Picture courtesy of shaun cowley.
| Performance | 8/10  |
|---|---|
| Practicality | 3/10 |
| Reliability | 10/10 |
| Value for Money | 8/10 |
| Overall rating | 7/10 |
Full review by
Starman
on 11th Apr 2005
User Rating : 7
Respect :
0
Good Points: Reliable, fast, well built.
Bad Points: "Out there" styling, bouncy ride, terrible fuel mileage.
General comments: The Explorer Sport has the advantage of providing reasonable performance due to its lighter weight. As with all SUV's handling was horrible and the fuel mileage poor, though far better than the 7 to 10 mpg average of the larger SUV's. Even the base V-6 performed almost as well as my 4-cylinder Grand Am, and was actually faster than most V-8 SUV's, including the heavier 4-door V-8 Explorer. The fit and finish was excellent, and the interior well-appointed and of good grade materials. The Explorer Sport is top-heavy and has a tendency to lift the inside tires in emergency cornering manoeuvres. I got ours up on two wheels dodging an obstacle the first week we owned it. Finally tiring of the rough and bouncy ride, we traded it in 2003 for something a bit more comfortable.
Like all SUV's, the Explorer is a very wasteful and impractical vehicle. Though the 6 cylinder models can get up to 17 or 18 MPG on the road, the mini-van or compact station wagon is still a much more sensible alternative. I am anxiously awaiting the time when our culture comes to its senses regarding these pickup truck wannabes with cabins welded over the cargo areas, and returns to truly practical and sensible vehicles.
Starman's review and ratings | 216 words
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