We find an 'Explorer' from Ford with no 'Expedition' (used)

America’s bestselling crossover certainly isn’t the Dodge Durango or Chevy Tahoe. It’s the Ford Explorer and well it’s both the best and worse choice. Here’s why:

The standard 3.5-liter six-cylinder will serve most buyers well. The engine itself isn’t a bad choice but wouldn’t be our first choice if we were considering an Explorer. We would choose one of the fantastic Ecoboost turbo engines. You can choose between two of them, there’s a 2.3-liter turbo and a 3.5-liter turbo. The 2.3 turbo engine makes more sense because it has more torque at low revs and doesn’t feel like it is out of its depth when lugging the Explorer around town and on the highway. The top of the range 3.5 turbo certainly does the job well and is our favorite of the engine range. There’s plenty of torque at low revs and when you kick it into high gear it goes like stink. We had the opportunity to test drive the Explorer Sport which came with that 3.5 turbo engine so we decided to test the 2.3 Ecoboost four-cylinder in XLT trim.

Here’s the run down about this four-cylinder engine. We love how smooth and responsive it is when needed the most and it doesn’t leave you high and dry at higher revs, however what made us question the four-cylinder is the running costs. The 3.5 non-turbo has similar running costs and has 10hp more, but way less torque at low revs. Secondly, the fact that you’ll have to use premium fuel really does lose a lot of appeal with this engine because the only other engine that requires premium is the 3.5 turbo and that one is well justified. You could use regular fuel on this engine but you will hurt fuel economy and the engine won’t perform the way it should when using premium so we highly recommend sticking with premium to get the best out of this engine. It certainly is more refined that we anticipated, especially when driving on the highway at relaxed speeds or just scooting around town.  Steering feedback is where it should be; it’s not overly heavy and does leave a lot to be desired at higher speeds. The suspension does cope with bumps and rough surfaces well; however the only complaint is that at highway speeds you could see the hood shake slightly.

The interior of the Explorer is very roomy for seven people. We weren’t able to test out all three rows of seats but we did test them individually and found there is ample space across the board. Passengers in the third row may feel a little shortchanged on legroom and some headroom, but there are vents to help it feel less claustrophobic as well as large windows helps keep the cabin from feeling gloomy. The infotainment screen is downright tiny compared to the one that you can get with the more expensive trims and while it is pretty easy to navigate through, the button happy dashboard made things feel a little too distracting especially while on the go. We strongly suggest learning where everything as it gets simpler the more you fiddle around with it. The quality of the dash is iffy at best with some of the best touching materials left for the expensive trim levels and the iffy feeling plastics being used here. It does feel long lasting but for a car with a price tag near $40k we were expecting more. The boot space is decent with all three rows in place. You can fold all two rows down and have yourself a cargo van in space. The only other vehicle that can best the Explorer when it comes to an enormous boot is the Chevy Suburban which is alpha of cargo space.

Our tester car came fitted with LED headlights, push button ignition switch; reverse sensing system and Ford SYNC system with Bluetooth connectivity. Optional equipment included the 2.3 Ecoboost four-cylinder engine and all-wheel-drive. Our tester car didn’t have the optional leather seats, dual-zone climate control or power-folding exterior mirrors. So we were even more confused as to why a crossover with this price tag felt so sparsely equipped. We would’ve liked to see a power tailgate thrown in if you’re going to pay this kind of money for an Explorer.

The Explorer is a popular crossover for those who need seven-seats or just like the way it looks in general. It is a stylish crossover with a good range of engines to choose from, however what we loathe the most about the Explorer is the build quality in general is pretty iffy and well a car that’s near $40k has a tiny infotainment screen and felt very sparsely kitted. You can’t go wrong with this crossover but you can if you don’t pay the premium for one of the nicer ones.

Likes: The turbo engines and even non-turbo engine have strong pull to them and decent running costs. The interior is roomy for seven people and yet it is easy to live with.

Dislikes: The build quality in general is very iffy. The 2.3 Ecoboost engine sounds good on paper but in real life it has some short comings that makes the 3.5 non-turbo a better choice. The more expensive versions feel the most desirable.

Our pick: Go with the Explorer Sport. It feels like the better choice. We love the performance and the running costs aren’t wildly insane. If you can’t muster up the cash for the Sport, go for one of the XLT but skip the 2.3 Ecoboost engine option as it just doesn’t feel worth the premium unless you’re okay with using premium fuel.

We drive a Suburban known Chevy

Picking the Chevy Suburban means that you need space and lots of it. It offers seating up to nine and can tow up to 8,300lbs. The Suburban will put minivans and most crossovers to shame. But with high running costs and bulky image will it be enough to justify buying one?

The sole engine on hand is a 5.3-liter Eco-Tec eight-cylinder which produces 355hp. Rear-wheel-drive is standard while four-wheel-drive is optional. We strongly suggest getting the four-wheel-drive which really does help out in snowy areas and adds a bit of traction in towing. But for those who won't need all-wheel-drive the rear-wheel-drive is just as capable. Acceleration is smooth and brisk but remember this is a large nine-seat sport utility vehilce so it's not going to be race car fast.
The sheer size of the Suburban makes it a chore to live with. Rear view vision camera really does come in handy when reversing out of parking spaces in the mall and in the city. But it's still tricky to navigate on anything but large Blvds and highways. Steering is okay but it feels rather heavy at times and the Suburban is about as aerodynamic as a tower block so wind noise will be an issue. Road noise is very well hidden though.

The Suburban can seat up to nine but we reckon that most will find that even the seven seat configuration is more than enough. With the third row in place the boot space is decent but it grows enormously with the third row seat folding down. Fold down the second row seat too and you've got a massively large boot. The LS trim is the way to go it's the cheapest of the range and offers enough for most buyers needs. Automatic climate control, rear view parking camera, remote start and rear park assist all come standard. You'll have to step up to the LT trim which adds leather seats, power tailgate and forward collision warning. Top of the range LTZ offers HID headlights with LED daytime running lamps, keyless start and 20 inch alloy wheels.

The Chevy Suburban isn't cheap to buy nor is it cheap to run. The large thirsty eight-cylinder engine will be a welcome visitor at the pump. Resale value should be good thanks the Suburban nameplate and the fact that people will always still buy these even if gas prices shoot past $6 per gallon.

The Chevy Suburban is a great workhorse of a vehicle. It can seat up to nine offers plenty of comfort for people and can tow up to 8,300lbs. It's a great vehicle if you stick with the standard form which is the cheapest. Paying more than the LT trim means you'll be entering territory with choices like the Mercedes GL which is an all round better option. The Chevy Suburban is a great family car for those who want big but there are premium rivals that do the same tricks better and save a few miles on the gallon too.

Likes: The sheer size of it intimidates other drivers. Lovely eight-cylinder rumble under heavy acceleration.

Dislikes: Sheer size makes it a chore to live with. Running costs are high. There's no diesel engine option. Top of the range trim is expensive and isn't as great as some rivals.

Devon's pick: LS trim is all the Suburban you'll ever really need. You'll have to pay extra for four-wheel-drive but rear view parking camera and rear parking assist are standard as well as automatic climate control and a remote start system. Most will be satisfied with those features.