Reader Review: 2021 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD

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As a working musician since the early Seventies, Don Wilson has always required a vehicle to haul plenty of band gear, including his own bass guitar and amplifier. So, when the Calgarian spent a week behind the wheel of a 2021 Ford Explorer XLT, he looked at it with an eye to utility.

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The Explorer is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021. First launched in 1990 as a 1991 model year vehicle, over those ensuing three decades many platform, powertrain, and design changes have occurred. In 2020, Ford launched the sixth generation Explorer. Completely redesigned from the ground up, the Explorer features unibody construction and, in other markets, is a rear-wheel drive vehicle with all-wheel drive as an available option.

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Reader Review: 2021 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD Back to video

In Canada, all Explorers — from the base XLT to the top-grade Platinum — are equipped with Ford’s Intelligent 4WD, or four-wheel drive, system. The Explorer is also available with a hybrid powertrain. In the XLT, the only engine available is a 2.3-litre EcoBoost inline four-cylinder. The two higher trims, including the sporty ST and the fully loaded Platinum get a 3.0L EcoBoost V6. The transmission in all models is a 10-speed automatic.

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Wilson’s first vehicle was a new 1970 Ford half ton truck. He’d saved money working after school at his dad’s shop, Wilson’s Electric, in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. There, he’d help repair alternators and other electrical components, but never wanted to take up the trade. Instead, straight out of high school, he moved to Red Deer to play bass in a rock band and finally moved to Calgary to play in another band. These days, although COVID has slowed things down, Wilson is still jamming in a Calgary band called Nitelife. But, as a man who wears many hats, he also works part time as a steam engineer at Aspen Crossing Train Excursions out of Mossleigh, Alberta. When Heritage Park is open, he also works the vintage steam engine there. As well, he holds his Class I driver’s licence, and has owned and operated a transport truck.

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“I’ve never been married and never had kids, but I’ve always liked vehicles that are useful, and apart from a Toyota Supra, I’ve never had many cars,” Wilson explains. “I’ve had a number of trucks with toppers, a few Ford Explorers and then a few Lincolns. Currently, I’m driving a leased 2019 Lincoln Nautilus.”

Wilson’s Explorer XLT was finished in the optional $450 Rapid Red paint and was kitted out with more than $7,000 worth of other options to bring the total of his tester, before taxes, to just a bit more than $55,000. That included the $600 Class III trailer tow package, and that made this Explorer capable of towing 5,300 lbs.

“I like the overall look of the Explorer,” Wilson says of his first impression, and adds, “the shape of the grille and the way the sides are scalloped really caught my eye, and especially in that Rapid Red colour.”

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Opening the driver’s door and climbing into the seat, Wilson says the slate grey colour of Ford’s ActiveX upholstery – a synthetic leather – was attractive. He found the cockpit roomy, and it took him only a minute to adjust the manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel and the eight-way power driver’s seat to his liking.

“The instrument cluster with the tach and speedo looked really good,” he says, and adds, “while the interior looked solidly built, there was a bit of plastic in there and I thought it could have been a little bit warmer.”

Heading out on the road, Wilson says it was a very windy day for his first adventure.

“The Explorer wasn’t blown around, it just cruised right along with no hint of wind noise and it never acted like a sail,” he explains. “Power from the 2.3L four-cylinder was impressive. I’m not a four-cylinder fan, but this was almost enough to convert me. It was responsive, and I always had enough power.

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“The 10-speed automatic shifted like a dream in my opinion. I never sensed it searching around for a gear, and I did a lot of city driving. I played with the drive mode selector, and in Sport I could sense how the shift points changed.”

The four-wheel drive system gave Wilson plenty of confidence in the vehicle. It never broke loose in gravel or in the five centimetres left behind by an early spring snowstorm. Wilson says the Explorer always felt stable and he searched out a set of railway tracks to test the suspension. It absorbed the worst he could throw at it, and says it always offered a pleasant ride.

