Review: 2011 Ford explorer.

The Ford Explorer helped to start the SUV trend way back in 1990, and along the way it has gone from sales leader, to public disgrace, to also-ran SUV. It has sold in the millions and has been exported to over 90 different countries in its lifetime. With 96 percent nameplate recognition, the only Ford products that are more well known are the Mustang and the F-150, both of which have been on sale continuously for 26 and 42 more years, respectively. To say the Explorer is important to Ford’s business plan is an understatement of mammoth proportions.

So when it came time to redesign it, Ford had clear goals in mind. Better fuel economy and better driving dynamics were two of the main reasons people were saying no to SUVs. It seemed the path was clear; make it more efficient, and better to drive. But the Blue Oval did a lot more than just that. With the switch from body-on-frame to unibody, the Explorer has transformed itself from old-school SUV to new-school CUV.

If you are walking up to the Explorer for the first time, you might be surprised at its size. The designers used some clever visual tricks to make this model look smaller than the 2010 edition, but don’t let that fool you. This model boasts the same eight inches of ground clearance as the previous generation, but is almost two inches shorter, thanks to its high beltline and narrow greenhouse. The 2011 is also some four inches longer with a one-inch shorter wheelbase. It sees a six-inch increase in width, with subsequent six-inch increases in the front and rear track. The increases in track and decreases in wheelbase might seem rather small, but both play a major role in how the vehicle drives. The wider the track, the more stable the vehicle will be, while a shorter wheelbase will make the vehicle willing to rotate and offer a more car-like experience. >>>>>>read more