2019 Ford Explorer review

1. Ready to explore

No matter how you spend your weekends, the 2019 Ford Explorer has you covered. Whether you're heading on a camping trip with your favorite people or hitting the shops downtown, you'll appreciate the practicality of this SUV. Want to take the scenic route wherever you go? Look for an Explorer equipped with available intelligent four-wheel drive. And if you want to take your toys on your next adventure, look for the 3.5L engine—it has an estimated 5,000 lbs towing capacity when properly equipped.

2. Thrifty EcoBoost engine

The standard engine on the 2019 Ford Explorer is a capable 290-hp 2.5L V6 that gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg combined with front-wheel drive.

 If you regularly travel long distances and need a fuel-economy boost, take a look at the 2.3L EcoBoost^® engine option. It's turbocharged for 280 hp and gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. The 365-hp 3.5L EcoBoost engine isn't quite as gentle, but it still gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined with four-wheel drive.

3. Selectable drive modes

For all 2019 Ford Explorers equipped with intelligent four-wheel drive and the Terrain Management System^™, you'll get a range of selectable drive modes to customize each journey. You might spend most of your time in Normal mode, which is great on wet or dry roads and has an additional hill-descent mode to control your speed on steep declines. For backroad driving, select Mud mode to limit wheelspin. For trips to the beach, you've got Sand mode, and for everything else you have Snow, Gravel, and Grass modes to improve traction on tricky terrain.

4. Adaptable interior

The 2019 Ford Explorer seats seven as standard or six with available second-row heated bucket seats. Behind the third row you'll get 21 cu-ft of space, but if you need more, fold the third row down for 43.9 cu-ft of space. If you have a big DIY project coming up or need to move some furniture, fold all the seats for a total of 81.7 cu-ft of cargo space. With all seats split-folding, you can customize the space to carry passengers as well as their belongings.

5. Five trims to suit your lifestyle

The base 2019 Ford Explorer and the XLT trim are great if you want a simple but capable vehicle with conveniences like a power driver's seat and voice recognition through the SYNC^® system. Take a look at the Limited trim if you want features like a third-row power-folding seat, blind spot monitoring, and a heated steering wheel. The Sport trim is for off-road enthusiasts and includes four-wheel drive, a sport-tuned suspension, and paddle shifters. The Platinum trim is focused on luxury, with a range of driver-assistance features, massaging seats in the front row, and a Sony^® premium audio system.