Ford Explorer Hits The Sweet Spot In The Booming SUV Market

As the Ford Explorer rounds 25 years as America’s best selling SUV the sales messaging is family adventure but the heft is coming from the top of the line new $53,000 Platinum edition. With an all-new skin, softening the too obvious to link to ex-cousin Land Rover, the Explorer is a neat package of consumer grabbers.

Sales of the 2016 Ford Explorer are up 30%, and the just released Platinum edition is already up 10% adding to dealership enthusiasm. Surveying the competition — Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, GMC Acadia, and Nissan Pathfinder — Ford found consumers willing to pay the price for more premium features and performance.

The Explorer Platinum gets a bigger twin-turbo eco-boost 3.5-liter V6 engine which gives this mid-sized SUV solid towing and off-road performance with 365 horse-power. A sophisticated all wheel drive system senses road and terrain conditions and makes power and handling adjustments.

The new Explorer boasts unit-body construction and independent suspension, as well as LED headlights and front and rear 180 degree cameras for side and rear collision avoidance, as well as Ford’s popular foot controlled hands-free lift gate.