Test drive Ford Explorer 2001 - 2005 SUV

Big Three in Russian Polesie

USA Homeland of Jeeps. And, of course, all three American concerns put up a whole gamut of SUVs to the market. The subject of our attention was a class where two models of very fresh Chevrolet Trailblazer and Ford Explorer 2002 model year, and the third Jeep Grand Cherokee is still called new.
The whole trinity has close dimension, frame design and five -door bodies. V8 engines are also close: 4.7 l/ 258 hp (Jeep); 4.6 l/ 242 hp (Ford) and the most powerful 4.2 l/ 272 hp (Chevrolet). But the similarity almost ends, because each model is very distinctive and deserves a separate close consideration. We have already written about them for the separate, but our forehead has not yet encountered (in a figurative, of course, sense).
What is the main thing in the SUV? Correct drive. Trailblazer has a connected front, which is controlled by a handle on the panel, not a lever, 2 Hi 4 Hi 4 Low. That is, a dish, in ON-ROD mode, this is a typical classic with all the pros and cons. I personally see more pluses. I like, taking advantage of the remarkable (especially by American standards) Blazer power, to arrange races on asphalt. The heavy car that is not connected by a pair of wheels allows you to let itself into a controlled skid, where the gas increase in the bend easily puts it with the nose in the center of the circle, and in this position, a little beyond the yuza, the trajectory is perfectly monitored. The 4x4 mode is atypical for Trailblazer and is rarely used. But you also have a accurately on the viscous soil of the Cherevy, if you want, you will not want to be healthy, you won’t stop it. This is especially surprising if you look at the most summer tires. The cheerful and confident tread of the GM-Oovsky brainchild in a leuraks is only terribly low-low fork thresholds. At each excess of the SUV, it strives to sit on them and hopelessly hang out one of the frantically rotating wheels. We immediately understood that Trailblazer does not particularly distinguish viscous and slippery surfaces from asphalt and rushing them like a heavy tank, not looking for a rut too much. But this tank is already very low, Sportline, and for any serious bumps, it will quickly become a motionless target for enemy artillery. It is only worth getting back to the firm of asphalt, and Chevy again begins to provoke me on exploits. His streamlined self -confident nose involuntarily pushes the unstable ranks of the teapots, relaxedly dispersed along the wide Moscow roads, like drifting ice floes.
The selector of the KP on the tunnel, and not under the wheel, like most Americans, is more convenient psychologically because you do not have to pull for it. Surprisingly, the traditional definition of Drivers Car does not fit with an overseas SUV. But in the movement the shower is sung by a powerful, light car (two tons are not felt at all) and, oddly enough, I don’t want to get out of the steering wheel. Moreover, stop and look back. After all, the Trailblazer salon is not particularly pleased. A booming, inexpensive, rough plastic is taken from a different opera or even a simple musical, and the variety of different -fried buttons and keys makes you train memory and develop the imagination. But for a dashing disposition, I forgive the traillaiser (it is inconvenient to pronounce in Russian, right?) These little things. And then it would turn out to be such chocolate on wheels that you could not.
Well, we climb into Ford, well studied and even wise during the past, Randev. Ford seemed to be created for launching. The asphalt is not his element. Very good, although the most moderate dynamics in our three does not benefit the heavy swinging jeep. And quite real, carried away by the right pedal, not to catch in one of the turns that is strictly rushing in a straight car. But on the other hand, you only have to get off the asphalt, as you are imbued with respect for the passenger version of the F-150 pickupa. On it you can easily and unobtrusively go along the rut, but across. A capacious, which feels like spring, the suspension swallows even large and sharp edges of ditches, dried out over the past summer tightly. Only with such rudeness of the manner annoying on the asphalt, Explorer is able to calmly fly through any bumps, without delivering special inconveniences to the riders. You feel something like this only on three-axle Urals and KamAZs: the road is somewhere far below, and it is not so important which is slightly shaking, but the main thing in the cabin is comfortable and calm, and the shortest way to the goal is the shortest.
But these are not the only advantages of Explorer, in the salon of which for the first time in the history of American SUVs you feel absolutely like in a European passenger car. No, you just don’t think that the steering coach-reducer has disappeared in place, but otherwise the controls and information are quite civilian and even led to a common denominator of quality and shape. The seats are now also quite anatomical, with reverse accuracy repeating the contours of the body in a fairly wide range of physique. But the enormous volume of the passenger part and the competitors are especially advantageous. It is light, spacious and safe here. The three of you sit just in a kingdom.
It is immediately noticeable that Chevrolet and Ford models of new generation, at least in comparison with relatives. Against their background, the three -year -old Jeep Grand Cherokee looks familiar, although it is on the heart, it is the most elegant in our test. Just too much looked at him in many years. How is it for a lot? Calculate yourself: the last model, so popular in Russia, has become so familiar that the current, built by its reasons, is perceived as restyling. Although it is worth recalling that the Grand Cherokee New is drawn from a clean sheet. It was just that the predecessor was so successful that the novelty was stylistically masked. But her dynamism and charm were noticeably increased. And you feel it as soon as you get behind the wheel. Jeep has a constant all-wheel drive and it will not be possible to ride on one leading axis, well, quite unambiguously and like a man. On any coating, from autobanic MKAD to sand-stone hillocks and swampy slurry, you feel a rigid connection with the road with all four points. This stability plus passenger softness, plus remarkable dynamics sometimes create the illusion that you are the king of the mountain and the king of the road.
Yes, and in the Grand Cherokee salon the most limousine atmosphere spacious in length and width passenger places, perfect sound insulation and a powerful acoustic system. Although it is very inconvenient to manage music in the full -time Corokovsky radio tape recorder that is too wise management. But in everything else, the song is a song. Grand is not only fast and strong, it is also perfectly finished. Fat pork and laconic control handles, ergonomic chairs and clear devices rarely one of the bought Jeep repents of their choice. Well, it will not be a pity to ruin such a handsome man on the off -road? Still, Ford by origin is a farmer, and the Chevrolet, although low thresholds, can be torn off if they completely get it. Comparing three cars on the same pits, slides, stones and buoyes, with undisguised surprise I discovered that the best geometric patency of Jeep. He completely easily steps through transverse obstacles and desperately famously crawls to steep walls. The only thing that can be damaged at the same time is the rear bumper: nevertheless, its length is big, and when the muzzle lifts up abruptly up, it is easy for them to draw earth or sand. But on all distortions, you clearly feel that under the saddle a full -fledged frame jeep with its inherent rigidity and thoroughness.
Interestingly, the whole trinity has many common, purely American, very pleasant and convenient features for the driver and passengers. For example, in order to throw purchases from the supermarket cart into the trunk, it is not at all necessary to open a massive and bulky rear door to raise its glass on separate loops. From here it follows that there are no hung reserves on the gate. And yet, which is very noticeable recently, including on the introduced SUVs, the American origin is bulging out of each detail, but not as a self -propelled degree as before. The quality of the finish and the accuracy of the execution have significantly increased and reached a completely European level.
 
