017 Escape 2.0T. I never had any problems. My current 2020 F-150 2.7 has been good overall. I had a catalytic converter replaced and dashboard replaced under warranty. Other than that, it's been flawless. It's at 46,000 miles and no rattles. I average 26mpg in summer and 24mpg in winter.

 

[CKN]

Show us on the doll where Ford hurt you.

Ever since you got rid of your F150 all you've done is crapped on every single Ford thread that gets posted. We get it, you didn't like yours, for cripes sake, move on.

That's the rub my friend. Them being the recall leader the last five years running is an industry statistic. It's something I am not making up-or my opinion. And yea-lost big bucks on the F150.

You saw the post with the member who has the quality index and buys vehicles for others?? Right?

Here-

M

Post in thread 'Another Ford Recall'

Nov 16, 2024

Every week or so I track the number of manufacturer buybacks per brand and manufacturer.

Ford and Lincoln combined are now responsible for the majority of the buybacks Nationwide. I no longer recommend any Ford products, new or used, except for the 2.5 liter version of the Ford Fusion.

The long-term quality index, which I co-developed, also shows Ford going straight down the tubes.

• macarose

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