2011 Ford Explorer Review

The 2011 Ford Explorer.

Once upon a time, there was a vehicle that seemingly everyone bought. You saw it everywhere. The time was the 1990s and the vehicle was the Ford Explorer.

Then bad things started to happen...blowouts and rollovers...the tires were to blame (along with people who didn't know how to respond to a blowout...I was in three such instances in Explorer TV news units, and thanks to calm, cool photographer/drivers, there was little drama involved), but the Explorer's halo took a hit, and so did sales.

Well, that might be a good thing in the long run, because those declining sales prompted Ford to completely re-think the Explorer and what it should be for 2011 and the foreseeable future beyond.
The new Explorer moves from truck-based to car-based but still keeps the rugged good looks of more traditional mid-size SUVs.

Rear 3/4 view of the 2011 Ford Explorer.

In a vacuum, this would be a big-time home run. But the competition (namely Jeep) chose 2011 to re-do its Grand Cherokee, complete with a quantum leap in interior quality.  So the Explorer can take nothing for granted. And it doesn't. It drives well, rides better and there's a sense of solidity, security and quality that is a new high for the Explorer nameplate.

The price is right...starting at $28,360 for the 2-wheel drive base Explorer. Ours was the 4WD XLT...same 283 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, same EPA fuel economy rating of 17 city/25 highway. But you add Sirius Satellite Radio, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise control, secondary audio and other controls, front unique cloth bucket seats, the SecuriCode keyless entry keypad, a reverse sensing system, and powered/heated folding outside mirrors with led turn signals and security approach lamps. And the price goes up to $33,190.

Still not too shabby.

The 2011 Ford Explorer interior.

The Ford press fleet people kept the options list short, too...Rapid Spec package 201A was the big ticket...adding MyFord Touch, SYNC, a rear view camera, dual zone climate control and a premium audio upgrade for $1,750. There was also a trailer tow package ($570), $395 for the special Red Candy Metallic Tint paintjob and $795 for the voice-activated navigation system (when the price gets that much below the typical $2,000 for a factory nav system, we won't argue against it).

Tack on $805 for destination and delivery, and the Explorer bottom-lined at $37,505...exactly $580 below the Jeep Grand Cherokee we reviewed last month.  But watch those options choices...open the 2012 Explorer page on the Ford website and you'll see these sobering words:

"$28,170 starting MSRP (yep, a price cut from 2011). As shown $46,370."

Yes, kids, you can add darn near 20-grand to the sticker price of your Explorer if you get carried away.

But back to ours...a solid, strong choice at $37,505 as equipped. That $580 price advantage over the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo is nothing for Ford to get comfy over, though...as terrific as the Explorer's new interior is, Jeep (and all of Chrysler) is swinging for the bleachers in that area...and with the Grand Cherokee, succeeding...and if you're thinking of indulging in some off-roading, the Jeep reputation is tough to beat.

Nonetheless, after years of decline, the Explorer is back...and it's by far the best Ford Explorer ever.

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo X 4X4 Review

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Best looking Grand Cherokee ever?

Jeeps are famous for being able to go anywhere. Well, the Grand Cherokee has been to hell and back, thanks to owners (especially Cerberus) who didn't understand what the brand was all about and rushed not-quite-Jeeps to market while letting the Grand Cherokee get long in the tooth and behind the competition.

There wasn't much in American automotive business the past few years to suggest a successful U-turn could be pulled off on short notice, but not only did Jeep's new masters hang such a U, they then put it in 4 Low, climbed the tallest hill around and parked the new Grand Cherokee on it.

 

Rear view of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

No, that's not hype. Yes, the new Grand Cherokee is that good. Easily the most solidly built GC ever, with the magnificent new 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine, a powerplant so smooth I would have bet you stupid money not long ago that Chrysler of all companies could never build it. And it transforms the driving experience with a 38% bump in horsepower over last year's six, and an 11% increase in torque as well. All it needs is a six-speed automatic rather than the five-speed. It would help mileage, which is about what you'd expect...16 city/22 highway.

The Laredo is the first rung on the Grand Cherokee ladder. Even the "base" Laredo comes with Quadra-Track 4WD, Electronic Stability Control, Anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, hill start assist, trailer sway damping, speed control, a power 8-way driver's seat with power 4-way lumbar adjust, a six-speaker audio system with AM/FM/CD/mp3, a one-year subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio and an audio jack input for your mobile device. They also come with Power windows, tilt and telescope steering column, audio controls on the steering wheel, and 17-inch painted aluminum wheels. There's no such thing as a "stripper" Grand Cherokee.

Most improved player: The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee interior.

And as good as the mechanicals are, Chrysler really knocked it out of the park with the interior. Chrysler was notorious in the Cerberus years for having some of the worst interiors in the business...poor fit and finish and 99 Cent Store materials. No more. All gone. They've gone from worst to first. Leader of the class.

Our tester got gussied up even further by the press fleet folks, who added the Laredo 26X Package: Leather trimmed bucket seats, power 8-way driver and front passenger seats, both getting the power lumbar adjusters. They're heated, too. The audio system gets bumped up to include DVD and a hard-drive, plus 9 speakers, a 506-watt amplifier and subwoofer plus a USB port. That's $4080.

How about the All Weather Capability Group? Ours had it. Now, I'd suggest that a Grand Cherokee is already plenty capable in all weather, but $695 buys the Selec-Terrain system, tow hooks (in case you exceed capability?) and an engine block heater.

And the piece de resistance...another audio system upgrade...this time to a 30 gig hard drive that can hold 4,250 songs and throws in satellite navigation for the low, low price of just $395. At that point, I'll drop my usual objection to in-dash GPS.

Result: One seriously luxurious Grand Cherokee for $38,085. A vehicle you can take to the opera and not have the valets turn up their noses. But the goodness and real-honest-to-God-Jeepness of it will have you plotting a course for the Rubicon Trail on the weekend.

Just proves the old saying: Never say never. Chrysler and Jeep were down, but clearly not out. And now, the Grand Cherokee is king of any hill it cares to climb.

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Pricing

The first of what's being described as a new product "avalanche" (though that's a Chevy, isn't it?) from Chrysler hits dealers next month and they're ready to talk price.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will start at $30,995 (including destination charges). That's for the Laredo 2 wheel drive model, and it's $495 lower than the entry-level price on the '10.

The Laredo 4x4 is $32,995. Next step up is the Limited 2wd at $37,495, Limited 4x4 at $39,995 and top of the line is the new Overland 2wd at $39,495...$42,995 for the 4x4.

Given that it'll be fairly easy with options to run an AWD Overland past the 50 large mark, there will be a $20,000 range of prices on the new Grand Cherokee.

Missing in action, at least for now, the Grand Cherokee SRT-8.  Engine choices are a 290 horsepower V6 and a 360 horsepower 5.7 liter V8.

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