I have read that the only trick to ordering a police version is that it has to be done through a dealer Fleet department. Some dealer might not want to do this. Others will.

In mid/late 2019, the base model of the current Explorer was Fleet Only (that model is now available to the general public), but many dealers around me had them on their lots as retail units.

 

It's sort of funny but when we're driving up behind someone, they instinctively look in the rear view and see an Explorer so they naturally get out of the way. The new Gen Explorer is slowly making it's way into the local PD's so it could be a slick top vehicle for all they know. But then the bright 20" wheels an the roof racks instantly give it away.

The Explorer is really getting beaten up by the car mags. I was reading an article the other day comparing the Explorer to the VW Atlas. They seemed to like the VW better though it lacked engine choices and any notable power. Apparently it has more room and a cheaper entry price.

A customer on my route has an a new Atlas. It does have a nice safe overly conservative look to it. Beyond that, it's not remarkable in appearance.

 

G'Morning....

J, I gave a serious try to working with fleet managers in 2017/2018 to the extent that I physically sat down with the fleet managers for the 2 dealers in the Detroit area that supply our local police fleets, as well as calling out-of-state dealers that sell a lot of new/demo fleet PI cars on the Internet. They can't sell a PI to a regular citizen. The primary fleet guy who sells to the Detroit Police Department told me that he has a customer who runs a private security firm and desperately wanted to buy 5 or 10 Explorer PI's for top dollar, but it could not be done because he was not working through a municipality.

Police and fire-specific vehicles are in a different category from fleet sales to rental companies buying a bunch of rental cars, or business customers who want a bunch of trucks for their appliance service crew.

I am doing well with my Murano, despite the concept-car spaceship styling and crappy outward visibility, so I'll stick with that. I really wanted to buy an Edge, but Ford did not get the seats right for my spine, which has 8 screws and 3 rods in it...at least Nissan built my car in the US, with high American content including the engine. And it has 360 degree cameras for parking...

I'm not a fan of the Atlas and pretty much ignore VW. Even the Nissan has lousy dealers in the Detroit area since we are so domestic-brand centric here.