Takes On The World

The Ford Explorer has become something of an American icon, almost single-handedly transforming the fledgling SUV segment from a niche filled mostly with Jeep enthusiasts into a market powerhouse. Two decades later, a new model is here and it's time to see how it stacks up against the competition.



As noted above, the original Explorer didn't have a whole lot of competition when it first debuted in 1990 as a 1991 model. Sure, there was the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer/GMC Jimmy and the Jeep Cherokee to contend with, but none had the popularity or the staying power the Explorer brought to the table. Over the ensuing 20 years it became one of the best-selling vehicles in America.

It would also become one of the most notorious. A tire blowout scandal in the early 2000s severely damaged the Explorer's reputation and sales have dwindled to less than an eighth of their annual highs in the 1990s. The current model, on the road since 2005, has met lukewarm reviews and some worried the magic was gone.

Now, as the Explorer enters its third decade with an all-new model, it faces a much different market than when it debuted. More than a dozen competing mid-size SUVs are vying for the Explorer's sales, one of them a fellow Ford product. Without further adieu, here's a look at how the new Explorer stacks up against the competition. To make things fair, we've compared the models closely aligned with the Explorer in terms of price, capacity, and other factors. Fuel economy is listed for base FWD models, or AWD in the case of the Subaru.



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