The 2018 Explorer is near the top of the list of Ford’s SUVs. It’s a large crossover with three rows of seats and almost as much space as the Ford Expedition. On top of that, it also comes with effective off-road features and a powerful set of engines. Between the on-road conveniences and off-road utilities, the Explorer is a vehicle that can tackle any kind of roadway.
The Engine List
The 2018 Ford Explorer can come with one of three engines, and none of them will disappoint. The list starts with a basic V-6 engine that can manage 290 horsepower, and it comes with either front-wheel or four-wheel drive. You can switch it out for a turbocharged I-4, and thanks to that turbo it can deliver up to 280 horsepower. The third option is a turbocharged V-6, and while it’s the same size as the basic engine, it delivers 365 horsepower, which is 75 more than the starting engine. It also comes standard with the four-wheel drive.
The Terrain Management System
2018 Explorer models with four-wheel drive also get the Terrain Management System. You can set this feature to one of four settings based on whether you’re driving on pavement, gravel, snow, mud, or sand. The TMS can adjust how the transmission shifts, how the throttle accelerates, when the four-wheel drive sends torque to the rear axle, and it can even tell the stability control system to let the wheels spin if they need to. These adjustments combine to give the Explorer the best performance possible on each driving surface.
The Curve Control System
Curve Control is standard on every Explorer model, and it enhances an existing safety feature called AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control. Curve Control can sense when the Explorer might be slipping thanks to the lateral Gs you experience when you take a sharp corner too quickly. The feature can adjust your brakes on all four wheels and reduce the throttle, dropping you to as low as 10 mph if the system thinks your wheels are slipping. Because it checks for wheel slip, it works equally well on dry and wet terrain.
The Enhanced Active Park Assist
The 2018 Ford Explorer also has features for tricky on-road driving. Select Explorer models come with Enhanced Active Park Assist, a driver assistance feature that can automate parallel and reverse-perpendicular parking. The 12 sonar sensors mounted around the body can detect open parking spaces big enough for the Explorer, and once it finds one, you can tell it to automatically back in. It’s safe, convenient, and it saves you a lot of time and effort trying to squeeze a large SUV into a small space.
The 2018 Ford Explorer is a family vehicle, but it’s the kind of family vehicle that’s perfectly at home both on the streets and on the trails. The Explorer lets you go anywhere you want on vacation, and thanks to its 5,000-pound towing capacity you can take a lot with you. Just load it up, choose your destination, and go.
Image via Ford.com
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