The Ford Explorer is a range of SUVs manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1990 for the 1991 model year, the Explorer was the first four-door SUV produced by Ford, replacing the two-door Bronco II. Six generations of the Explorer have been produced.The sixth generation was unveiled in January 2019. As with the Ranger, the Explorer derives its name from a trim package used on the F-Series, used from 1967 to 1986. Originally slotted below the full-size Bronco in the Ford truck line, the current Explorer is slotted between the Escape/Kuga, Edge and standard-wheelbase Expedition.
For its first two generations, the Explorer was produced in both two-door (as the Explorer Sport) and four-door configurations. Upon the introduction of the third generation, the Explorer was produced exclusively as a four-door SUV; the Explorer Sport was discontinued in 2003. The Sport name was resurrected in 2012, but as a performance version of the standard four-door Explorer. The Explorer has been offered with a number of powertrain layouts during its production. The first four generations offered rear-wheel drive as standard, with part-time four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options; the fifth generation offered front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, while the sixth generation reverted to rear-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive.
During its production, numerous variants of the Explorer have been marketed, with Lincoln-Mercury selling the four-door Explorer as the Mercury Mountaineer (1996–2010) and the Lincoln Aviator (2002–2005; 2019–); Mazda sold the Explorer Sport as the Mazda Navajo (1990–1994). The Explorer Sport Trac is a mid-size pickup truck derived from the four-door Explorer; two generations were produced from 1999 to 2010. For police use, Ford developed the Ford Police Interceptor Utility from the fifth-generation Explorer (replacing the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor); a specially modified Special Service Vehicle version is also available from Ford Fleet for law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and EMS agencies.
The Ford Explorer was introduced in March 1990 for the 1991 model year. To better compete against the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and Jeep Cherokee mid-size sport-utility vehicles, Ford sought to replace the Ford Bronco II with a vehicle sized closer to its competitors. In an effort to attract family buyers, a four-door version was developed alongside the two-door (launched the same month as the four-door S-10 Blazer).
As with the Ford Bronco II, the first-generation Ford Explorer shares its chassis and underpinnings with the first-generation (1983-1992) Ford Ranger. In comparison to the Bronco II, the Explorer is far larger, with the two-door Explorer Sport gaining 12.6 inches in length and 2.1 inches of width; a four-door is 22.5 inches longer and 730 lb (331 kg) heavier.
As with its predecessor, the Ford Explorer has a large degree of commonality with the Ford Ranger, sharing its front bumper, fenders (modified), headlights, grille, and wheels; with the exception of its steering wheel hub, the Explorer shares its entire dashboard with the 1989-1992 Ford Ranger. In a major change from the Bronco II, the Explorer was given its own front door stampings. In addition for creating a four-door layout, the lack of commonality with the Ranger allowed for two major aerodynamic improvements; along with the elimination of exterior drip rails (by wrapping the doors into the roof), the sideview mirrors were integrated onto the doors (rather than bolted on).
Sharing its engine with the Ranger and four-wheel drive Ford Aerostar, the Explorer was fitted with a German-produced 155 hp (116 kW) 4.0 L Cologne V6 as the sole engine offering, replacing the previous 2.9 L V6. A Mazda M5OD 5-speed manual was the standard transmission offering, with the option of the Ford 4-speed A4LD overdrive automatic transmission. For 1993, the engine output was increased to 160 hp (119 kW).
Along with the standard rear-wheel drive powertrain, at its launch, the Explorer was also offered with various configurations of part-time four-wheel drive, powered by a Borg Warner 13–54 transfer case. In addition to a manually shifted transfer case, Ford offered "Touch Drive" electronic push-button shifting; both were "shift-on-the-fly" designs that allowed the vehicle to be shifted from two-wheel drive to "four-high" at any speed and into "four-low" when the vehicle was stopped. All Explorers were equipped with the Ford 8.8 axle in either a limited slip differential, or open version with a variety of available gear ratios. Four-wheel-drive front axles were the TTB ("Twin Traction Beam") Dana 35 with some Dana 44-spec components.
At its launch, the Ford Explorer followed the Aerostar, Bronco, Econoline, F-Series, and Ranger in model trim. The XL was sold as the base trim, with XLT as the upper range, with the outdoors-themed Eddie Bauer trim as the top trim. The XL was distinguished by a black grille (chrome optional) with steel wheels, while the XLT offered a chrome grille and alloy wheels; the Eddie Bauer offered alloy wheels and two-tone paintwork.
