With the optional ($1,500) XLT Appearance Package that includes 20-inch dark alloy wheels and finished in a deep blue metallic paint, the XLT looked very imposing to the point others on the highway slowed right down when they saw me coming, thinking it was one of the stealth police pursuit trucks so prevalent in these parts. It can handle most surfaces, but going seriously off-road is not advisable, as there is no low-range gearing. The XLT comes standard with front-wheel-drive, while this week’s tester was fitted with the available Ford Intelligent Four-Wheel-drive, which includes the Terrain Management system offering Normal, Snow, Sand and Mud/Rut modes. Tested here is the 2018 XLT, which can be considered the “volume” seller, starting with the “base” 3.5-litre normally aspirated V6 with 290 hp and 255 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. Over the years, Explorer has morphed into the present day, fifth-generation that is now classified as a full-size, being based on the architecture of the Ford’s large sedans.Ĭurrently, Ford has just about the widest selection of utility trucks on the market with no less then seven – EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Flex, Expedition and Expedition MAX.Īrguably leading the list is the Explorer, which remains one of the best selling SUVs (Ford prefers to call it a SUV) for the past 25 years.Īnd just to make sure all its bases are covered, there are five trim levels (Explorer, XLT, Limited, Sport and Platinum) with a wide ‑ and I mean wide ‑ list of standard features and optional extras. Today, it would be just large enough to be considered a compact.
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The Ford Explorer began life in 1990 as a SUV built on the Ranger small pickup. But my pick would be the 1980 American Motors Eagle - many of which were built in Brampton, before it was swallowed up by Chrysler.