Ford Explorer SUV

Ford Explorer SUV

Power

The standard 2011 Ford Explorer engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 290 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque, front-wheel drive and a 6-speed transmission. Ford's 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine is available, which makes 237 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Ford claims that this engine delivers V6 power with 4-cylinder fuel economy and expects mileage to be as much as 30 percent better than last year's. As for fuel economy, Ford is continuing its commitment to be a leader, with the SUV tossing its V8 in favor of a V6. While there is no replacement for displacement, a little engineering certainly makes a big difference and the new 3.5-liter engine, which first debuted in the new Mustang sporting twin variable vale timing, makes just 2-hp less than the old V8, while offering a 32 percent improvement in fuel economy.

Handling

Every 2011 Ford Explorer comes standard with stability and traction control, trailer sway control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and MyKey, which allows parents to specify limits for vehicle speed . The Explorer's stability control system also includes Ford's Curve Control, which can reduce the vehicle's speed if it senses that it's travelling too fast for a particular corner. One of the biggest gizmos in the new Explorer is called the "curve control system". This system will be added to the car's existing electronic stability system and will add a massive dose of computing power and safety to the car's system.

Interior

Standard features on the interior are pretty standard such as keyless entry, power windows and locks, heated front seats, climate control, to name a few. The vehicle features twin sliding rear side doors and a clever new seat folding concept for second-row seats. The second-row seat is equipped with a unique mechanism that allows the middle seat position to fold quickly and easily under the right-hand seat, creating a handy walk-through space between the two outboard seats so passengers can easily access the third row, as well as two individual, bucket-like seats The Vito E-CELL features a Smart Charge Communication Unit (SCCU) as standard, making intelligently controlled charging possible. This ensures that within the defined period, the van is charged precisely when the energy providers supply "green" electrical power at off-peak, overnight rates. The result is a further, drastic reduction in CO2 emissions within the overall energy balance of the Vito E-CELL ("Well to Wheel"), quite apart from the vehicle's zero-emission performance during actual operation.

Safety

Standard equipment includes four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with anti-lock protection; electronic brake-force distribution; electronic stability and traction control; side, head and third-row air bags; rear inflatable seat belts; dusk sensing headlamps; and tire-pressure monitoring. There also is an array of optional safety equipment, including blind-side and cross-traffic monitoring, which can avoid crashes caused by errant lane changes or by backing into moving traffic. This column highly recommends both blind-side and cross-traffic monitoring. Prices for the new Explorer will start at $28,190, while the top Limited 4WD model will be $39,190. If you want your Explorer fully loaded it will cost you around $48,075. So if you're in the market for a all around SUV, check out the 2011 Ford Explorer.