Cruising in The Ford Explorer

I like big cars and I can not lie, you other mothers can’t deny, that when a Ford drives by with a sun roof opened to the sky, you get…..excited? happy? jealous? Hmmmm, maybe I’ll leave the rapping to the professionals. It’s true through, I like big cars. I try to convince myself that a small vehicle is the way to go and then I test drive a car like the Ford Explorer and there’s no talking me down.

From the moment I stepped in to the Ford Explorer I knew I was going to love this car. The only real question was would I love it more than the Ford Flex? While I still adore the Ford Flex I have to admit that the Ford Explorer has now stepped into my number one spot as vehicles I lust after. In the year of the Polar Vortex one could say it was the heated seats and the heated steering wheel that sealed the deal but it’s more than that. Far from a “utility vehicle” the Ford Explorer is nothing short of a large luxurious ride.

If you’re looking for fuel economy then this is probably not the best vehicle. While there is no doubt the 4 Cylinder EcoBoost option is a better option in terms of gas mileage compared to the V6, it still can’t compare to the Ford Fusion. I keep hoping Ford will start making their bigger vehicles like the Flex and Explorer with a diesel engine. I’ve asked for a seat at the table but still no invite. Hint: Ford, I’m available.

The reality though, is that if you’re in the market for a big vehicle like this, then you’re not too worried about gas mileage. You’re looking for comfort and space and the Ford Explorer has it in spades. I loved the third row seating for when you have extra guests to cart about, that easily stows away when you don’t need them. For families with kids in sports there is plenty of room for skis and hockey bags the whole winter season. The seats are extremely comfortable, making long road trips a pleasure rather than a pain in the….well, you know.

What I loved most about the Ford Explorer though was the cruise control. I tend to use my cruise control a lot on the highway. I find that after a couple of hours at 100km/h it starts to feel slow, so I need cruise to keep my lead foot in check and the Ford has the best cruise control system I’ve seen. It senses when you are getting too close to a vehicle and automatically slows you down as opposed to the driver having to slow the vehicle down. I spent most of our road trip marveling at this amazing bit of technology. Of course, Ford has lots of amazing technology to keep drivers safe, like the blind spot detector in side-view mirrors and the addition of airbags for knees in the front row.

There’s no better way to find out if you would love the Ford Explorer as much as I do than to test drive one. Contact your local Ford dealer for a test drive and see for yourself.