At five feet six inches tall, Wilson did sit in the second-row buckets. The seats fit him fine, but he felt the third-row seats were best left for children.

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“I could picture the Explorer hauling my music gear with all the seats folded down,” he says, and adds, “the fact the second-row seats are buckets means it’s not a completely level surface, but I could make it work.

“There is a lot of great room in the cargo area, and there are many cubbies and compartments where smaller items could be stored.”

He thinks the Explorer would best suit a family with younger kids, or a couple who want to go camping or take longer driving trips. Or someone like himself, he says, who needs to regularly haul cargo.

“Personally, the XLT is a bit below the trim level I’d choose, but it wasn’t really a bad step down,” Wilson says, and concludes, “If they said we’re taking your Nautilus away, I could make out just fine with that Explorer.”

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DRIVER’S JOURNAL

DAY 1

Some subtle but nice changes to the exterior of the Explorer. I liked the roomy interior; front seat was extremely comfortable. The second row contained captain’s chairs with armrests, E-Z entry and a centre floor console. Controls all within reach and for the most part easy to understand and use, nice ergonomic design. I liked the 8-inch touchscreen appearance and functionality. I also appreciated the view provided on-screen when backing up and the rear-view camera has a washer function. Another nice safety feature was when you shut the vehicle off the screen presented a message to check for passengers in the rear. Not fully loaded, but nicely equipped with power twin panel moonroof, automated emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, cross traffic and blind spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. Another feature are four 12-volt power points, two in the first row, one in the second row and one in the cargo area.

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Sad day, getting the vehicle ready to return.

DAYS 2 & 3

Really appreciate the heated seats and steering wheel. Vehicle handles well in traffic and the 2.3-litre I-4 EcoBoost engine is exceptionally smooth and responsive, especially in the low end starting off. The engine has an auto start -stop feature and is matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission with select-shift feature. The transmission kicks down faithfully when you need it to and overall performs very well. The vehicle was also equipped with paddle shifters and I experimented shifting up and down with them, but I felt that the transmission was much better at selecting the appropriate gear automatically. I used the Voice- Activated Touchscreen Navigation System and was impressed with how easy it was to use.

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DAY 4

Sunday road trip to Vulcan, Alberta. Still extremely impressed with the overall handling and responsiveness of the Explorer. On the TransCanada highway east of Chestermere, I set the cruise control. The readout between the tach and the speedo clearly informs you what the posted speed limit is, your cruise control setting and your actual speed, with both digital and analog read outs. The remainder of the trip was on Highway 24, a two-lane undivided road. Traffic was light and while I did not have to pass any vehicles, I was confident that the engine had more than enough power to accelerate and pass safely if necessary. There was a wind advisory issued and the wind gusts were strong. Overall, this little trip was very enjoyable, and the Explorer was a joy to drive on the highway. It felt very sure footed, and the suspension provided a firm but smooth ride with just the right amount of feedback provided through the steering wheel. I previously owned a 2006 Ford Explorer and the difference between the two vehicles is night and day.

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DAY 5

Welcome to Alberta! After 15 C on Sunday, we woke up to snow on Monday morning. Minus 11 C with a wind chill of minus 24 C. Great opportunity to try out the remote start feature. It started up immediately with no hesitation. After brushing all the snow off the vehicle, I headed out on the snow-covered roads to see how the vehicle handles in slippery conditions. I selected the slippery traction control option to see how the vehicle responds in that mode. The Terrain Management System has seven selectable drive modes available through a single easy to use dial in the centre console. This includes normal, trail, deep snow/sand, slippery, sport, tow/haul and eco mode. They each come with special 3D animated graphics that display on the instrument cluster which is very cool! Out on the road the vehicle appeared very sure footed in both braking and starting out in slippery conditions. Love the intelligent 4WD feature.

DAYS 6 & 7

General driving around the city running errands and still amazed at how well the vehicle handles in city traffic. Sad day, getting the vehicle ready to return. Overall, I really enjoyed driving this vehicle.