The Ford Explorer Sport was offered solely on the two-door body style. Offering black lower bodywork and grille and alloy wheels, the Sport was intended as a replacement for the Bronco II. From 1990 to 1994, Mazda marketed the two-door Ford Explorer as the Mazda Navajo; the model was awarded the 1991 Motor Trend Truck of the Year award.
The Ford Explorer Limited was introduced for 1993 as a luxury-trim model slotted above the Eddie Bauer. Largely introduced as a competitor to the Oldsmobile Bravada, the Explorer Limited was offered only as a four-door with an automatic transmission. Distinguished by its color-matched grille, headlight trim, and model-specific bodywork and wheels, the Limited was offered with several model-specific features, including automatic headlights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, foglamps, and center roof console (with compass and outside thermometer).
The second-generation Ford Explorer made its debut in late 1994 as a 1995 model. Retaining the same footprint as its predecessor, the 1995 Ford Explorer underwent extensive modifications to its chassis to improve its road manners. In an effort to better differentiate the model line from the Ford Ranger, Ford stylists redesigned the vehicle, giving the Explorer a model-specific exterior. As with its predecessor, the second generation was sold in both three-door and five-door configurations. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive offered as an option.
Following the January 2001 introduction of the third-generation five-door Ford Explorer, the three-door Explorer became a stand-alone model on the second-generation design; the Explorer Sport was produced through the 2003 model year.
This generation of the Ford Explorer marks the debut of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer, introduced in 1996 by Mercury. In early 2000, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was introduced, which was a mid-size pickup truck; offered with a crew cab with a short pickup bed, the Sport Trac was based on the five-door Explorer. The Explorer Sport Trac was produced through the 2005 model year (until it was redesigned for 2007).
Outside of North America, this generation of the Explorer was marketed in right-hand drive configurations As of 2018, RHD countries (such as Japan) export used examples of the Explorer to other countries (such as Australia and New Zealand) where there is demand for right-hand drive SUVs. Due to Japan's strict Shaken Laws, used vehicles tend to have low mileage with detailed repair histories. In the United States, the second-generation Ford Explorer has the (dubious) distinction of being two of the top five vehicles traded in under the 2009 "Cash for Clunkers" program, with the 4WD model topping the list and the 2WD model coming in at number 4.
The second-generation Ford Explorer is based upon the Ford U1 platform shared with its predecessor, adopting the UN105/UN150 model codes. Alongside similar changes in development for the 1998 Ford Ranger, the long-running Twin I-Beam/Twin Traction Beam front suspension was retired in favor of a short/long-arm (SLA) wishbone front suspension configuration. Along with more compact packaging of front suspension components, the design allowed for improved on-road handling/feel.
The optional engine of the Ford Ranger and Ford Aerostar, the 160 hp 4.0 L V6 was carried over from the first-generation Ford Explorer. To match the V8 engine of the similar-sized Jeep Grand Cherokee, for the 1996 model year, Ford introduced a 5.0 L V8 as an option. Initially available on rear-wheel drive XLT models, the availability of the 210 hp (157 kW) V8 was expanded to many versions of the five-door Explorer. For 1997, revised cylinder heads increased output of the 5.0 L V8 to 215 hp (160 kW). Following the January 1996 introduction of the 4.6 L SOHC V8 by the Ford F-Series and E-Series, the Explorer became the final vehicle sold by Ford Motor Company sold with a gasoline pushrod V8.
For 1997, the Ford Explorer gained a third engine, as Ford introduced an overhead-cam version of the 4.0 L Cologne V6. Using a common displacement with the pushrod 4.0 L V6, the 210 hp (157 kW) SOHC V6 rivaled the V8 in engine output. Offered as standard equipment on the top-trim Eddie Bauer and Limited trims, the engine became an option on all other versions of the Explorer and Explorer Sport. For 2001, the pushrod V6 was discontinued, with the SOHC becoming the standard engine in all versions of the Explorer (and the sole engine of the 3-door Explorer Sport).
For 2000, Ford added flex-fuel capability to the Explorer for the first time.
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