2019 Ford Explorer: First impressions

Ford has been in the automobile industry for many decades now, and it is supplying its products in various parts of the world. Ford knows what it’s doing, which can be clearly seen in its products. In the Philippines, Ford has got an interesting catalogue. There are four SUVs available in the country. One of them is the Explorer. The Ford Explorer is the top-of-the-line SUV that you can get in the Philippines. And recently, Ford has launched the 2019 model for its customers in the local market.

So, what’s this all-new Explorer all about, and is it really ‘all-new’? Here are our first impressions of the 2019 Ford Explorer.

Aesthetics

The Explorer has always been a handsome SUV. It has got large dimensions. Its wide stance is enhanced by the big headlamps that cover the front fascia beautifully. Ford didn’t want to make the Explorer lose its charm and hence it didn’t make a whole lot of changes in the way this SUV looks. There are a few new elements that qualify the 2019 Explorer as a facelift, but you’d really need to focus a bit to spot the differences between the two models.

To begin with, Ford has replaced the honeycomb design of the front grille with a more conventional setup. The 2019 Explorer features a grille that has got a number of small horizontal slats which, to be honest, look very refreshing and gels in well with the overall face of the car. The front bumper on the new model gets a design tweak to accommodate the new L-shaped fog lights and new air intakes. The C-shaped fog lamps on the outgoing model didn’t look bad at all; the new ones just have freshened up things a little.

Another minor change that Ford has done in the 2019 Explore is the set of a new four-pipe exhaust system. This set replaces the old trapezoidal one. If you have to spot the new Explorer from the rear, then the new exhausts are the only option that could help you do that because the remaining portion of the car, including the side view, has been left untouched.

Interior

Just like the outside, Ford hasn’t changed a lot at the inside of the facelifted Explorer. If you have already been inside one, then you’d feel at home in the all-new 2019 Ford Explorer. The list of changes in the interior is very short. The first thing is the use of materials; Ford has, apparently, used slightly updated and better quality material in the interior of the new Explorer.

Let us know if you feel the difference. The second thing, and the last, on the list is the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as new connectivity options in the infotainment system. We really appreciate Ford adding these two as they make connecting your smartphone with the car much easier. Of course, Ford’s Sync 3 system is there as well to help you out from precarious situations.

Powertrain

Since the 2019 Ford Explorer is more of a facelift than a completely new car, Ford has continued to use the same engine options. There is a 2.3L EcoBoost petrol engine that produces 274 PS of max power and generates a peak torque of 408 Nm. Then we’ve got the much larger and more powerful 3.5L V6 engine EcoBoost engine that has been tuned in a state to churn out 370 PS of max power and 475 Nm of peak torque. This engine comes with the AWD variant. The transmission in duty is a 6-speed automatic unit.

Conclusion

We’ve always been quite impressed by the Ford Explorer specs. It’s got many USPs that make it a family SUV. We didn’t have much to complain about the car. Now, with the launch of the new 2019 Explorer, Ford has ‘updated’ the SUV to keep up with the rivals. It’s been speculated for quite some time now that Ford is going to come up with a brand-new Explorer in 2020, so perhaps, the 2019 model is just to fill in the gap and continue to attract buyers.

The 2019 Ford Explorer price starts at Php 2,798,000 for the 2.3L model, whereas the top-of-the-range AWD model has been priced at Php 3,178,000.