Test drive Ford Explorer 2001 - 2005 SUV

Own among their own

By the time this issue is released, he will not be lonely. His blood brothers-twin brothers will already be captured by customs warehouses and will fall into the dealer salons of preliminary imprisonment, where after some time they will find a ticket to life and tin signs. In the meantime, he is the first to step on the new land, and in this he completely and fully justifies his name by the researcher.

 

When we shot a new Explorer for the magazine, a representative of a special layer of our society approached us, the appearance of which was quite consistent with the image of the owner of the SUV. Having made a triple bypass of the car, he dropped with knowledge: hmm, explorer? Yes, I already traveled on this! And he retired with dignity.
 
The citizen was mistaken. Yes, indeed, this is an Explorer, but 2002 model year, and therefore such cars in Russia still do not start sales of the second-generation model, we are scheduled for late summer. And we tested the only copy in the country that Ford brought for certification, thereby being one of the first to try a new SUV on the go, and, therefore, also a kind of explorer.
 
Explorer II is built on a completely new platform, which, unlike the previous one, has a much more humane concept. His predecessor, which appeared in 1990,, as well as all his late derivatives, grew out of Ranger pickups and therefore was distinguished by simplicity of design and not quite passenger sled qualities.

 

The new researcher is not so primitive from the cargo past, there was no trace left. The suspension is now completely independent, which, according to the plan of designers, is designed to improve handling and increase comfort. The four -liter engine is aggregated with the latest five -speed automatic, and the choice of transmission modes will lead the buttons on the central console. It seems that the transition to electronic transmission control has recently become fashionable among the Americans, as evidenced by our recent acquaintance with Chevrolet Tahoe.
 

It seems that comparisons with competitors will not be able to avoid, since all overseas SUVs are extremely similar to each other regardless of the brand. At the same time, they are radically different from all other representatives of the automobile world, being a completely special category of cars that are difficult to compare with SUVs from other ends of the world.
 
So, the faithful American SUV begins with the size of XL and ends XXXL (whatever the year, then all new XLs are added to these sizes), has a multi -liter engine that does not suffer from the lack of appetite and torque, a long -term suspension and an indispensable automatic box. Who is he, the ideal owner of such an all -terrain vehicle? The bodybuilder seven-na-e-and-seven, full of strength and energy? Or maybe a tired, a short -sighted housewife? Yes, anyone! In these cars, everything is very massive-big and well distinguishable, but unimaginably light and airy. Outside, this is the ultimate simplicity of forms with the maximum size of the parts, inside hefty pens, buttons and arrows. The main thing is that the very idea of \u200b\u200ban impressive car for all occasions, which has a number of specific advantages and disadvantages, is close. And even if, in fact, the car is not so big, then at least it is obliged to seem like that a person pays money, first of all, for size and appearance.

  

The new Explorer continues the traditions of predecessors. In appearance, this is all the same large all -wheel drive Ford, in front, similar to all SUVs at the same time, on the side of the larger Expedition, and behind the long -removed from the production of the Ford Escort Turnier. The headlights of the head light are made in the form of two intersecting circles exactly the same flaunting the just appeared Range Rover. Everything else is in the spirit of the genre: a high hood, heavy doors with handles, for which you can grab with two hands at the same time, and the fifth door of the trunk with a separate glass. And here is a funny, but comfortable quirk: lanterns are built into the rear view mirrors, illuminating the road around the front doors.
 
Inside, American history continues. High leather thrones with electroregulations, an immense central panel, a poker of an automatic transmission selector, pedals under the 48th shoe size and a climate control center with giant flat buttons. The salon is notable for the presence of a third row of seats, access to which is surprisingly convenient.
 
The third row is folded in such a way that the loading platform is completely flat, but inclined, and only the handles in the floor indicate the presence of additional seats.

  

If you look into the salon from the trunk, you can fully realize that the equal rights of the passengers, Ford Ergonomists put at the forefront. On the ceiling there is a control unit and the speed of rotation of the fan that serves the middle row and the gallery, and the Milky Way from the air ducts reaches almost the rear window.
 

And it should also be noted the magnificent acoustics, and the inhabitants of the United States understand a lot about the right sound. Audiosystem is a real decoration of this machine.
 
Due to playing music, you can’t hear a working motor, which is already ready to slide the car from a place. And so the engine is practically no sound insulation in the car at a height. Even in the movement, the researcher is quiet and does not bother the hearing of passengers, unless the V-shaped six and tires occasionally make themselves felt with active acceleration.

 

The tires, by the way, should be said a couple of affectionate. The machine is equipped with Bridgestone Duler H/T tires, which turned out to be very cowardly and squeaked plaintively even with small turns, declaring their weakness. We dare to assume that these wheels were not in the best way reflected on the brake qualities of an explorer.
 
In standard traffic modes, the car does not present surprises. No pleasant or unpleasant. Excessively light steering wheel, lethargy of reactions, the machine is relaxed and provokes the driver himself to relax. But if the driver started up, Explorer will quickly cool his ardor: even with active pedaling, the nature of the acceleration, despite the worthy indicators of the four -liter motor, is quite calm and at the same time unpredictable. The tone sets the very latest assault rifle about the five steps, which disposes of the stable entrusted to him in its own way, and before that it makes the right decision for a long time. It seems that there are some kind of passport ten to hundreds of some too long.

  

In addition, a completely independent suspension, without causing complaints with measured calm ride, can throw a feint in corners. On a flat road in a protracted turn, the explorer behaves extremely confidently, deadly clinging into the roadbed and practically not rolling, but it is worth getting to the comb, as immediately the front and rear suspensions begin to live their own life, vibrating with unsaved masses and changing the trajectory of car movement .

 

Explorer is quite capable of the study of off -road, however, provided that off -road is understood as a rural primer or similar relatively hard and dry coatings. Despite the presence of a lowering gear and a self -locking rear differential, the car can be planted even in a completely harmless situation. Diagonal hanging occurs even before inaccessible sections, and the softness of blocking the rear interventor differential is not able to eliminate the rotation of the hanged wheel empty. In addition, the case is aggravated by a significant mass of the car and by no means off -road tires.

 

Explorer is really that real American SUV, that is, more Utility than Sport. New model, this time from Ford. A multi -purpose vehicle for a connoisseur of just such cars are large and strong, but at the same time good and soft. It is good both as an antidepressant, and as a cure for complexes an external, potent medicine.
 
Autography
Ford Explorer II 4.0 Limited
Predecessor
Explorer (1990)
Premiere
january 2001
Start of sales
spring 2001, North America
Start of sales in Russia
august 2002
Country of Origin
USA
 



Photo: Vsevolod Konovalov, Roman Ostanin
 

During the test, the car is insured by LLC Nation Center.
The editors thanks the technology center for help in preparing the material.
The car is provided by Euro Motors.
 

Text: Kirill Brevdo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

A source: Wheel magazine [No. 60/2002]