2006 Ford Explorer First Drive

Ready to go the distance by Christian Wardlaw

Introduction


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TO THE POINT What’s New? Ford significantly updates the Explorer with cleaner V6 and more powerful V8 engines, a six-speed automatic transmission, a redesigned frame and suspension, new safety technology, improved payload and towing capacities, a revised and quieter interior, and fresh exterior styling.
Selling Points: Lots of safety features, improved ride and handling, powerful V8 engine, ULEV-II V6 engine, greater payload and towing capacity, redesigned seats with better comfort.
Deal Breakers: Thirsty V8 feels like a big V6, hard and cheap plastic on the dash and doors, tight leg room in both rear rows, less cabin storage space than before.
Our Advice: Though imperfect, the 2006 Ford Explorer remains one of the better midsize SUVs, one that can tackle moderate off-road terrain while providing a supple on-road ride quality and responsive handling.

MEET THE COMPETITION Chevrolet TrailBlazer
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LAKE PLACID, New York – Draped atop and between the impossibly lush northeastern Adirondack mountains, two-lane roads are clogged with athletic men and women training for the Ironman triathalon to take place in the Lake Placid, New York, region. Ironman triathalons require these hardy souls to swim, bike, and run to the limits of their endurance; to win such a grueling event requires an unflagging drive to succeed, tenacity in the face of tough competition, and extreme levels of endurance.

Fittingly, Ford selected this atmosphere as a backdrop for the introduction of the re-engineered 2006 Explorer, the most popular sport-utility vehicle in America since its debut for the 1991 model year. Despite market segmentation between traditional and crossover SUVs, a rapid proliferation of competitive nameplates, and the Firestone tire debacle, the Ford Explorer has stood the test of time, rising to every challenge, succeeding at winning the sales race in each year that it has competed. Judy Curran, chief engineer for the 2006 edition, says that the Explorer has been successful because it consistently finds the sweet spot of the market, combining “rugged capability, good looks, comfort, and affordability” in one appealing package.

To keep its champion SUV primed for the fight, Ford makes major upgrades to the 2006 Explorer, adding more power, improved performance, greater comfort, and high-tech safety gear in an effort to hit that constantly shifting sweet spot with consumers. We spent a day driving the revised rig in the Lake Placid region to see whether the 2006 Explorer has got what it takes to stay on top, and based on our brief drive, we’d say that Ford continues to field one of the best traditional midsize SUVs on the market today.