June 8

When you think of the 21st century, your first thoughts probably are not of the automobile.
Likely you conjure up thoughts of technology and anything associated with the "information age." This includes computers and mobile phones, which are the latest status symbols as we are at the crossroads of a new decade.

It's not about what you drive as much as it is about "Do you have a Droid or an iPhone?" Youths want to know how many texts you send a month, not how much horsepower you've got. Plus, it sounds cooler to say you send 3,000 texts than "Oh yeah, she purs with that four-cylinder motor. It's got 115 ponies!"

With that said, Ford has decided to take its updated Explorer in a new direction, something that represents the 21st century buyer. This means that the new, 2011 Explorer had to do a couple of things differently: have a more tech-laden interior than any previous generation Explorer and meet the needs of an emerging demographic, crossover buyers.

A lot like the "information age" the auto industry has seen an emerging change, what I dub the "crossover age." Basically this involved taking normal cars and jacking them up on stilts and placing an all-wheel drivetrain -- sometimes -- in the vehicle. It drives similarly to a normal car but it gives you the security and impression that you're driving a truck.

Here's the catch: although most of the time a crossover's MPG is better than a comparable, hardcore truck, crossovers aren't the best when you get it off the pavement.

Or are they? More about this later.

First let's talk about the new design. It does not take too long to recognize that the 2011 Ford Explorer is a longer sport-utility vehicle than before. It has increased in length by 3.7'' but at the same time it has shrunk in height by 1.8''. Then there are its design details. Notice it's A-pillar has been blacked out and although it has more fluid-looking sheetmetal with rounded edges, it still remains tough. LEDs adorn the back end and overall the car has a very clean, slick look.

Compared to my family's early 1990s Ford Explorer -- we named it "Blue Lightning" for its absurd paint scheme --, which looked akin to a Lego, the 2011 Explorer exudes a contemporary vibe. Hell, if you cover up the front and rear of the new Explorer, I am willing to bet that you'll agree it has a Range Rover-esque quality to it. That's something that most consumers who aspire to own a top-of-the-line Range Rover will be able to appreciate.

Then there is the interior. Ford has been saying for its past couple of product launches that it has benchmarked Audi's interior quality. Although you may have looked, tilted your head and said "Surely you must be joking," this time around they really have made strides. Without question, the 2011 Explorer has the nicest interior in the Ford lineup. My co-pilot for the drive, J.F. Musial -- who is a self-proclaimed Audiphile --, also inspected the SUVs switchgear and agreed that it sported seriously high-quality materials.

In my highly optioned test vehicle, there was a slew of tech goodies. This Explorer had a navigation unit with the best-in-breed SYNC system and MyFord Touch, which will take some getting use to. Probably the geekiest part about the nav unit was the "ECO" mode, which takes into account a variety of factors that may inhibit a higher MPG. It is a nice touch, however, only a legendary engineer like Isambard Kingdom Brunel could fully appreciate the savings it brings since he built his railway as flat as possible to be maintain efficiency.

Since the 2011 Explorer has gotten larger, Ford made the right choice by giving it standard third-row seating. This slick move gives the Explorer an edge against the all-new, 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which only has two rows of seating. Although it may seem like a minor detail, this does become a pivotal aspect when making a buying decision between the two, trust me.

In the driver's seat, it is a little weird to get used to the way Ford has configured the space in the Explorer. To your left and above your head there is enough room to make you feel as though you're in a cathedral; however, the Explorer's windscreen is smaller and more car-like so you do not feel like you are driving a gigantic box.

But enough of the interior mumbo jumbo, let's get to the nitty gritty of the 2011 Explorer and how it drives.

Using a 3.5-liter V6 powerplant, the 2011 Ford Explorer produces 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. Considering its heft at nearly 4,700 pounds, it is a relatively brisk vehicle. It's not going to pull your head back with a sledgehammer-like amount of torque, but is more than adequate for highway merging and getting around town.

The EPA estimates this six-cylinder will earn 17/25 city/highway. If that's not enough for you then look forward to next year when Ford will unleash a four-cylinder motor into the wild.

Given that the Explorer is a decently sized SUV, my expectations concerning the new Ford'shandling were set pretty low. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was not as bad as I would have expected given its weight and lack of an air suspension. Even more shocking was how Ford tuned the Explorer's steering feel. Unlike most SUVs, it has a stable on-center feel and provides a solid amount of feedback going into sweeping turns, which is where the Explorer feels its best.

In fact, the Explorer's steering feels better than the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO I drove. Where the 2010 Taurus SHO' steering felt unsure of itself, the 2011 Explorer feels confident wherever you point it.

Although Ford believes that most of its buyers will not be going off the tarmac, in case you're one of the select few, there is no need to worry thanks to the Terrain Management System. Sure, the 2011 Explorer lacks off-road cred without an air suspension or locking differentials, but when you factor in the costs -- $$, weight -- and benefits of the systems, they're not exactly worth it.

Think: locking diffs and an air suspension add quite a bit of heft. When the majority of consumers will not be requiring them and wants better fuel efficiency, it only makes sense to axe them. Sure you may not be as off-road capable as a Range Rover but I am confident most buyers will want the increased MPG and easier-to-use system.

Armed with five modes, the TMS offers Normal, Mud/ruts, Sand, Snow and Hill Descent Control. The best part about the center console dial is that it's easy to use and understand. It's not a bunch of buttons or switches that people will find confusing. After tackling a moderate off-road course, it's incredible to see that even some reasonably difficult obstacles can be attacked with STREET tires and a system that modifies the engine, tranny, four-wheel drive and traction control system.

Although a reasonable person would question the validity of an off-road course set up by Ford, I would rest assured because it was definitely more difficult than any soccer mom or city-going, crossover buyer would ever experience.

Now that we know it has what it takes, then there is the price. With Ford touting that the 2011 Explorer is $1,100 cheaper than the current model, has 80 more horsepower than the outgoing V6 model and comes equipped with a standard third row, you can't really find much to dislike about the Explorer. Base trims start at a competitive $28,995*

Though the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee was consistently brought up again and again by Ford and testers, the real competitor is the 2011 Dodge Durango. Given that its base model prices in just over $30,000*, has competitive MPG and has a third row, it lines up better with the Explorer.

*These prices include destination and handling charge

After spending some time with the 2011 Explorer, it's pretty clear. Considering how well-rounded it is, the Explorer is a tough act to follow if towing and intense off-roading aren't your primary concerns. Although a lot of the time we question the awards giving to cars every year, the 2011 Ford Explorer is truly deserving of its North American Truck of the Year accolade.

Source: autospies.com

About Parker Ford Lincoln, Inc. Parker Ford Lincoln Inc., is a multi-President Award-winning dealership in Murray, Kentucky offering new Ford and Lincoln Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers. Visit us online at http://www.parkerford.com.