Though we’ve just barely scraped the surface of 2019, we’re already looking ahead to 2020. Ford has just released a first look of the 2020 Ford Explorer, and it’s already proving its worth.
Redesigned from the ground up, America’s all-time best-selling SUV is stronger, sportier, and smarter. According to Ford, “Every enhancement on this all-new Explorer was inspired by our customers.”
So, what makes the 2020 Explorer “all new?”
Performance
For starters, it implements a new rear-wheel drive construction that not only increases capability, but also passenger comfort. Ford’s intelligent four-wheel drive and new Terrain Management System™ are on offer, the latter of which comprises seven road settings for fine-tuned driving.
Thanks to the 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost® V6, which is slated to generate 365 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, the 2020 model is the strongest Explorer to date. As a comparison, the 2019 version taps out at 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. A 2.3-liter turbocharged I-4 comes standard.
When properly equipped, both engine options offer increased towing capacity compared to the outgoing model. The V6 now renders a max 5,600-lb capacity (a 12-percent jump from the previous 5,000 lb), and the I-4 features a max 5,300-lb capability (vs 3,000 lb).
Interior & Technology
Maximum cargo room is increased by 6.1 cubic feet, complemented by the introduction of a new mechanism that enables easier entry/exit to the third row and redesigned ISOFIX anchor points for child seats.
It could be argued that previous Explorers arrived a bit “bare-boned”in the standard trim, but that changes with the 2020 iteration, which boasts more than a dozen newly standard features:
- Power liftgate
- Eight-inch touchscreen
- SYNC® 3 infotainment
- FordPass Connect™
- Wi-Fi hotspot
Also standard? Ford Co-Pilot360™, a suite of driver-assist systems designed to keep you out of harm’s way. Expect to see amenities such as a blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, and many more.
Available goodies include a wireless charging pad, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, and navigation. Also offered is an expansive 10.1-inch touchscreen in the center stack, akin to a tablet.
“Explorer drivers told us what they want – more capability, more power, more space,” Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s head of product development and purchasing, comments. Safe to say that Thai-Tang fulfilled all those wishes—and in spades.
The 2020 Ford Explorer is projected to hit dealerships this summer.
Source: Ford