Units Affected 294 From chassis upgrades and a new driveline to an interior makeover with fresh amenities, if refinement is what you've been wishing for in an Explorer, it's been granted. It develops 292 horsepower, and 300 pound-feet of torque. It's quieter impressively so , smoother, safer, and better equipped. While the navigation system speaks, the rest of the interior whispers. Eddie Bauer editions get a two-tone bumper and trim treatment, a chrome three-bar grille, Pueblo Gold running boards and 17-inch painted aluminum wheels.
Large head restraints provide enhanced safety and allow improved rear visibility when the seat is unoccupied. This was in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2006 model-year New Car Assessment Program. The V8 is the latest from Ford's 4. The grilles, with two distinct styles wrapping the large, 7-inch Ford blue oval, make the strongest statement. Vehicle Details Completely redesigned in 2006, the 2007 Explorer's interior now sports more angular styling along with several new features.
Choose the V8 if you pull trailers. The V-6 teams with a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V-8 works with a new six-speed automatic. It gets the basics right while paying attention to the details. The stiff frame provides a smooth ride with excellent road feel, crisp handling and outstanding steering response. A new White Sand Tri-Coat Clearcoat Metallic exterior color is available on Limited models. With the V8, you get a six-speed automatic with two overdrives, plus full electronic control of upshifting, downshifting and torque converter functions.
Ford says trailing arms added to the rear suspension in 2006 make it more robust. The current chassis is some 63-percent stiffer than in older models; chassis rigidity is a key element for crisp handling and a smooth ride. It features advanced materials that dampen vibrations and lessen noise. The Safety Canopy side air-curtain system is now standard on Eddie Bauer and Limited. It includes Ironman logos, 18-inch machined aluminum wheels, an exclusive Orange Frost color, and 10-way, leather-trimmed heated front seats. Explorer was completely redesigned for the 2006 model year and we were pleased with the new steering, the new suspension, and the new brakes, all of which were vastly improved over the previous-generation.
Recent Fair Purchase Prices for the have reflected real-world selling prices from 10- to -15-percent less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, but we expect those differences to shrink in light of the vehicle improvements and downwardly adjusted sticker prices. When properly equipped, a V-6-equipped Explorer can tow up to 5,390 pounds, versus 7,290 pounds in models with V-8 power. Large door openings coupled with a low step-in height should help ease entry and exit. Ford says trailing arms added to the rear suspension in 2006 make it more robust. It includes Ironman logos, 18-inch machined aluminum wheels, an exclusive Orange Frost color, and 10-way, leather-trimmed heated front seats. Bauer features a two-tone front bumper and an accent-color rear bumper; a three-bar chrome grille with side nostrils; accent-color wheel lip moldings; body-color exterior mirrors; silver roof rails with black end caps; and Pueblo Gold running boards.
Explorer earned the best possible impact protection rating in the government's crash tests: five stars for the driver in a frontal impact, the front-seat passenger in a frontal impact, front-seat occupants in a side impact, and rear-seat occupants in a side impact. Explorer manages to be isolated from the road, but well connected to it, at the same time. The revised V6 delivers better mileage and, according to Ford, produces fewer emissions than the previous generation V6 Explorers. The now-more-efficient 24-valve V8 delivers a marked increase in horsepower, along with increases in maximum towing and payload capacities to 7,300 and 1,520 pounds, respectively. With the V6, you get a five-speed automatic overdrive transmission. The rear seats fold flatter, and the interior has been improved throughout. The available third-row seats sit high, providing good visibility for children while still affording comfortable headroom for taller occupants.
The bucket seats are more comfortable for adults, but the bench seats fold down better for cargo. Although the Explorer has plenty of newer competition, both domestic and foreign, few offer the combination of low price, three-row seating and a powerful V8 engine, not to mention the Explorer's 7,300-pound tow rating. In addition, both rear rows of seats now fold almost completely flat just two degrees from horizontal , so cargo is less likely to vacate the vehicle the instant the liftgate is opened. Bauer features a two-tone front bumper and an accent-color rear bumper; a three-bar chrome grille with side nostrils; accent-color wheel lip moldings; body-color exterior mirrors; silver roof rails with black end caps; and Pueblo Gold running boards. With the lighter V6, the Explorer is a bit easier to turn and maneuver, but both engines are pleasant and competent. Among the functional changes for 2007 are new interior door-pull cups for the front doors and a standard audio input jack with all radios.
There are dark wood accents in most models and darker, richer wood for the Eddie Bauer version. This situation has been improved for 2007. Available with V6 or V8 power, it competes against the Chevy TrailBlazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner, and Nissan Pathfinder. The stiff frame provides a smooth ride with excellent road feel, crisp handling and outstanding steering response. These changes are an extension of the simple formula for the successful Explorer: Put people first. Limited wears body-color front and rear bumpers; a chrome four-bar grille; chrome exterior mirrors; chrome roof rails with black end caps; body-color running boards; and body-color wheel lip moldings.
Eddie Bauer adds: automatic headlights; two-tone front bumper, with rear bumper in accent color; chrome three-bar grille with nostrils; body-color exterior mirrors with approach lights; silver roof rails with black end caps; Pueblo Gold running boards; 17-inch, painted aluminum wheels with all-season tires; accent-color wheel lip moldings; second-row dome lights; wood-grain interior accents; overhead console; four-line message center; electrochromic rearview mirror; leather-trimmed, 10-way, power, low-back driver sport bucket seat; leather-trimmed, manual passenger seat; illuminated visor vanity mirrors; keyless entry with keypad; and Safety Canopy. Driving It Out on the road, the new Explorer behaves the same way it always has, only better. A power moonroof and 18-inch chrome-clad wheels are optional. In fact, the 2006 Explorer was poised to dominate this year's competition. The air conditioner is relatively quiet yet moves the air.
We find the Explorer fully competitive in a tightly contested segment, succeeding as both an excellent machine and a high-value purchase. Woodgrain interior accents and leather-trimmed seats highlight the Eddie Bauer edition, which has a four-line message center and remote keyless entry with a keypad. The most important change for 2007 might be the new interior door handles, of all things. A power moonroof and 18-inch chrome-clad wheels are optional. These changes are an extension of the simple formula for the successful Explorer: Put people first.