Text Vladimir Smirnov
Photo Alexander Nozdrin
How do they look:
Nikita Rozanov
 
 
 
 
OUTSIDE:
It is not often possible to reduce genuine, not random competitors, and another nationality together. The classic is a big three. It is after them that European and oriental eyes follow them. This is from them dozens of managers of competing firms are waiting for a reproduction or mistakes, they are waiting to take the resulting crack. I want to say: do not wait. But these are emotions. And on the one hand, it was lucky, but this is hard for us, the buyer, the buyer is hardly very difficult to choose. So, on the face, each of the three develops traditional, inherent only to this concern or department family traits. At first glance, the easiest jeep is his gaze and the most conservative, which means, is signed and immediately recognized. But design ... Time is ruthless even for the classics of the genre. Two new items at once: the CHEVROLET corNITED CREASE Discharging anterior optics and a new, more characteristic person Explorer. In general, it was the Ford SUV that was subjected to the most radical changes for the better. Silhouette. Well, what, it would seem, dynamics-stature, can a true and not parquet all-terrain vehicle have? It turns out, maybe! Take a look at Trailblazer. In his lines there is no lulling well -being Grand Cherokee, but in the form of solid and from this static masses Explorer. In addition, the Djiem representative most competently solved an off -road paraphernalia: the bottom of the body is protected by a plastic lining moderate in width, and the front and behind you can notice wide salms of protecting the angles of the congress/entry. Yes, and from behind Trailblazer not to confuse the optics is very original, and the rear racks on the SUV disguised with black matte paint are infrequent.
Results:
Chevrolet Trailblazer is certainly a breakthrough in design and calling this style it is already difficult to call the truck style. A lot of fresh ideas, and the historical ties with the past of the brand did not weaken, but, on the contrary, only strengthened.
Jeep Grand Cherokee its style itself is a tradition, and this cannot leave indifferent either fans of the truly historical brand, nor enthusiasts of progressive solutions. But design is 10 years old, time ...
Ford Explorer is hard to say how new this decision is. However, the style is actually different than the previous models, which were mostly perceived only as modernized pickups.
INSIDE:
Everything is organic, but the proximity of competitors is felt stronger than when comparing their appearance. Differences only in the nuances and decoration. The most Tukovsky interior, of course, Ford has everything without undertaking, despite the inserts of a dark tree, cream plastic and skin. The seats are traditionally flat in profile, which, however, will be immediately evaluated with frequent plantings/landings. Both Chevrolet and Grand Cherokee are more advanced in landing: the seats have a more pronounced bucket, and the finish and plastic panels of the instruments may seem even playful in comparison with Ford asceticism. For example, how I swept the clumber that combines a combination of devices with the central console Trailblazer, or how luxurious a wooden bedside table, in which the audio system is located! The shape of the door panels is diverse, and it is difficult to say which car it is stylistically most connected with the architecture of the panel. They are united by one American love of standardization, and as a result, the commonality of the only detail: the same in the location and shape of the handle. However, the rules are similar: they are solid four -spokes and gleam with the buttons of the management system of the service group integrated in them.
Results:
Chevrolet Trailblazer by how the interior design is conceived and performed, it is clear that this is not a truck. But, for example, the line of harmony, sliding down to the central console, does not add.
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a rare correspondence of parameters from the outside and inside. Even the wealth of wooden decoration can find a response outside. Stylish, but, unfortunately, in the spirit of your time.
Ford Explorer is very whole and harmonious in relation to the image of the car, declared from the outside. But dry. However, this is a truck, although light.

A source: Cars